Arkansas has some outstanding natural features from waterfalls to caves. One of the features that may be overlooked are the unique rocks that make their way along the state’s different trails. From natural bridges to weird erosion effects, Arkansas has is home to some truly out of the world rock formations.
- The Sandstone Arch — Dover
AllTrails/Doug Neidholdt Arkansas has some pretty impressive natural bridges. This particular one sits along the Buzzard Roost Trail in Dover. The trail has many interesting geological features from the 40 foot crevices creating slot-like caves to the Buzzard Roost bluff line above.
- Pivot Rock — Eureka Springs
Flickr/LazyLibrarian Pivot Rock Park has been a tourist attraction in Eureka Springs for more than 100 years. The trail takes you along weird rock formations such as this one, a natural bridge, ravines, and small caves. According to legend, Jesse James and the James-Younger Gang would hide out among the caves here.
- Rock House — Morrilton
Flickr/Granger Meador Petit Jean State Park is a treasure trove of unique rock formations, with Rock House Cave being the focal point. The Rock House Cave isn’t really a cave but a rock shelter. Native American art more than 500 years old lines the inside walls.
- Carpet Rock — Morrilton
Flickr/Jonathan Ball The Carpet Rock also makes its home in Petit Jean State Park along the Cedar Falls Trail. Some people are convinced that aliens are the culprit behind the weird formation but there’s a geological explanation as well. Fractured sandstone filled with quartz and slowly eroded away leaving the carpet-like pattern.
- Turtle Rocks — Morrilton
Flickr/Granger Meador The Turtle Rocks are yet another geological oddity in Petit Jean State Park. They’re thought to be made from a unique form of chemical erosion forcing sand grains out from the rock creating the round shell-like shape.
- Pedestal Rock — Sand Gap
Flickr/Granger Meador Along Pedestal Rock Trail, hikers will see layers of sediment from when the area was covered in water. As the water receded, the land raised to form a dome called the Ozark Plateau. This was then weathered away leaving the Pedestal Rocks.
- Natural Bridge — Compton
Flickr/Granger Meador This massive 130-foot long bridge can be found at Alum Cove near Hemmed-In Hollow. The bridge had been used by settlers to move livestock and wagons without taking them through the stream.
- Miner’s Rock — Eureka Springs
Arklahoma Hiker/Mike Newman Miner’s Rock Trail runs through Lake Leatherwood City Park in Eureka Springs. The layered rock formations are scattered all along the trail.
- Natural Bridge — Clinton
Flickr/Jason Shultz This bridge is its own attraction as opposed to sitting along a trail. The Natural Bridge is a 120-foot compression bridge. A cabin nearby houses a gift shop and a ranger who will tell you the history of the bridge.
- Arkansas Sphinx — Sand Gap
Rick’s Hiking Blog/Rick Henry The Arkansas Sphinx is arguably the most unique rock formation in the state. It’s one of the highest peaks in the Ozarks at 1800 ft. The giant sandstone monolith had been a lookout point during the Civil War.
Which weird rock formations have you seen? Is there another geological oddity that needs a shout out? Let us know in the comments below!
AllTrails/Doug Neidholdt
Arkansas has some pretty impressive natural bridges. This particular one sits along the Buzzard Roost Trail in Dover. The trail has many interesting geological features from the 40 foot crevices creating slot-like caves to the Buzzard Roost bluff line above.
Flickr/LazyLibrarian
Pivot Rock Park has been a tourist attraction in Eureka Springs for more than 100 years. The trail takes you along weird rock formations such as this one, a natural bridge, ravines, and small caves. According to legend, Jesse James and the James-Younger Gang would hide out among the caves here.
Flickr/Granger Meador
Petit Jean State Park is a treasure trove of unique rock formations, with Rock House Cave being the focal point. The Rock House Cave isn’t really a cave but a rock shelter. Native American art more than 500 years old lines the inside walls.
Flickr/Jonathan Ball
The Carpet Rock also makes its home in Petit Jean State Park along the Cedar Falls Trail. Some people are convinced that aliens are the culprit behind the weird formation but there’s a geological explanation as well. Fractured sandstone filled with quartz and slowly eroded away leaving the carpet-like pattern.
The Turtle Rocks are yet another geological oddity in Petit Jean State Park. They’re thought to be made from a unique form of chemical erosion forcing sand grains out from the rock creating the round shell-like shape.
Along Pedestal Rock Trail, hikers will see layers of sediment from when the area was covered in water. As the water receded, the land raised to form a dome called the Ozark Plateau. This was then weathered away leaving the Pedestal Rocks.
This massive 130-foot long bridge can be found at Alum Cove near Hemmed-In Hollow. The bridge had been used by settlers to move livestock and wagons without taking them through the stream.
Arklahoma Hiker/Mike Newman
Miner’s Rock Trail runs through Lake Leatherwood City Park in Eureka Springs. The layered rock formations are scattered all along the trail.
Flickr/Jason Shultz
This bridge is its own attraction as opposed to sitting along a trail. The Natural Bridge is a 120-foot compression bridge. A cabin nearby houses a gift shop and a ranger who will tell you the history of the bridge.
Rick’s Hiking Blog/Rick Henry
The Arkansas Sphinx is arguably the most unique rock formation in the state. It’s one of the highest peaks in the Ozarks at 1800 ft. The giant sandstone monolith had been a lookout point during the Civil War.
For more interesting Arkansas features, try these trails that lead to historical ruins.
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