Tea Kettle Falls

July 05, 2019

Tea Kettle Falls

"I didn't grow up playing video games. I grew up catching crawdads in the creek and minnows and lizards and snakes" - Blake Shelton

Difficulty - ✹✹✹✹ (out of 5)

Scenic Beauty - ✰✰✰ (out of 5)

Directions - click here

Video Blog - click here

I've only been to Tea Kettle Falls once and on that day they weren't cooperating as there was no water flowing through the spout. As you might have guessed Tea Kettle is a water fall on the side of a cliff where water flows through a hole in the rock to form a tea kettle effect. This is a moderate 2.2 mile hike that can be found in Madison County Arkansas.

Inside Info - I rated this hike a difficulty of 4 based not only on the amount of physical exertion but also due to what I consider some intangible difficulties. There are two ways to get to and from this location with one being an overland trail and the other consisting of following Warm Fork Creek to the falls. On our trip to the falls we took the overland route which starts through a field and if taking this route in the summertime be sure and use plenty of insect repellent because we were attacked by chiggers during this part. The rest of the trail was fairly easy to follow about 3/4 of the way until the trail dissolved into nothingness. It seemed to vanish without warning and it was a good thing we had GPS to guide us the rest of the way. On the return trip we followed the creek and if doing this, be prepared to get wet and also be advised that there were a few stagnant pools of water that looked like a perfect haven for water moccasins even though we didn't see any. To be sure there were some beautiful sites along the creek and even another pretty waterfall that we heard about 20 yards off of the main creek (photo below) but the hike itself was what some would call 'sketchy'. The falls are about 100 yards off of the main creek bed and again, GPS is very handy because there is no clear indication where to find them. If following the creek be advised that you will get wet. The waterfall location is very beautiful and we had a great time sitting there and soaking in the atmosphere and imagining what it would look like with the water flowing through the spout. I'll definitely take another trip there in the springtime to get the full effect. Also the gravel road to the parking area is probably as steep and rough as what you find going to the Whitaker Point trailhead.

Final Word - I can't say this is one of my favorite hikes because it provides some unique challenges. On future trips I plan to follow the creek rather than the overland route because it's more scenic and easier to follow. From a pure physical standpoint this is not a hard hike at all and can be enjoyed by all. This is a truly unique waterfall location due to the spout effect and I can't wait to see it in action someday.

Update - I was able to return when the falls were flowing and it was a great experience. As I suspected, going when the falls are flowing means a greater chance of getting wet crossing the creek. One unexpected thing was the presence of many stinging nettles. If you've never experienced these, they are small inconspicuous plants the are painful when you brush against them (I was wearing shorts). It became so bad that I decided that wading through knee deep water in the creek was better than dealing with these on the trail.

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Trailhead Pic