Kings River Falls: trail and swimming
Kings River Falls sits along an easy, well-marked 1.8-mile round-trip trail inside a state natural area managed to protect the surrounding forest and river corridor, which makes it one of the more family-friendly waterfall hikes in Arkansas. The pool below the falls is calm enough that swimming, not the falls itself, is what draws most visitors here in summer. Our waterfalls in Arkansas guide lists it among the state's easier hikes, and our swimming holes in Arkansas guide covers the same pool from a swimming angle.
No sourced coordinates are on file for this spot yet — see methodology.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | Approximately 35.902°N, 93.574°W at the falls, Madison County, per published trail waypoints; the managing agency's listing doesn't give coordinates |
| Nearest town | Boston, Arkansas |
| Trail | 1.8 miles round trip, blue-blazed, rated easy |
| Managing agency | Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (Kings River Falls Natural Area) |
| Legal status | Public land, Kings River Falls Natural Area (Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission); swimming allowed, unstaffed |
| Fee | Free |
| Swimming | Natural pool below the falls; no lifeguard and no managed swim area; depth hasn't been measured for this guide |
| Dogs | Discouraged under the commission's natural-area guidance; any pet that does come along has to stay under its owner's control |
| Season | Open year-round; the pool is the summer draw |
The trail
A blue-blazed, 1.8-mile round-trip trail leads through Kings River Falls Natural Area to the falls. The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission manages the area to protect the forest and the river corridor along this stretch of the Kings River, and the trail is well marked and generally easy to follow, which puts it among the more approachable family hikes in the Ozarks compared with the steeper, longer walk to Hemmed-in-Hollow Falls. There's no fee to visit and no permit required.
The commission generally discourages pets in its natural areas, and any dog that does come along needs to stay under the owner's direct control.
Swimming
For most summer visitors the draw isn't the trail but the pool below the falls, calm enough for a swim and a contrast with the shallower, faster water at many other Ozark falls. There's no lifeguard and no managed swim area, so treat it the same as any natural pool: check depth before jumping, and expect current and clarity to change after upstream rain.
Warm, slow-moving freshwater in Arkansas carries a rare but documented risk from the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, and the state has recorded at least one fatal case, tied to a splash pad rather than a river (CDC, MMWR: fatal splash pad–associated case, Pulaski County, September 2023). The CDC recommends keeping your head above water or using nose clips in warm, still or slow-moving freshwater, since infection happens only when contaminated water is forced up the nose (CDC, preventing Naegleria infection when swimming).
How this guide was researched
This page was compiled from the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission's own natural-area listing, published trail reports for the coordinates, and CDC public health data on Naegleria fowleri. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Access rules and water conditions change; verify current conditions with the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission before you go. Last checked September 2026.
FAQ
How long is the hike to Kings River Falls?
1.8 miles round trip on a blue-blazed, easy trail through Kings River Falls Natural Area.
Is there a fee to visit Kings River Falls?
No. It's free to visit, with no permit required.
Can you swim at Kings River Falls?
Yes. The pool below the falls is calm and is the main draw for summer visitors, though it isn't lifeguarded or managed, and its depth hasn't been measured for this guide.
Are dogs allowed at Kings River Falls Natural Area?
Pets are generally discouraged in Arkansas natural areas. Any dog that's present has to stay under the owner's control, which in practice means a leash.
Who manages Kings River Falls?
The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, which designated the surrounding land as a natural area to protect the forest and river corridor.
We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked September 2026. Read our full methodology.