Fern Falls

After getting a late lunch at the Ozark Cafe we then headed over to Fern Falls, which is a scenic little waterfall just off of Hwy. 7. The hike isn't too long, but after all the rain it was mostly underwater. There was so much water on the trail that it was like hiking through a creek.

And if there was that much water on the trail, it was safe to assume there would be a lot of water at the falls. And there was - it was practically flooded. We followed the trail as it turned and ran beneath the falls, where a bunch of ferns were growing (hence the name Fern Falls).



The falls are 42 feet-tall, and they were pouring over the bluff with a roar.



For a bit of a comparison, this is what the falls looked like the last time I was here:



The last time I was here was in the winter, so it was cool to see all the ferns growing around the falls. Here's one more shot of the eponymous ferns, with a prime location right below the waterfall.



And one last shot of Fern Falls, taken from the top:

Fern Falls

I had the day off for President's Day, which was great timing because the waterfalls in the Ozarks were roaring after some heavy rains. Luckily my good friend and hiking buddy Zack Andrews had the day off as well, so we decided to meet up and try to hit a waterfall or two. We first decided to visit Fern Falls, which is a scenic waterfall that is reached by a fairly easy hike in the Ozark National Forest.

The weather was forecast to be cloudy all day, but I was annoyed to see huge breaks in the clouds as I drove up Hwy. 7. We started the hike with the hope that some clouds would end up blocking the sun (which would make waterfall photography easier). But alas, that never happened. Luckily the waterfall was still mostly in shade so we were able to get a few pictures. Here's the view of the 42-foot Fern Falls, taken from under the bluff line.



I guess we will have to return in the spring to see all the ferns?



And one last shot, taken while standing in the mud behind the falls: