Petit Jean State Park - Rock House Cave Trail
"A blank canvas...has unlimited possibilities." - Stephanie Perkins
Difficulty - ✹✹ (out of 5)
Scenic Beauty - ✰✰✰ (Out of 5)
Directions - Click Here
This is a 4 mile total hike that's signature feature is a cave with 1,000 year old native american artwork on the walls. On the day that my daughter and I were there, we didn't do the full loop but instead made the short hike from the parking area (approximately 1/4 mile) to the cave and back. It's a nice little walk that's not strenuous but I have heard that the full loop can be somewhat difficult due to some steep areas. The cave trail can be found in Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton, Arkansas.
Inside Info - This is a nice little trail with some really neat 'turtle' rock formations just past the trailhead. These are just like you would imagine consisting of rounded domes of sandstone resting on a solid, smooth bed of stone. I've really never seen anything quite like it anywhere else. But the real star of this trail is the rock house cave which houses native American artwork on the walls. The estimates of the age of these drawings range between 500 - 1,000 years old and it's really somewhat surprising that people are allowed to get close and even touch them. However be advised that there are security cameras installed and signs that guarantee a lengthy prison stay for anyone found guilty of tampering with the images. Beyond that the part of the trail that we hiked was short and benign and didn't pose any real challenges or have any noteworthy features.
Final Word - This is a pleasant little hike that has both interesting and educational features. There are no challenging aspects and this can be enjoyed by practically anyone without mobility issues. It was a good weather Saturday when we were there so it was pretty crowded. But no matter because it's more like an outdoor museum rather than a real hike.
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Trailhead Pic
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Difficulty - ✹✹ (out of 5)
Scenic Beauty - ✰✰✰ (Out of 5)
Directions - Click Here
This is a 4 mile total hike that's signature feature is a cave with 1,000 year old native american artwork on the walls. On the day that my daughter and I were there, we didn't do the full loop but instead made the short hike from the parking area (approximately 1/4 mile) to the cave and back. It's a nice little walk that's not strenuous but I have heard that the full loop can be somewhat difficult due to some steep areas. The cave trail can be found in Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton, Arkansas.
Inside Info - This is a nice little trail with some really neat 'turtle' rock formations just past the trailhead. These are just like you would imagine consisting of rounded domes of sandstone resting on a solid, smooth bed of stone. I've really never seen anything quite like it anywhere else. But the real star of this trail is the rock house cave which houses native American artwork on the walls. The estimates of the age of these drawings range between 500 - 1,000 years old and it's really somewhat surprising that people are allowed to get close and even touch them. However be advised that there are security cameras installed and signs that guarantee a lengthy prison stay for anyone found guilty of tampering with the images. Beyond that the part of the trail that we hiked was short and benign and didn't pose any real challenges or have any noteworthy features.
Final Word - This is a pleasant little hike that has both interesting and educational features. There are no challenging aspects and this can be enjoyed by practically anyone without mobility issues. It was a good weather Saturday when we were there so it was pretty crowded. But no matter because it's more like an outdoor museum rather than a real hike.
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Trailhead Pic
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