Dripping Springs Trail (Natural Falls State Park) Hiking Guide
Natural Falls State Park, in the Ozark foothills near the Arkansas line, is built around one sight: a 77-foot waterfall dropping into a narrow, fern-lined valley. The Dripping Springs Trail is how you see it, from the rail at the top, from a deck at the bottom, and from a bridge strung high across the valley on the way back.
Permit: Natural Falls is a parking-pass state park. Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation's October 2025 rates: day pass $10 per vehicle, $8 with Oklahoma or tribal plates; annual $75, or $60 in-state. Oklahoma residents 62 and older and honorably discharged in-state veterans get passes free, and campers and yurt guests get one with the booking.
Distance and Difficulty
The park describes the trail as half a mile to the overlook and allows about 45 minutes for the full circuit. That half mile covers only the boardwalk to the overlook; the hike most visitors make, down the 47 steps to the base, along the lake and back over the high bridge, is the circuit AllTrails maps at 1.1 miles with about 141 feet of climbing, and that is the figure used here. The walk to the overlook at the top of the falls is ADA accessible; the park rates the rest moderate to difficult, with steps, a steep climb and natural-surface path.
The Loop
From the overlook, 47 steps lead down to the base of the falls. Stay on the elevated boardwalk: the ferns, mosses and liverworts in the spray are easily damaged by feet. Turn at the cedar bench halfway up the hill to continue along the stream, past the lake's fishing area, and up a steep incline to the bluff. The park warns that parts of this path end in drops of 100 feet or more. Near the top it meets the Ghost Coon Trail, and both lead to the suspension bridge over the valley.
What You'll See
The falls create a cool, damp pocket where ferns and liverworts grow under maples and chinquapin and white oaks, with dogwood, sassafras, spicebush, redbud and pawpaw lower down. If the scene looks familiar, scenes from the 1974 film Where the Red Fern Grows were shot here. The bridge crossing gives a treetop view down onto the falls before the loop closes.
Pass, Hours and Pets
Every vehicle needs an Oklahoma state parks parking pass here. The tourism department's October 2025 rates are $10 a day, or $8 with Oklahoma or tribal plates, and an overnight booking includes one pass. The park is open dawn to dusk year-round, and the trails close at dusk. Bring the dog if you like: the park caps leashes at 10 feet and expects waste to be picked up.
Timing Your Visit
The park is open every day of the year, and the falls are fed by the springs the trail is named for. The shaded, moist valley and its ferns make this a reasonable summer outing, but leave time for the steep climb to the bluff. It is a short loop with an accessible overlook, so an early start is the simplest way to have the base deck and bridge to yourself.
Hiking tips for Dripping Springs Trail (Natural Falls State Park)
- Stay on the boardwalk at the base; the plants by the falls are fragile.
- Keep kids close on the bluff section, where drops reach 100 feet.
- Use the accessible overlook if anyone in the group can't manage steps.
- Combine it with the Fox Den Trail for a longer morning.
- Start early for a quiet look from the base deck.
Nearby trails to explore
- Fox Den Trail (Natural Falls State Park)
- Lake Trail (Osage Hills State Park)
- Bixhoma Lake Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Natural Falls is a far corner of Green Country, and the drive is better shared. Post a trip in TrailMates, sort out the carpool and who buys the parking pass in the event's group chat, and meet at the Dripping Springs trailhead. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.