Big Piney Ranger District (479) 284-3150 or (870) 446-5122
Highlights
Camping
Forest
Scenic
Water
Big Piney Creek flows south out of the Ozark Mountains down to its confluence with the Arkansas River near Russellville Arkansas. This area is popular with canoeists, kayakers, tubers, hikers, bikers, SXS/ATV riders, hunters, fishermen, and anyone that loves the outdoors. The trail parallels Big Piney Creek and Hurricane Creek most of its length, offering beautiful water and foliage views along the way. The highlight of the trail is Carwash Falls, where a stream spills over the top of a small limestone bluff onto the road before entering Big Piney Creek.
Trail Difficulty and Assessment
Recommended Vehicle:
2WD Vehicle with High Clearance
Concerns:
Summary:
This is a well-maintained gravel county road. The only difficulty may be the stream crossing of Hurricane Creek. It should not be attempted by low clearance vehicles or during higher depths or fast flow.
The hardest part of the trail that you
cannot bypass - you have to drive it.
Optional
2 -
EASY
The hardest part of the trail that is
purely optional - you can bypass it.
Dirt and/or rocky road. Potential rocks and/or tree stumps less than 5" tall and/or vertical ledges less than 5" tall and/or near vertical ledges or waterfalls less than 6" inches. Good tire placement likely. Can be steep, but with good traction.Read More about our Rating System
This trail begins at the Highway 123 crossing over Big Piney Creek in Johnson County and follows along the east bank of either Big Piney Creek or Hurricane Creek for most of its 5 1/2 mile length. The county road is mostly gravel and easily passable by most vehicles without 4WD with no major grades or elevation changes. Low clearance vehicles may have difficulty with the water crossing at Hurricane Creek. The water at the crossing will vary from less than 6 inches during dry periods to as much as 2 feet or deeper after a heavy rainfall or flash flood. Due to the velocity of streams flows, if the depth is more than 2 or 3 inches above your center hub or high enough to come in contact with your chassis, crossing it is not recommended. The road is well maintained, but proceed with caution around turns with little or no visibility due to oncoming traffic. This area is relatively remote with little or no cell phone coverage, so prepare your maps and navigation devices before heading out on your trip.
1. Trailhead - Continue Straight (0
mi)
Highway 123 crosses over Big Piney Creek just before you get to the Carwash Falls trailhead. The bridge over Big Piney Creek is a steel truss one-lane bridge that overlooks the river. There is a popular day-use access area on the west end of the bridge where people put in/take out canoes, kayaks, tubes, etc., or just hang out and enjoy the water. Carwash Falls trail begins just east of the bridge on the left. The Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Map indicates the road name is Big Piney Road but it is also marked on maps as Johnson County Road 5881.
2. Overlook - Continue Straight (0.35
mi)
Stop here and find the small path down the hill. Proceed with caution, and you will be rewarded with a scenic view both up and down the Big Piney River.
3. Campsite - Stay Left (1.66
mi)
There is a small campsite on the banks of Hurricane Creek at this waypoint close to the trail. The trail actually continues left just before entering the campsite. This trail runs alongside Hurricane Creek Wildlife Management Area and during most hunting seasons the campground may be occupied. If you consider camping here be aware that sudden rainfall could cause flash flooding.
4. Two Unknown Trails - Continue Right (1.79
mi)
There will be two unknown, unmarked trails at this waypoint. Continue right on the main trail.
5. Campsite - Stay Straight (1.85
mi)
There is a primitive dispersed campsite at this waypoint close to Hurricane Creek. As with any campsite located near water, camp with caution at your own risk. Flash floods can cause dangerous situations quickly!
6. Hurricane Creek Water Crossing - Continue Straight (1.87
mi)
The depth of flow in Hurricane Creek can vary from a few inches to over a foot or two deep depending on rainfall. Proceed with caution, and do not ford the creek if you can't see the bottom, your vehicle isn't capable of crossing, or you don't feel comfortable doing so.
As you approach this waypoint the road seems to disappear into a large rock. It actually funnels between two rocks and heads back down to the bank of Big Piney Creek. You cannot see what is coming from the other direction so proceed slowly. The road is narrow and two vehicles will not fit through this spot side by side. If you have a tall vehicle or rooftop tent, do not get too close to the overhanging rocks at this point.
8. Carwash Falls - Stay Straight (2.92
mi)
This waypoint is the highlight of the trail and the reason many venture this way. A small stream spills over the top of the limestone bluff approximately 25 feet above Big Piney Road, washing away some of the dust you may have accumulated along the trail up to this point. It is a very picturesque spot with the waterfall coming down and Big Piney Creek flowing alongside the road on the opposite side.
