ICE, ICE BABY

cold AS ICE

Hiking can still be your favorite activity during the winter with these recommendations from local outdoors specialist Dan Nash of the best places to see frozen waterfalls this season.

BY MICHELLE LEWIS

GLORY HOLE FALLS

Not many waterfalls allow you to look up into their source, but the Glory Hole waterfall is created by a stream that flows through the ceiling of an overhanging cave and allows visitors to look through the water spilling into the cave. During the winter, this unique waterfall becomes even more special when the stream of water builds on itself as it freezes, creating almost a chandelier of ice. Serving more as a hidden gem, the trailhead for this waterfall can be more difficult to find than others. In the Ozark National Forest, you can find the parking area for the trail along the highway between Fallsville and Edwards Junction south of Boxley Valley. The hike can be considered moderate to strenuous, and hikers should use caution when near the waterfall as the ground is slick.

EDEN FALLS

Eden Falls showers over rocks and bluffs for 53 feet before spilling into a pool of water. In the winter, the waterfall creates a path of ice that you’ll have to see to believe. The beginning of Lost Valley Trail provides an easy to moderate hike that is friendly for kids and beginner hikers. Before arriving to the breathtaking Eden Falls, hikers can see an 8-foot waterfall pouring out of the bluffs that is stunning on its own. Beginner hikers are encouraged to continue toward Eden Falls, but those who are more experienced can use caution to wind their way up steep and slick steps to enter Eden Falls cave and see the source of the waterfall.

LONG CREEK FALLS

The Hercules Glade Wilderness Area hosts some of the most scenic country in the Midwest. Located 10 miles northeast of Branson, the area hosts solitude within the rocky hillsides and open grasslands. Along Long Creek hikers can find waterfalls that spill over large boulders. During the warmer

When hiking in cold weather, preparation is extremely important. Always dress in layers and pack supplies.

months, large pools can be seen beneath the falls. In the winter, the area becomes a distinctive ice sculpture worth seeing. To go straight to the Long Creek Falls, start at the Blair Ridge Trailhead. About 2 miles each way, the trail provides a moderate hike through the wilderness of Missouri and leads right to the area’s waterfalls.

HEMMED-IN HO OW FA S

At 200 feet, Hemmed-In Hollow Falls is the tallest waterfall between the Rockies and Appalachians. Cascading over Ozark bluffs, there is no doubt this picturesque waterfall is beautiful during any season. However, the temperatures that occur in winter bring beauty to the falls unlike any other time of the year. As water pours into the hollow, sprays and splashes spread throughout the area. In the winter, this results in a striking masterpiece of bluffs and rocks painted with the cool colors of icicles. Hiking to Hemmed-In Hollow is not a task for the beginner hiker. After starting at the Compton Trailhead, hikers must hike into the hollow on steep declines and hike the same steep path out of the hollow, facing almost 1,400 feet in elevation gain. While the Falls are especially impressive during the winter, the area’s extremely strenuous trail conditions require high levels of skill and high levels of preparation.