Natural Falls State Park

A good friend recently told us we should check out Natural Falls State Park in Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. Somehow, we had never heard of this hidden gem and were ecstatic for the chance to explore. We ventured out on a Saturday morning and headed toward Siloam Springs. We drove through Grove, Oklahoma, where my grandparents used to own a motel on the lake and where I have fond childhood memories. The rest of the drive to Siloam Springs was very picturesque and provided a lot of opportunities for playing Eye Spy. The drive from Joplin only took about an hour and 20 minutes and it was well worth the trip.

When we arrived at the park, we found a nice visitor's center and got a map of the trails. The park itself boasts several trails, over 40 designated camping sites, multiple areas for fishing, picnic areas, frisbee golf, and boating areas. There are no swimming areas as it is also a wildlife protection site. Considering that, you will get to see a variety of wildlife during your visit. If the area looks familiar, you may recognize it as the setting for the movie version of Where the Red Fern Grows. We took a picnic lunch and enjoyed our lunch on one of the many picnic tables along the water and near a garden walk. 

After lunch, we decided to start our hike on the Dripping Springs Trail to venture to the base of the largest of the falls (over 77 feet tall). For the most part, the hiking trails were well marked and easy to maneuver. The initial descent to the base of the falls is fairly steep and was a little difficult in some areas. The falls were gorgeous and the water from the falls and spring cooled us off on the hike.

We then continued our hike on the Dripping Springs Trail and connected with the Ghost Coon Trail where we found more waterfalls including an area where we were able to dip our feet in the water. The next part of the hike took us through a wildflower meadow of lupines, purple cone flowers, and black-eyed Susans. It was a near perfect day at a beautiful location.