QuiVaLa Elise Falls
A stunning, hidden 75-foot waterfall in The Nature Conservancy's Smith Creek Nature Preserve near Boxley — locally known as QuiVaLa.
- Height
- 75 ft
- Type
- Cascade
- District
- Tributary
- Round trip
- 4.0 mi
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
- Best season
- Spring
- Est. time
- 3–4 hours
- Flow-dependent
- Yes
- Pet friendly
- No
- Coordinates
- 35.93808, -93.38302
Current conditions
- Rain 24h
- 0.00″
- Rain 72h
- 0.00″
- Rain 7d
- 0.43″
Next 3 days (preview)
Live data temporarily unavailable — showing last successful fetch. See full conditions report →
Smith Creek Preserve, Boxley / Newton County
QuiVaLa Elise Falls is one of the most beautiful hidden waterfalls in Newton County, tucked deep inside The Nature Conservancy's 1,226-acre Smith Creek Preserve near Boxley. The trail drops off the rim through old hardwoods into a steep hollow where the falls pour 75 feet down a moss-draped bluff into a clear plunge pool. On the same loop you can also reach McClure Falls (both Upper and Lower sections) in the next drainage — most hikers pair the two for a full backcountry day. This is a Nature Conservancy preserve, so stay on route, pack out everything, and leave no trace.
What makes it special
A 75-foot plunge into a moss-walled grotto on protected Nature Conservancy land. Pair the same loop with Upper and Lower McClure Falls.
History
The Smith Creek Preserve was established by The Nature Conservancy to protect the headwaters of Smith Creek, a major Buffalo River tributary, along with the gray bat and Indiana bat caves found throughout the property.
Steep, rocky descent off the rim with a strenuous climb back out. Do not confuse this with Smith Falls — a different waterfall entirely.
The trail
About 4 miles round trip with roughly 600 feet of elevation change. The trail starts at the Smith Creek Preserve trailhead south of Boxley and drops off the rim through hardwoods to the mossy grotto at QuiVaLa Elise Falls. Continue the loop to reach Upper and Lower McClure Falls in the next drainage before climbing back to the rim — the climb out is the workout.
Getting there
Trailhead: QuiVaLa Elise Falls, Smith Creek Preserve (parking 35.93451, -93.38564) (35.93808, -93.38302). Coordinates are researched references — verify with a map app before driving.
What's nearby