Hammerschmidt Falls
A 43-foot falls named for the congressman who championed Buffalo's national river status.
- Height
- 43 ft
- Type
- Plunge
- District
- Middle
- Round trip
- 1.0 mi
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Best season
- Spring
- Est. time
- 30–60 minutes
- Flow-dependent
- Yes
- Pet friendly
- No
- Coordinates
- 36.0183118, -93.2897337
Current conditions
- Rain 24h
- 0.00″
- Rain 72h
- 0.00″
- Rain 7d
- 1.79″
Next 3 days (preview)
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Buffalo National River, Upper Indian Creek Drainage
Named after John Paul Hammerschmidt — the Arkansas Congressman who championed the legislation making the Buffalo River the nation's first national river — this 43-foot waterfall is both a scenic destination and a piece of Buffalo River history. It sits at high elevation on the uppermost section of the Indian Creek drainage, which means it needs significant rainfall to flow well. When it does run, water pours off a jagged central point in the bluff face into a beautiful hollow below, with a stunning cascade section above the falls worth exploring on its own.
The trail
The round-trip hike is about 1 mile from the parking area on Highway 74 between Jasper and Low Gap — one of the easier waterfall hikes in the national river. The Buffalo River Trail actually passes directly over the top of the falls, so BRT through-hikers often encounter it without realizing it has a name. Dogs not permitted.
Getting there
Trailhead on Highway 74 between Jasper and Low Gap. Trailhead GPS: 36°01′07.3″N 93°17′23.8″W (36.0183118, -93.2897337). Use the map link below for turn-by-turn directions.
