Part of the appeal of Little Glory Hole is that it rewards a little effort: the closer you get, the cooler the air and the louder the water, and the photos rarely do it justice.
Geology and background
What makes Little Glory Hole special
Little Glory Hole is a glory hole, not a tall open drop: the water falls through a vertical shaft in the rock rather than over a wide edge. That is what the name means, and it is what makes the place different from the falls around it. There is no height on file, and none is claimed here: the shape of the hole is the point, not a number.
Its neighbours are close. China Falls is 0.3 miles away, Tassel Spring Falls 2.1 miles away and Three Springs Falls 3.2 miles away, so Little Glory Hole sits in a small Arkansas cluster rather than apart from it. No stream gauge is linked, so go after rain: a glory hole with little water behind it is easy to miss, and the flow is the only guide.
Navigate by coordinates rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Best time and crowds
No stream gauge is linked to Little Glory Hole, so recent rain is your best guide. Expect the most water in spring and after heavy rain. In a dry spell, especially late summer and early fall, the same fall can look half the size.
This is a quiet Arkansas stop, and the fall is unlikely to be crowded. Even so, an early start is the best way to have the viewpoint to yourself.
Safety
Keep well back from the edge of the shaft. A glory hole is a hole in the ground with water dropping through it, and the rock around the rim is often wet and undercut. Never climb down into it or stand at the lip, even when the flow looks gentle. Stay on marked trails and behind railings where they exist.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
A bag to pack out trash
Practical tips
Pair it with China Falls, 0.3 miles away.
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Go after rain: with no gauge on file, recent weather is the only guide to flow.
Keep back from the rim of the hole and watch your footing on the wet rock around it.
Most waterfalls form where a stream crosses from hard rock onto softer rock. The soft layer wears away faster, the hard lip is left overhanging, and over thousands of years the fall slowly cuts its way upstream.
Water flow and seasons
No stream gauge is linked to Little Glory Hole yet, so recent rain is your best guide. The weather panel on this page adds up the last three days of rain at the fall.
Expect the most water in spring and after heavy rain. In a dry spell, especially late summer and early fall, the same fall can look half the size.
The trail and the viewpoint
We do not have a trail length for Little Glory Hole yet. Some falls are a few steps from a parking area, others take a real hike, so check the park or a trail app before you set out.
Swimming is not listed. Treat the plunge pool as off-limits unless signs say otherwise: the water at the base is colder and stronger than it looks.
Facilities and amenities
We do not list a park for this fall, which often means a small trailhead or roadside pull-off with few or no facilities.
Plan as if there is no drinking water and no phone signal at the falls themselves. Use the restroom and fill your bottles before you start walking.
Fees, permits, and opening hours
No entry fee is listed. Parks may still charge for parking or day use, and federal lands often accept an annual pass instead.
Most falls are reachable from dawn to dusk. Gates, seasonal road closures and timed-entry permits are the usual surprises, so check the managing agency on the day.
How to get to Little Glory Hole
Little Glory Hole is in Arkansas. For the last stretch, navigate by coordinates (36.0484, -92.386) rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream.
The final approach is usually the hardest part: narrow roads, small trailhead lots that fill early, and a walk that can be ten minutes or several hours. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Our Arkansas waterfalls page maps every fall in the state, which helps when you are planning a route.
For the fullest flow, visit Little Glory Hole in spring or within a couple of days of heavy rain. For easier footing and warmer air, early summer is the compromise.
Light matters for photos: the base of a fall is often in shade by midday, and an overcast day evens out the bright water against dark rock.
Crowds and timing
Arrive early or late. The middle of a summer weekend is peak time almost everywhere, and small trailheads can be full by 10 a.m.
Holiday weekends and the first warm days of spring are the busiest of all. If the lot is full, do not park on the road shoulder: it is the most common reason for tickets and towing at trailheads.
How long to spend there
Without a listed trail length, plan for half a day: enough time to find the trailhead, walk in, spend an hour at the water and walk out without rushing.
If there are other falls nearby, they are often on the same road or trail system. Two or three in a day is very doable.
Where to stay near Little Glory Hole
We do not recommend specific places to stay. The links below search for hotels and campgrounds around Little Glory Hole on Google Maps, so you can compare drive times from the trailhead.
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury.
Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle.
Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs. Only swim where it is allowed.
In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes. Leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
Leave no trace: pack out trash, stay off fragile moss and plants, and keep drones grounded where they are banned.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
Cash for parking
A bag to pack out trash
Practical visitor tips
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet: spray reaches further than you expect.
Keep your phone in a zip bag near the base.
Pack out everything, including food scraps.
Tell someone where you are going if the trail is long or remote.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Little Glory Hole, Arkansas located?
Little Glory Hole is in Arkansas. Its GPS coordinates are 36.0484, -92.386.
What kind of waterfall is Little Glory Hole, Arkansas?
Its form (plunge, cascade, horsetail and so on) is not listed yet.
How tall is Little Glory Hole?
Its height has not passed a source check yet, so we do not show a number or include it in tallest lists.
How much does it cost, and when is it open?
No fee is listed, though parking or day-use fees may apply. Most falls are open dawn to dusk; check the managing agency for seasonal closures.
Is Little Glory Hole good for families?
It depends on the trail, which we have not confirmed. Check the length and terrain first, and keep children well back from wet rock and the edge.
How do I know if it is flowing?
No gauge is linked, so use the last three days of rain in the weather panel: more rain usually means more water.
The bottom line
Little Glory Hole is worth a detour, especially after rain. Go early, check recent rain, wear grippy shoes, and give yourself time to sit and listen once you get there.
Waterfalls nearby
One fall rarely fills a day. These are within about 40 miles.
Leave a waterfall report