Hiking Natural Falls in Colcord, Oklahoma
Waterfall wanderlust – I have it bad, and I blame it all on the magic of Natural Falls in Natural Falls State Park in Colcord, Oklahoma.
Who knew Narnia was in driving distance?
Located in the Ozark Highlands less than an 1.5 hours east of Tulsa near the border of Arkansas, Natural Falls State Park is an easy drive from Oklahoma City. But, if I’m being honest, all of my long drives are easy because Drew does most of the driving!
Sometimes called the ‘Narnia of Oklahoma’ but known in the park as ‘Dripping Springs,’ the 77′ waterfall of Natural Falls rivals Turner Falls in height but is far more delicate in substance. The creek water that cascades down the rock formation creates a soothing sound and even more serene grotto below, which can be enjoyed from decked observation areas both above and below the falls.
Depending on the time of year and how much rainfall the area received, visitors can experience not just one but two waterfalls flowing into the v-shaped valley! It’s truly a magically place to connect with nature, and makes for very Insta-grammable pics — after all, it was the backdrop for scenes in “Where the Red Fern Grows (74)”.
Even more of a testament to its beauty, a couple weeks after we visited, a friend of mine who I had recommended the park to got engaged at the base of the falls!
The wonder of Natural Falls State Park doesn’t stop at the breath-taking falls. The park also offers hiking trails, yurts for overnight camping, fishing, picnic areas, 9-hole disc-golf, playgrounds, plenty of places to hang a hammock and more.
Hiking Natural Falls and Dripping Springs Trail
During our visit, we picked Dripping Springs Trail to hike since we only had time to do one and it seemed to cover all the good stuff in about 45 minutes. The waterfall is located at the beginning of the trail and is very easy to access from the parking area. If you want to access the bottom observation deck, you do need to climb down a steep area and share a narrow 47-step staircase with other visitors. You can also opt to enjoy the view from the top of the falls, which is amazing by itself.
At the bottom of the falls, the observation deck with benched seating offers a quiet place to contemplate and enjoy the falls. I wish I had been able to enjoy this space more during our visit, but I was mildly irritated by a lady nearby smoking a cigarette and some young teens loudly laughing about ignoring conservation signs and invading the ecosystem. Please, don’t be those people and have some respect for the beauty nature has gifted us in this sacred space.
After you double-back a bit to the top of the falls, Dripping Springs Trail will take you down and around the crystal-clear creek, over a bridge, past a beaver’s dam where visitors often see the beaver tending to his home, and to another set of falls.
When we were done peeking around the second set of falls, we back-tracked again and climbed a steep, gravel slope that takes you back to Dripping Springs Trail, and part of Ghost Coon Trail. My calves were burning!!! The incline is steep and I struggled to grip in my tennis shoes. This later reinforced an investment in proper hiking shoes.
You’ll pass by some cool vantage points of Natural Falls and the creek from above as well as the Yurt campsites. The trail then takes you across a bridge or two before returning you back to the start and over the creek that feeds the falls. After our quick hike, we found a spot to hang up our hammock and have a snack before heading back to OKC.
Overall, this was a moderate but quick hike that had tons of gorgeous natural scenery and plant-life. Also, unlike Turner Falls is was mostly free of human trash, overcrowding and pricey fees. It costs just $10 per vehicle to visit this waterfall, making it a super family friendly place to visit. I can’t wait to visit Natural Falls again with my mom and some girlfriends in the future.
