Collins Creek

It's finally prime waterfall season here in Arkansas. But there's just one problem - we've barely had any rain this year. Most of the state has been classified as being under a drought, which isn't ideal for waterfalls. But luckily there is a place that is guaranteed to have water running year-round, even in the most driest of conditions. So a few weeks ago, I headed up for a quick visit to Collins Creek.

Along the way there were some neat barns, so of course I had to pull over and try to get a few pictures:









And then I finally made it to Collins Creek, which runs year-round because water is piped in from nearby Greers Ferry Lake. The constant flow of water helps serve as a habitat for trout, and as a playground for landscape photographers.







One the way out, I stopped by the overlook by the dam that creates the lake. The concrete dam was completed in 1962 and was dedicated by President Kennedy in October of 1963, one of his last major public appearances. The park here is named in his honor.



And one last shot, of a bridge passing over the Little Red River. There were a few people out fishing in the river nearby.

Collins Creek

Collins Creek flows down a small hillside near Greers Ferry Lake, tumbling down a few small waterfalls before it joins the Little Red River. And thanks to the lake, there is always water in Collins Creek, even in the driest months of the summer. A pipe brings in cold water from the lake in order to provide a habitat for trout. And because the waterfalls on the creek are quite pretty, it also provides a nice habitat for photographers.







Not sure how this rock made it into the creek. I'm guessing it was thrown in by a bored kid, but it did look neat as the waters of the creek flowed by.



And a wider view of the falls:



There was just enough time left in the day to attempt to see another of the sights around Heber Springs - the trumpeter swans. The trumpeter swan is the largest species of waterfowl in North America, with a wingspan that can reach up to eight feet. And although I don't want to fat-shame them, they are also considered to be the heaviest flying bird in the world (weighing in around 15-30 pounds). They usually spend their time in Canada, Alaska, and the northern states. But about 30 years ago a pair of trumpeter swans supposedly got lost during a storm and somehow ended up spending their winter at a lake near Heber Springs. The next year, the swans returned and then brought along their babies. Now about 200 trumpeter swans make Heber Springs their home, which is much farther south than their traditional habitat.

While driving there, I stopped by this little pond with an interesting tree growing up in the water.



The swans usually make their home at Magness Lake, an oxbow lake by the Little Red River. But apparently nearby construction and boat traffic has scared a lot of the swans away, and they have moved to a few other small lakes nearby. But we managed to find the lakes (thanks to some hand-painted sings on the road that just said "SWANS"). There were indeed lots of swans in the lake, along with a few people trying to get pictures from a respectful distance. It was nearly dark, but here is my attempt at a swan picture: