Pedestal Rock + Kings Bluff: 2 in 1 Amazing Arkansas Trails

Updated: April 2024

For a fun half-day of hiking with beautiful scenery and good exercise, hike the Pedestal Rock and Kings Bluff areas! Here’s what you should know and what to expect on these 2 Arkansas hiking trails…

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Pedestal Rock Location

Pedestal Rocks Scenic Area
AR State Hwy 16
Witts Springs, AR 72686

On Google Maps HERE

Facilities at Pedestal Rock

This area offers two hiking loop trails, each leading to its own scenic area. This is a day-use-only area and offers hiking trails, a picnic site, and a vault toilet. The parking area offers plenty of room for several vehicles. This scenic area consists of two hiking trails: Pedestal Rocks and Kings Bluff.

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About the Area

The trail is located at the top of the Illinois Bayou River Drainage. It offers great views and a glimpse into the history of Arkansas geology.

While hiking the trail, you will see layer upon layer of sediment that was deposited when the area was underwater millions of years ago. After the water receded, the land formed a dome called the Ozark Plateau. Since then, natural erosion has been occurring to form the Ozark Mountains. On the trail, you will see unique formations, called pedestals that were formed by weathering.

Pedestal Rock + King’s Bluff Trailheads

Beginning from the parking area, the trail heads into the woods and immediately splits. The trail to the right starts the King’s Bluff Loop, while the trails to the left and straight ahead form the Pedestal Rocks Loop.

King’s Bluff Hike

The King’s Bluff Loop is 1.7 miles long and is best hiked in a counter-clockwise direction. After about a mile, the trail leads out to the top of a huge flat bluff, overlooking a deep valley about 100′ below.

During wet weather, there is an impressive 114′ tall waterfall at the north end of the bluffline. A railing has been added for safety. From the main bluff and waterfall, the trail continues around to the left, passing over a smaller waterfall (during wet weather), and travels along the edge of the bluffline offering some of the most unique and beautiful rock formations in Arkansas.

Pedestal Rock Hike

The Pedestal Rocks Loop is 2.2 miles long, and visits the main attraction of this area: Pedestal Rock. These unique rock formations were formed years ago from water and wind erosion, sculpting the unique mushroom-shaped columns, as well as the numerous small caves and rock shelters on the sides of the bluff.

The trail stays mostly level for about the first mile, following a ridge top most of the way. The trail first emerges from the woods at the bluff with an amazing view of the valley down below. The trail then continues following close to the bluff line. You eventually come to the Pedestal Rocks. The trail continues along this bluffline for approx. ½ mile or so, with more rock formations and viewpoints.

On the Pedestal Rock Trail, be sure to take the trails leading to the bottom of the bluffs. Here, you will see some amazing caves and bluff shelters for exploration. Although the views from the top are great, the rock formations underneath were the highlight of our trip!

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Although these trails were almost a 3-hour drive for us, it was well worth the 4 and a half hours we spent exploring the diverse landscape. We highly recommend these trails for any hiker who can handle a moderate hike and loves good views and rocks to play in/on. If you only have time for 1 of the hikes, Pedestal Rock is our pick. However, that may change if we see King’s Bluff Falls after a good rain.

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