9. Unknown Trail - Continue Straight (3.98
mi)
Continue straight past the unknown trail.
10. Low Water Bridge - Stay Straight (4.28
mi)
Stay straight and cross the low water bridge.
11. Trail Ends (5.55
mi)
The trail ends at an intersection with Parker Ridge Road (also known as Forest Road 1202 / Highway 30). There are no signs at this intersection, but Parker Ridge Road bends back to the right at a sharp angle and begins an ascent up Parker Ridge. You can turn around at this point and run Carwash Falls in reverse or continue exploring more of the beautiful Ozark National Forest from here.
Dispersed
Improved
Designated
There are several primitive dispersed campsites along the trail. A few miles from the trailhead is Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area which has a US Forest Service maintained campground. There are 9 family sites with a vault toilet but no electricity or running water. Dispersed camping is also permitted throughout the Ozark National Forest, but be mindful of hunting seasons since a good portion of this trail is adjacent to the Hurricane Creek Wildlife Management Area.
Starting Point
Little Rock, Arkansas
Directions from Little Rock to Carwash Falls Trailhead - Big Piney Creek Rd - County Road 5881
Get on I-630 E then take I-40 W
Follow I-40 W to US-64 W/E Main St in Lamar. Take exit 64 from I-40 W
1 h 21 min (94.2 mi)
Merge onto I-630 E
1.4 mi
Use any lane to take exit 139A-139B to merge onto I-30 E toward N Little Rock
3.1 mi
Use the left 2 lanes to take exit 143A to merge onto I-40 W/US-65 N toward Fort Smith
Continue to follow I-40 W
89.5 mi
Take exit 64 for US-64 toward Lamar
0.3 mi
Take AR-123 N to Co Rd 5881 in Perry Township
45 min (29.3 mi)
Turn right onto US-64 W/E Main St (signs for Lamar)
2.1 mi
Turn right onto AR-123 N/N Johnsonville St
Continue to follow AR-123 N
2.5 mi
Slight right onto AR-123 N/AR-164 E
5.6 mi
Slight left onto AR-123 N
16.2 mi
Arrive at Co Rd 5881 / Big Piney Creek Rd
Continue to follow Co Rd 5881
This was my 7th trail since I bought my Rubicon and I have to say it is probably my favorite. If you’re coming on Interstate 40 from central Arkansas and plan to picnic on the trail, you better stop at Russellville for food. There is nothing once you take the Lamar Exit. This trail is an easy drive and the water crossing is easy if it hasn’t rained recently. You will see a great combination of water views, heavily wooded areas and beautiful meadows. We encountered two deer and an Indigo Bunting along the way. We started at the bridge and drove north. At the northern end of the trail, I planned to turn right on Parker Ridge Road and then right on FS 92730A Road to parallel back south to near the start of the trail. WARNING: FS 92730A Road seen on the map does not exist! I was using my Garmin and the Gaia app and never found 92730. I drove a little further thinking I’d find it. Nope. Once you finish the trail on the north end, your best bet is to turn around and retrace the trail back south. It’s definitely just as beautiful going south. I can now proudly say my Jeep has been baptized at Carwash Falls. A fantastic trail!
A super fun easy trail. A little high water crossing if it has rained heavy recently. No problem in my Jeep but possibly for some smaller suvs if the creek is really up. My kids loved this trail. Beautiful scenery all around. Makes for a great day trip & ride.
Have been several times to see this waterfall but always felt uncomfortable crossing hurricane creek because it was flowing really big each time. This time decided to come in from Deer on Parker Road. The falls were flowing really well (see video) and hurricane creek was about 20 inches deep on the way out. Pay no attention to the comments in the video,didn't think about it recording our voices also.
Thought I’d add this unique situation in, everyone has run this road, hurricane ford is the only issue and that’s only at really high levels, but on this trip the falls were frozen solid blocking the road, it made for a really neat photo opportunity
We took 2 of our kids with us and had a great time. Not much rain lately so the fall wasn’t very strong but still beautiful! The scenery was well worth the trip!
first trail easy. not much water so friend with corolla drove thru the river crossing easy. good area for disperse camping, would recommend but different season where you get to see those waterfalls with water. no mosquitoes
there was a huge tree that fell, but a day later someone with chainsaw cut and removed.
1st trail to hit from this site! It was a great 1st trail and we created a great memory - the kids rode in the back of the truck under the falls. They also got to do their 1st creek crossing (waypoint 5), so that thought that was super-cool. The falls themselves were not much more than a trickle, but I'm not sure what is 'normal'. We just went thru them slower and everyone got plenty wet!
