On a sunny day in late October, we returned to Dogwood Canyon to complete the trail we started in June. Due to a late start and the heat, we had turned around at the Chuck Wagon. You can read about our June hike here.
On this visit, we planned to hike to the end of the trail. And see all the waterfalls.
Indian Cliff Falls
Getting an early start, we arrived at Dogwood Canyon around 9:00 a.m.
After purchasing our tickets, we took a brief tour through the main building, stopping by Indian Cliff Falls, behind the Dogwood Canyon Mill.
The free-flowing water cascading over the limestone bluffs of this natural waterfall makes it one of the most photographed falls in the park. The falls can be viewed from the Mill or the trail.
Most of the leaves in the area had already faded from red to brown; however, there were still bright yellow and orange leaves on trees along the trail.
It was cooler than our previous visit, with temperatures staying in the 70s throughout our hike.
Hiking To Arkansas
Our goal was to hike the trail from Indian Cliff Falls to Wish Bowl Falls and the End of the Trail Sign. This is a 3.25-mile hike, making the round trip 6.5 miles. As we were getting started, we passed the sign for the Hickory Ridge Trail. Since it is close to the entrance, we decided to explore that trail on our return trip.
The fall colors brightened as we hiked farther into the canyon. The trail wasn’t crowded, and we took our time, stopping often to take in the scenery.
Long Pine Crossing Bridge
About 20 minutes into our hike, we reached the Long Pine Crossing. This eighty-foot span bridge over Little Indian Creek was constructed in 1992 with beams salvaged from a 100-year-old Chicago warehouse. The work was performed by Amish community members from Seymour, Missouri.
Waterfalls and Fall Colors
Sadie and I explored the area, on and off the trail, while Andy took more photos of the fall colors and waterfalls.
We have read reviews from visitors to Dogwood Canyon who dislike the idea of the ‘man-made’ waterfalls.
We believe the falls on the bridges over the streams enhance the beauty of this nature park, as well as the other falls throughout the park. Our research revealed that Indian Cliff Falls is a natural waterfall. We were unable to locate information that specifically mentioned other falls in the park.
Based on the number of unique falls in our photos, there are at least 16 waterfalls in Dogwood Canyon. We did not find an exact number on the park’s website.
We enjoy the many, varied, beautiful falls for what they are – regardless of how they came into being.
Unnamed Cave
This small, unnamed cave is located about 1.5 miles down the trail, a short distance from the Great Spirit Rock Shelter. It is not listed on the Dogwood Canyon Trail Map and is gated to keep visitors from entering.
Great Spirit Rock Shelter
This was our first time viewing the Great Spirit Rock Shelter. When we visited Dogwood Canyon in late June, we turned around at the Chuckwagon due to the heat and time of day.
This bluff and overhang is where the oldest human remains in Missouri were found. Discovered in 1993, the remains were over 8,000 years old. Also found were arrow points, crude pottery pieces, and other artifacts.*
Kids Cave
Up the trail from the Great Spirit Rock Shelter is Kid’s Cave. The entrance is across the stream, on the far side of the trail. The cave is nearly 250 ft. long, but only 14 inches tall.*
The Glory Hole
The Glory Hole is one of the most popular places to explore. We stopped and took pictures on our way to Arkansas, and again, when we passed by on the way back!
The water in the center of the pool is 16 feet deep in the center. Behind the waterfall, a cave, with a passage 20′ to 30′ high in places, extends into the mountain. The passage is not accessible due to the high water level.
The ironwork in the area was handcrafted by local artists.*
The Last Stops in Missouri
Leaving Glory Hole, we continued to walk the trail towards the Arkansas border. Along the way, we saw waterfalls over roads, stopped in at Sam’s Spring, and hiked over arched rock bridges.
Welcome to Arkansas
We reached the Arkansas border, Station 22, around 11:40 a.m., about two hours and twenty minutes after starting our hike.
It was an easy trail and we stopped at almost every station. The trail guide shows the border at the 2.9-mile mark.
Sadie is a great little hiker and stayed busy sniffing almost every place we stopped along the trail.
Close to the Arkansas border is an outhouse, about a mile from the previous rest stop at Station 15 – Seven Pools.
After a short break, we continued along the trail towards the next stop, Station 23.
On the way, Sadie began pulling the leash and trying to get closer to the creek. That’s when we started seeing the armadillos. They were along the creek, in the grassy areas, and on the trail.
Quick research showed that these were Nine-Banded Armadillos, which, though not native to Arkansas, have established a significant presence. They can be annoying to homeowners due to their digging burrows in yards.
However, here in Dogwood Canyon, they are fun to watch, and they eat annoying bugs. We usually saw about one or two in each area we visited.
Trapper’s Cabin
Trapper’s Cabin is 0.3 miles from the Arkansas border. Built in 1993 by Johnny Morris, the owner of Dogwood Canyon, the cabin now serves as the location for their fly-fishing school. The doors and windows in the cabin were repurposed from an old building in New Mexico.*
We explored the grounds, peeked in the windows, and sat on the porch for a short rest before continuing our hike.
Wish Bowl Falls and the End of the Trail
Wish Bowl Falls, at the end of the pedestrian trail, is a reason to continue walking, even if you are feeling a bit tired. The twin falls, and the brightly colored fish held our interest as we rested and explored the area. It was 1:00 p.m. when we reached the falls.
The Return Hike
Leaving Wishbowl Falls, we began our return journey, stopping along the way to admire the fall colors and take pictures.
As we were heading back towards the Missouri State Line, we saw park workers clearing leaves from the creek.
At 1:30 p.m., we crossed the Missouri border. The closer we got to the canyon’s entrance, the more hikers we saw on the trail. We were also passed by more trams transporting visitors on tours through Dogwood Canyon and into the fields in Arkansas, where bison, elk, and longhorns are free to roam.
Hickory Ridge Trail
After reaching the Treehouse, we followed the path to the Hickory Ridge Trail, a half-mile loop trail behind the Treehouse area. We skipped it during our June trip due to the heat.
What we didn’t expect to find on this short loop trail was a cave. Like the other caves in Dogwood Canyon, it is gated to keep curious hikers from possible injuries. However, we were able to reach through the bars and take an ‘end-of-hike’ selfie.
After completing the loop, we were back on the trail, heading towards the parking lot. It was time to return to our room and make plans for our next Branson adventure!
Peggy Staver, the author of this blog, is a freelance writer specializing in outdoor recreation and hospitality. You can contact her at peggystaver.com. Photos were taken by Photography by Andreas. Visit his portfolio here.
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*source – Dogwood Canyon Brochure Guide