Waterfalls are magical places for Scott and me. There is something about the sound of the rushing water leading to it crashing down below. In the spray, we find rainbows which always bring a smile to our faces. We decided in 2020 we would “collect” twenty water features that fit into the “waterfall” category. We took the year and found eleven waterfalls, one Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) dams, one Work Projects Administration (WPA) dam, six spillways, and one cascade. We did not have any criteria as to what to look for, we just tailored our travel plans to finding water features. It may not sound surprising or magical, but where we found the waterfalls blew us away.
We started to write about this project before and, honestly, got distracted by everything that was going on in our lives. You can read about that first article HERE.
I did not want to bore you going over those first four again so I will continue with the next waterfall. So, now where were we? Oh, yes...
Just a few miles from Devils Den State Park, in the Ozark National Forest, is the small town of Natural Dam, named for a natural dam near the edge of town. This is perhaps the easiest waterfalls to see in this area of Arkansas. You can drive right up to it or drive across Mountain Fork Creek if you like. A natural slab of rock (sandstone of the Atoka formation) acts as a dam and creates a waterfall as the water flows over the dam, causing undercutting. The area behind the dam is used as a local swimming hole, so bring your swimsuit when you come to visit.
William Larrimore set up a grist mill here a short time after he discovered the dam on a hunting trip in 1818. By 1838 there was a post office and settlement. We have heard there was a foundation left from the mill, but we have not actually seen it.
If you do decide to stop by Natural Dam, Arkansas, along highway 59, remember to stop at the reason for the town’s name. It is worth your time and you will enjoy exploring the location. Just remember that the place is extremely popular in the summertime and you will do well to arrive early.
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