Armadillo Falls

Current conditions

The falls

Armadillo Falls is actually three separate drops stacked up a steep side creek above Eden Falls Cave on the Lost Valley Trail: Lower Armadillo, Middle Armadillo, and Upper Armadillo Falls. Only the lower two are reachable on foot — Upper Armadillo sits above sheer, unclimbable bluff walls and can only be glimpsed from below. From Eden Falls Cave, follow the small side creek upstream over slick rock and deadfall to the base of Lower Armadillo, then carefully scramble the next bench to reach Middle Armadillo. The route is short but steep, wet, and unforgiving — there is no maintained trail, and the moss-covered ledges stay slick year-round. Not appropriate for kids. Combined with Lower, Middle, and Upper Eden Falls plus the hidden 30-ft cave waterfall, Armadillo turns Lost Valley into a true multi-waterfall drainage.

Getting there

Same access as Eden Falls: from Ponca, head 1 mi south on AR-43, then west on Lost Valley Rd to the trailhead. Hike the Lost Valley Trail past Cob Cave to the Eden Falls Cave spur, then bushwhack up the side creek from the cave exit. Coordinates 36.01515, -93.38088 (Osage SW Quad, UTM 465693E, 3985486N).