Being a noob/rookie, i wish i would have done 3 things: 1) had my wife get out a take more pics and a video (or several), 2) printed or downloaded this page before I got there (no signal down there for us on ATT and Verizon), 3) had realized how long the trail ride was back to pavement. I might have just turned around and went out the way I came in - the kids would have liked going thru the creek again rather than just miles and miles of gravel road.
We are going back sometime before the kids go back to school, so I'm sure we will visit again.
My husband & I LOVE LOVE LOVE riding through this area. His family has lived in Newton County since the 1800's. This weekend was the first time anyone has ever heard of this fall called Carwash Falls. It's always been referred to as the Bluff Hole Falls..Like I say, you always can learn something new & that was new to us..I recommend everyone drive out to the area & enjoy all of the falls then have a nice swim in the creek!!
Fun track with some nice views of the creek. Plenty of water at the time. We went ahead and headed all the way through up toward Jasper and it did get quite a bit tougher. No cell signal and lots of mud in places.
Me and my wife love this trail. As we were fording Hurricane Creek, she actually told me that getting a Jeep was worth it! This area has a ton of waterfalls, including Car Wash Falls, and Big Piney Creek is beautiful. The road itself is well maintained and smooth, except for the creek crossing which is fairly rocky. I recommend this trail for anyone at any experience level.
We ran this road from Hwy 123 to the end and then back again. It was 75 and beautiful. There were a few campers and other vehicles but it wasn't overly busy. The famous falls were just a trickle but Hurricane Creek was a nice level. We enjoyed it.
First timer for strip’n the doors and roof off of the wrangler and putt’n through the bushes so thought I would start out slow and easy with a novice trail. Turns out it was a good decision. The previous reviews were right on point. Shady, smooth, wide, and only a few moments of “real” wheel’n. Unfortunately, halfway through the course, I lost signal and, you guessed it, I got lost. I was hoping for a few directional arrows or some such idiot saver, but no luck. So, we went crushing up and down the mountain roads looking for daylight and that took awhile. But, it was still a blast if not for “the Queen” giving me the evil eye!! LOL I would definitely recommend this trail for a beginner, with, perhaps, Verizon as a service provider? It was a great trip, long enough to make me feel like I was a real “wheeler” and short enough to afford me some time to get lost!!
Just to add to Brooks great review, if you drive this south to north as outlined, you have 3 options when you get to the piney creek bridge at the north end. Make a right on Parker ridge road up to Deer, go left across the bridge on pine ridge rd , it will loop back south to Rosetta then you can run back down to 123 or west to hwy 21 , Third you can go straight to limestone then north to deer . All options are good in thier own way. This road has seen quite a increase in traffic the past few years so be careful of meeting a vehicle at the blind curve just south of the car wash or other similar spots.
Edit: we went back through here 2-22-20 and had a Subaru follow us to Parker ridge with no issues, but the creek was only about a foot deep . If you opt for the rougher trip to limestone instead of going up Parker ridge road , beware the road has started a slide About 1/2 way through and was barely passable , I’m afraid this will continue to slide and take the road with it , so beware going through here. And it’s recommended to go up Parker ridge instead.
It was a cold and overcast day. It was my first time on this trial/road. I found the scenery very nice. The creek was easily crossed and the water was about six inches deep. The carwash was only moderately dripping. Overall it was a very relaxing drive.
Road was open and clear. Still some icicles on the norther side of the bluffs. Very little flow coming over the falls. A group of approximately 40 jeeps went through here around noon on this date. Water crossing approximately 12" deep.
Went to check out car wash falls in the sub freezing temps. A little water was coming down, but for the most part the entire rock wall was covered in icicles! Beautiful sight and some were very large! The water crossing was easily done this time of year, water was around 6" or so.
Passable with high clearance F150. Water crossing over 12" deep.
From the Community
Be the first to ask a question!
Shawn Ayres
Mapping Crew - Arkansas
Shawn is a native of Arkansas, and enjoys camping, exploring the National Forests, chasing waterfalls, and canoeing/kayaking. His wife loves to accompany him on most of his outdoor adventures. He is also an avid rock-crawler and can be found at the local off-road park any chance he gets. Having been a trail guide there, he knows the trails well and enjoys showing new guys the ropes. Consummate adventurers, Shawn and his wife love exploring new places, sometimes heading out with no destination in mind and exploring the unknown.
By clicking "ACCEPT", you agree to be the terms and conditions of each
policy linked to above. You also agree to the storing of cookies on
your device to facilitate the operation and functionality of our site,
enhance and customize your user experience, and to analyze how our
site is used.