The best waterfalls near Little Rock, Arkansas are Cedar Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Falling Water Falls and 2 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Sausmann Falls, about 30 miles west of Little Rock.
For more waterfalls around Little Rock, browse the nearest towns: Perryville, Atkins, Heber Springs, Mountain View, Batesville, Marshall, Clarksville, Jasper. You can also see every waterfall on the Arkansas waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 5 publicly accessible Arkansas waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Little Rock that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Cedar Falls
45 miles northwest of Little Rock. Our top pick near the city 4.7 out of 5 from 73 reviews.
Conway County, AR 72110 (GPS 35.1215, -92.9338)
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Cedar Falls is about 45 miles northwest of Little Rock, near Atkins. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 73 Google reviews, and 77% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention hike to waterfall, peaceful getaway, and trek.
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2. Bridal Veil Falls
52 miles north of Little Rock. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 119 reviews.
Cleburne County, AR 72543 (GPS 35.4695, -92.0385)
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Bridal Veil Falls is about 52 miles north of Little Rock, near Heber Springs. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 119 Google reviews, and 82% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention steep trail, lookout, and walk to the bottom.
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3. Falling Water Falls
77 miles northwest of Little Rock. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 345 reviews.
Pope County, AR 72856 (GPS 35.7220, -92.9493)
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Falling Water Falls is about 77 miles northwest of Little Rock, near Marshall. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 345 Google reviews, and 89% of them give it five stars.
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4. Spainhour Falls
90 miles northwest of Little Rock. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 30 reviews.
Johnson County, AR 72854 (GPS 35.6204, -93.4652)
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Spainhour Falls is about 90 miles northwest of Little Rock, near Clarksville. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 30 Google reviews, and 83% of them give it five stars.
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5. Sausmann Falls
30 miles west of Little Rock. Rated 2.9 out of 5 from 15 reviews.
Perry County, AR 72126 (GPS 34.8973, -92.7824)
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Sausmann Falls is about 30 miles west of Little Rock, near Perryville. Visitors rate it 2.9 stars across 15 Google reviews.
Waterfall Day Trips From Little Rock
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sausmann Falls | 30 mi west | Perryville | 2.9 |
| Cedar Falls | 45 mi northwest | Atkins | 4.7 |
| Bridal Veil Falls | 52 mi north | Heber Springs | 4.7 |
| Falling Water Falls | 77 mi northwest | Marshall | 4.8 |
| Spainhour Falls | 90 mi northwest | Clarksville | 4.7 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Little Rock. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Little Rock?
Cedar Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 45 miles northwest of Little Rock and rated 4.7 stars from 73 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Little Rock?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Sausmann Falls is the closest, about 30 straight-line miles west of the city, near Perryville.
How many waterfalls are near Little Rock?
We track 5 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Arkansas within 100 miles of Little Rock, 2 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the Arkansas waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 5 publicly accessible Arkansas waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Little Rock that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
What is the most visited waterfall in Arkansas?
Among the falls in our directory, Falling Water Falls in Pope County has the most reviews, followed by Eden Falls in the Lost Valley area of the Buffalo National River and Bridal Veil Falls near Heber Springs.
Summary
Cedar Falls is our top waterfall pick near Little Rock, rated 4.7 out of 5 and about 45 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Spring is the heart of Arkansas waterfall season. Ozark creeks are rain-fed, and the period from roughly February through May usually brings the steadiest storms, when even minor hollows produce falls that are dry the rest of the year. Many local hikers time trips to arrive within a day or two after a good soaking rain. By midsummer the heat and humidity are heavy, ticks and chiggers are active, and flows drop sharply; late summer and early fall are commonly the driest months. Autumn foliage in the Boston Mountains typically peaks in late October to early November, and a wet fall can pair color with running water. Winter offers clear views through bare trees, and a hard cold snap occasionally freezes smaller falls into ice formations, though such conditions rarely last long.
For more Arkansas waterfalls, see the full Arkansas waterfalls page, or read 10 Best Waterfalls in Arkansas, 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Arkansas and 5 Most Visited Waterfalls in Arkansas.