⭐ The Push Mountain Triple Falls

The route

Three significant waterfalls — 71-foot Helen's Pouroff, 66-foot Woodsman Pouroff, and 87-foot Cathedral Falls — all accessible on a single 7.3-mile round trip through the remote Leatherwood Wilderness near Big Flat. Three of the finest pouroffs in Arkansas back to back, through country that almost nobody hikes. No trail signs. No other people. Just old forest roads and wild blufflines.

The route follows the old Barkshed Extension Road — closed to vehicles and easy to walk — with short off-trail bushwhacks dropping down to each falls from the road. The hiking itself isn't brutal, but the total distance and navigation demands make this a full day commitment for experienced hikers only.

The route at a glance

1. Park near Push Mountain Tower off Hwy 341, 6.9 miles north of Hwy 14.
2. Follow the old Barkshed Extension Road ~2.3 miles.
3. Bushwhack right into drainage to Helen's Pouroff — 2.7 miles in.
4. Return to road, continue to Woodsman Pouroff — 3.4 miles in.
5. Continue to Cathedral Falls — 3.9 miles in.
6. Return via the jeep road — approximately 3 miles back to the trailhead.

The three falls

Route at a glance

• Distance: 7.3 miles round trip.
• Terrain: Old forest road with short bushwhacks to each falls — easier going than Richland Creek.
• Navigation: GPS required, but the old Barkshed Extension Road gives you a reliable spine to work from.

Realistic time estimates

The Push Mountain Triple is actually more forgiving than the Richland Five Falls because:

• The old Barkshed Extension Road gives you a clear route to follow for most of the hike — you always know where home base is.
• The bushwhacks to each falls are short and defined rather than extended creek scrambles.
• No major slick rock sections like the Twin Falls grotto climb.
• Terrain is broken but not as complex as Richland Creek's canyon system.

The main time factors are:

• Each bushwhack off the road to find the falls adds 20–30 minutes per waterfall.
• Getting to the base of Cathedral Falls requires a quarter-mile bluffline walk plus a descent — the most time-consuming section of the day.
• Total distance at 7.3 miles is still a serious day on foot.

Best time to visit

Late winter through late spring (February–May) following significant rainfall. All three falls are seasonal pouroffs that can slow dramatically or stop in dry conditions.