Intersection Falls (southeast Searcy County, Ozark National Forest) is a great, tropics-like waterfall that is just a short bushwhack from Six Finger Falls.
It’s a bit of a challenge to get to, but it has first-class scenery all along the way to make for a very enjoyable bushwhack.
Getting to the Intersection Falls Bushwhack
(These are the same driving directions as for Six Finger Falls.) Take Highway 7 to Pelsor (halfway between Jasper and Dover). Turn east onto Highway 16.
Travel 10 miles on Highway 16, past the Pedestal Rocks Special Interest Area and about 1 mile past the community of Ben Hur. Then turn left onto Forest Road 1205.
There is no sign for the Forest Road, but there are signs to “Falling Water Horse Camp.” Turn on the road to the horse camp.
Follow FR 1205 for 5.3 miles and cross a bridge over Falling Water Creek.
About a half-mile past the bridge, there is a little parking area and a sign board on your left. Park here.
Finding Intersection Falls
Once you get down to Six Finger Falls (see the Six Fingers Falls post), you will want to travel upstream on Falling Water Creek to find Intersection Falls. It is probably about .25 miles upstream.
There is no trail. When we were there in the winter, it was easy enough to bushwhack our way upstream along the creek.
This area was full of thorn bushes. In warmer weather, I recommend having water shoes and going along the edge of the creek — although be very careful during high water.
The key here is to the find the easiest and safest way for you to get there given the conditions. You should not get lost since you follow the Falling Water Creek the entire way. As long as you are beside the creek, you should find the falls and be able to find your way back without a problem
While there is no trail to this area, it is very pretty along the creek. The crisp, clear water, rock formations, and swimming holes make for first-class scenery.
Once past the cascade area, you can make your way upstream and get a good look at Intersection Falls. The Falls itself is a 31-foot high falls that tumbles over a ridge and into Falling Water Creek.
After an initial fall, the water then hits the rocks below and fans out giving it a very tropical feel.
Once you get your fill here, check out the views upstream. Then you can head back to Six Finger Falls where you parked your car.
In Tim Ernst’s Arkansas Waterfalls, he gives directions from the road to the top of the falls. It’s tough to get a good view from the top of the falls, so I recommend coming in from downstream for a better view.
As for footwear, I recommend hiking boots.
We did this hike on December 31, 2013.
Photo Gallery
Click below for full-screen photo gallery.
Last revised: 6-8-2020.