Hemmed-In Hollow Trail Hiking Guide
Hemmed-In Hollow Falls drops nearly 210 feet over a rugged Ozark bluff in the Ponca Wilderness, and the Park Service calls it the highest waterfall between the Rockies and the Appalachians. Getting there from the Compton Trailhead means dropping about 1,400 feet to the river bottoms and then climbing every foot of it back out. The park describes the trail as extremely steep and strenuous, one that will humble even experienced hikers.
Distance, Climb and Time
AllTrails lists the out-and-back from Compton at 5.8 miles with 1,414 feet of gain, rating it hard, with one of its pages showing 5.7 miles and 1,420 feet. The Park Service puts the descent at nearly 1,400 feet and says the walk back from the falls to your car climbs about that much in roughly 2.5 miles. Its estimate for an average hiker is four to six hours, and it advises setting aside the whole day for the rough wilderness terrain. All the hard work comes on the return, so save water, food and daylight for it.
The Falls and When They Run
The waterfall only flows after a considerable amount of rain, the park warns, so check recent rainfall before committing to the climb. Late winter and spring are the most reliable seasons, and a day or two after a soaking storm is ideal. In a dry autumn you may find a thin ribbon or just a wet streak on the rock; the hollow and the river views are still impressive, but don't make the trip for the waterfall alone without checking.
Compton Trailhead
From Harrison, the park directs you about 18.5 miles south on Highway 43 to the community of Compton. Turn left onto the dirt road across from the Compton Post Office, drive 1 mile, and follow signs to the lot. There is no restroom. Two trails leave this trailhead: Hemmed-In Hollow is marked with white rectangular blazes and Sneeds Creek with yellow ones, so make sure you start on white.
Junctions and the Centerpoint Option
Lower down, spur trails link Hemmed-In Hollow with the Sneeds Creek, Centerpoint, Bench and Old River trails, and the park says a detailed topographic map is essential to avoid confusion at those intersections. You can also reach the falls from the Centerpoint Trailhead on Highway 43, which the park calls not quite as strenuous as Compton but still a full-day trip. AllTrails lists that route at 10.4 miles round trip with 1,666 feet of gain.
Safety, Dogs and Hunting
This hike is one of the most frequent search-and-rescue locations at Buffalo National River, and the park blames steep terrain combined with poor preparation, which leads to dehydration, exhaustion and heat illness. In summer, start at first light or pick another hike. Pets are not allowed on Ponca Wilderness trails, though service animals are. The park is also an Arkansas Game and Fish wildlife management area where hunting is allowed in most places; deer archery season runs from late September through February, so bright colors are a good idea in fall and winter.
Hiking tips for Hemmed-In Hollow Trail
- Start on the white-blazed trail, not the yellow Sneeds Creek blazes beside it.
- Check recent rainfall; the falls need a good soaking to run.
- Budget at least half your water and energy for the 1,400-foot climb out.
- Carry a topographic map for the junctions in the river bottoms.
- Skip it on hot summer afternoons, when heat illness is the park's main worry here.
Nearby trails to explore
- Centerpoint Trail to Big Bluff (Goat Trail)
- Lost Valley Trail (Buffalo National River)
- Whitaker Point Trail (Hawksbill Crag)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Hemmed-In Hollow is a full-day climb that goes better with people who keep a steady pace on the way out. Use TrailMates to find hikers from Northwest Arkansas waiting on a wet week to chase the falls, agree on a dawn start in the event's group chat, and gather at the Compton Trailhead. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.