Gunner Pool

From Blanchard Springs, we drove west a few miles to the recreation area at Gunner Pool, in the Ozark National Forest. The dirt road down there was a muddy mess thanks to the recent snow. In parts it was a ruddy path of thick orange mud, which left a thick coating on my car. I went to get it washed the day after - only for it snow six inches the following day.

At Gunner Pool, there is an old dam built by the CCC that creates a deep lake. The creek with the dam then flows into the nearby North Sylamore Creek, where the clear water flows past a huge bluff.


It was a cold winter day, and we had the area pretty much to ourselves.


We then drove over and parked near the dam. The water was high, and was cascading over the dam in a sheet of white water.


It was a little too cold out there that day for a picnic, so we didn't make use of this table. It did have a nice view overlooking the green waters of Gunner Pool.


It was getting a bit late, so it was time to head home. I thought it'd be quicker to drive over to Marshall and then take Hwy. 65 south. So we headed further west, past fields and forests that were still covered with several inches of snow. Zack had made fun of me for not having gotten any shots of a country road on this trip, so I pulled the car over and got this shot. This is a snowy Hwy. 14, rounding a bend as it heads towards Marshall.


And of course, I stopped to get a few shots of some barns along the way...


After getting onto Highway 65, we then headed south towards home. But we did make one last stop, at another waterfall located just off of the road near the town of Leslie. This was a man-made waterfall, along a dam that forms a lake along a fairly large creek. I have no idea what the dam is for, the only nearby business was a used-book store. But it did make for a nice waterfall.


We finally got back to Conway, where Zack, Caden and I stopped to get a dinner from a sushi place. It was a nice end to a long and busy day....

Blanchard Springs

Our next stop was Blanchard Springs, in the Ozark National Forest near Mountain View. This is another great area, since the springs flow year-round. I usually visit here in the summer when most other waterfalls have long since dried up. Even on the hottest days, more than 12,000 gallons of water flows from the spring every minute.

We stopped at the old mill building, which sits just below the dam that creates Mirror Lake. The mill was built around 1900, and restored to its present state by the CCC in the 1940s. The nearby dam was also built by the CCC, which is a neat stone structure with the creek jumping over the spillway and a few waterfalls on the way down. There was a lot of water going over the dam, I'd never seen it this full before.


And another view of the dam and the waterfalls. This was taken next to the old mill.


We then drove over to the trail that leads to Blanchard Springs. This trail is paved, and very short. It runs above the creek formed by the springs, which was running high thanks to the recent rains and snow. The trail quickly ends at the springs, and I was amazed at how much water there was. I usually visit here in the spring or fall, and had never seen this much water in the springs.


But I was amazed to see yet another waterfall there, one that must only flow after heavy rains. It dropped down just to the left of the springs, flowing through a gully carved into the hillside.




It was a great waterfall, and I wondered how I'd been so short-sighted before to not even notice this part of the landscape before.


After spending some time exploring the falls, we headed back on the trail. Here is a view of the trail curving off, with the spring-fed creek on the left.


The creek has a ton of mossy rocks sitting along the shores and in the water. It is a great area to explore, especially with so much water flowing by.


And one final view of the creek, with some patches of snow still clinging to the hillsides.

Collins Creek

Our next stop was Collins Creek, located just across town by Greers Ferry Lake. It is a great place to visit - incredibly easy to reach, with waterfalls that run year-round. I had hoped to see some lingering bits of snow there, but alas, it had all melted away.


Not to toot my own horn, but I think I've gotten some good pictures from here. But I've been here so often, I think I might be getting a bit burned out on it. I hate to say it, but it just seemed like I was re-taking the exact same pictures that I've done countless times before. Luckily, the creek answered back. All of the recent rain and snow meant that a few extra waterfalls were dropping in at unexpected places.




There was a small outlet of the creek that had a few small falls on it, which had been dry during all of my previous visits. So I ended up heading over to explore it more. Since this area probably never sees any visitors, it was a bit overgrown with thorny vines. But this little side creek had several small waterfalls, which sliced through many mossy rocks.


