We’ve been looking forward to the weather warming up so we could get out and do some hiking with our son. Collins Creek Falls Trail in Heber Spring, Arkansas is not far from where we live and is just a few miles from where we usually SUP in the summer. Yet, for some reason, we had never hiked this trail before. We’ve been missing out!
Collins Creek Falls Trail
We headed out to Collins Creek in late April, armed with plenty of water, sunscreen and insect repellent. The weather was perfect – low 80s, crystal clear blue skies and a slight cool breeze.
Collins Creek Trail is just over half a mile in length of fairly easy terrain and makes for a leisurely hike. This is not a loop trail so you will need to hike down and then back up. Some online resources claim this trail has handicap accessible portions but that was not our observation. Parts of the trail require some fancy footwork over various sized rocks and boulders and there are several sets of stairs built along a section around the middle of the trail.
Collins Creek was built by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in cooperation with and on land leased from the US Army Corp of Engineers. The stream is fed by an underground pipe that leads from the Greers Ferry Dam. The top of the creek contains a series of beautiful, cascading falls.
The Collins Creek Falls are easily accessible on foot and are not far from the trailhead. This area is a hotspot for photographers and is often crowded on weekends. The key to a quiet, peaceful hike is to come early or visit mid-week.
Continue past the falls and the trail follows the creek as it meanders through beautiful wooded areas. The trail eventually leads to a low water bridge where children will be excited to find a playground as the trail continues into the JFK Park campground area.
The trail continues along the creek until it eventually meets up with the Little Red River.
Tips for Hiking the Collins Creek Falls Trail in Heber Springs, Arkansas
Hike Early or Midweek – Collins Creek Falls is a hotspot for families and photographers and can fill up quickly on the weekend. For the best experience, hike midweek or early on weekends.
What Goes Down Must Come Up – Collins Creek Trail is not a loop so you will follow the same trail in and out. The trail is primarily downhill as you hike in which means the hike out is uphill.
Bring Water Shoes – About 2/3 of the way down the trail there is a low water crossing. The water was about mid-calf deep for me. Water shoes are recommended as the water is pretty swift and the base of the creek is fairly rocky and slippery.
Bring a Camera – The Collins Creek Falls is beautiful and you will want to take lots of pictures. Don’t overlook the lower parts of the creek because it is beautiful too.
Check Fishing Regulations – Collins Creek is not stocked but has developed a wonderful wild trout population. The creek, however, is catch and release only. Additionally, only youths age 16 and under may fish the upper portion of the stream. Bait regulations are also in place so be sure to check all regulations carefully before doing any fishing in Collins Creek.
You can get a detailed map of the trail which includes fishing regulations here.
Planning to visit Collins Creek? We’d love for you to share your pictures with us on Instagram. Use #seekadventures and tag @juliedkohl if you visit.