It was still early in the day - only 11:00 - which meant there was plenty of time to hit a few more waterfalls. Zack and I headed north towards Blanchard Springs, another place that is home to a steady waterfall that runs year-round. But like Collins Creek, we would discover another great waterfall surprise caused by the recent rains...

Bridal Veil Falls

I woke up early on Saturday morning and met up again with Zack and Caden for another waterfall trip up to the Ozarks. The recent rains and snowfall meant that the waterfalls up there were up and running, and it would be another great day spent out with the camera...

The first stop was Bridal Veil Falls, by Heber Springs. This waterfall isn't well known, it isn't listed in the guidebooks because it is located on private property. But we were of the understanding that it is ok to visit the falls, as long as we are respectful of the land. But the falls are located very close to the road, and I was a bit surprised that I had driven by these falls countless times and never knew they were there (thanks for the directions, David!).

From a small parking area, a short trail heads out into the woods and eventually to the top of the bluff. We made our way down to the bottom and alongside the creek that forms the falls. There were several neat little falls and cascades along the creek just before the falls.


The falls are probably about 30 feet tall, and the area at the base was filled with moss-covered rocks.




It is a very neat area, and one that will require more trips to explore further. There is apparently another waterfall nearby as well.


We climbed back up to the top of the hill and walked over to the top of the falls. The area along the creek, just before it tumbles over the bluff, reminded me of the nearby Collins Creek.

(Zack - notice that lone leaf sitting on the rock?).

Just about ten feet away was this small rock, sitting in the creek...


I went back over and got a shot looking down from the top of the falls. This was as close as I dared get to the edge, which looks a lot scarier in the picture than it did in real life. Luckily, I didn't slip and fall...


From there we walked back to the car. Since we were in the neighborhood, we headed over to pay a quick visit to the lovely Collins Creek....

Another Snow Day

Apparently our local weather forecasters were too busy watching the Super Bowl last night and didn't pay too much attention to the weather. They had told us there was an upcoming chance of snow - albeit a light dusting to occur tonight. But all of Little Rock awoke this morning to find, instead, a few inches of snow sitting on the ground.

I woke up this morning and eagerly called the inclement weather number for my office, anticipating a recording saying that the office was closed and that I could sleep in for a few more hours. But my heart sank as the robot voice sadly informed me that the office was open, and that it was "business as usual." We could stay home if we wished, but it would require burning a vacation day. I'm trying to save up my PTO time, so I grudgingly got ready and went to clear off the snow from the car.

The traffic wasn't bad this morning, since every one else was safely at home. I got to work on time at 8am, only sliding once on the way. Most of my fellow co-workers never came in, and the office was eerily empty. It was quiet, except for the constant weather updates coming from distant cubicles. Everyone who made it into the office was waiting for the chance to leave as quickly as they could. At noon, after a few more inches of snow fell, they finally told us we could go home.

When I safely reached my apartment, I grabbed the camera and set out for some pictures. The snow had turned to rain, which was quickly turning everything into a soggy mush. I decided to play it safe, and visited a few places that are close to my apartment. The first was a park in Maumelle. It was closed, but I parked my car and walked in anyways. The road passes by a small lake that was surrounded by a snowy landscape:


It wasn't as pretty as I thought it would be, so I turned around and headed back to the car. Along the way, I stopped to get a shot of my footprints in the snow...


And a mailbox across the street from the park entrance. I kinda feel sorry for post office workers who have to get out in this kind of mess.


My next idea was to get a big dam snow shot at the Big Dam Bridge.



And no, I wasn't the one who drove around in circles in the parking lot...

I drove over and parked near the entrance to the bridge. There was another car parked there, and I wondered who would be crazy enough to be out walking the bridge in the snow. But I ended up wandering around some, passing by this staircase leading down to the river.


And this is a view of another staircase. I had to add an Orton effect to this one in a lame attempt to hide some water that got on the lens.


After that I walked around some on the River Trail in the snow. The pictures didn't turn out at all, which meant I spent a good amount of time sloshing through the trail in the rain for no good reason. I was cold and soaked when I finally decided to head back to the warm comforts of my apartment.

But the hours of free time I had today meant that I was also able to finish working on a bunch of pictures taken last Saturday during a waterfall-filled day in the Ozarks. Here's a preview: