*** Review is during COVID-19 ***…read more Came here earlier in the summer and it was so fun. This is a great spot!!! We wanted to find a swimming hole one day, which I now know can be very difficult to do! After driving around and around to several different spots for hours, where place after place turned out to be unsuccessful or just nonexistent, we were almost ready to give up. Then we remembered one more spot we could try... a swimming hole we'd been to when I was a little kid, with surprisingly clear blue water. We couldn't remember the name at first, but after some calls to my Grandma (always a great resource!) she helped us remember that it was Little Blue! Little Blue was still a bit hard to track down, but we eventually made it there, and had FINALLY found a spot worth staying around for! The water was as pretty as we remembered. In the shallower parts, it's crystal clear and you can see lots of pretty rocks on the bottom and sometimes little fishies too! The deepest part becomes a pretty blue color, and the water went up to at least between my elbows and shoulders (maybe more?). That deepest part isn't a huge area, so a little hard to stake your claim on it if you are trying to social distance, but overall there's plenty of space to spread out. It seemed to me like there were two areas: the area I just described, and then more river down to the left of that. This second area is much less populated, but I can see why, as it kind of quickly starts to get a pretty fishy smell as you go further and also has some animal bones (yeah...). Aside from the water, there's also lots of parking space, where many people had also set up camp (as in literally to camp in a tent for the night). We went on a Saturday (reminder that this was also in the "heat" of summer, no pun intended) so there were quite a few people. However, we were still able to stay a safe distance from others... we did have to be pretty mindful of it though, since others did not appear to be doing the same. I would give 5 stars if it (and other swimming holes in Oklahoma) had better information for people to find and clearer locations/directions!!! It's honestly pretty ridiculous. Also because that second swimming area down to the left could use a little work.

Small & quiet. Refreshing & not too cold on our super hot day. We Had to be careful we didn't want…read moreour kids inhaling around a few groups.

This was a great little spot that I found on my drive back from Arkansas to Tulsa. The waterfall…read moreis pretty and there are a few trails. Lots of benches, picnic tables, and even paved pathways.

Natural Falls State Park is located in West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma, 6 miles from the border with…read moreArkansas. If you're coming to Natural Falls for barbecuing, picnicking, short hiking, lounging around and camping...then this park is for you. I was scrolling through Google Maps and discovered a photo that looked intriguing. It was a picture of a 77 foot plunging waterfall among a scenic backdrop known as Ozark Springs. This Ozark Springs waterfall is the #1 top highlight at the park. The rest of the activities (I believe) are side compliments. So...if you're passing through West Siloam Springs, it could be worthwhile to check out Ozark Springs, and it doesn't take long to do. The trails map says 45 minutes, but it can be finished in less. The walk to the falls is half a mile at the most. You can find Ozark Springs along the Dripping Springs Trail. There are two parts to capturing views. First is from an overlook point high above. After completing this lookout spot, then it's 47 steps down to the bottom. The base of Ozark Falls has a boardwalk pathway leading you in front of the waterfall. I was tempted to step off the boardwalk to avoid the hand railing when taking pictures, but that wasn't not allowed. Also unfortunately, they don't permit swimming in the pool that Ozark Falls splashes into. But the waters appeared refreshing. You can connect Dripping Springs Trail with Ghost Coon Trail to combine two hikes in one. Or otherwise you can return to the Dripping Springs Trailhead and either choose another pathway or hang out, have lunch and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. There are a few other trails you can consider, but they're nothing dramatic. - Fox Den Trail - 1.5 miles to a "rock overhang and cavern area". - Bear Trail - hardly a hike but leads to Ozark Springs and intersects with Dripping Springs Trail. - Pine Ridge Trail - 3/4th's of a mile that navigates the perimeter of Natural Falls Park. It's $10 entrance fee for a day pass. You can pay at the Visitor Center. Plus inside the VC, you can purchase souvenirs from a small selection of items or buy snacks and drinks if you haven't arrived prepared. I noticed they have a lot of space for camping. Although I didn't spend a night here, the conditions for sleeping outdoors looked inviting. Btw...while walking along Ghost Coon Trail, I passed by these Yurts, or I'd describe them as huts accommodative for "glamping" or glorified camping. It's like upscale camping staying in tent - cabins. There may have been 5 - 6 yurts located beside the grass edge of the forest and pleasant looking for enjoying the great outdoors. Overall, Natural Falls State Park has a quiet setting and is fine for taking a few hours to breathe in fresh air, especially if you're in no hurry. Although I wanted more challenging hiking trails and activities to keep me occupied, I was okay with taking a lazy day to appreciate nature.

I took the kids here on a sunny Saturday and the place was pretty busy but still worth visiting!…read moreThe trails were easy to hike with kids, the waterfall was beautiful, and the suspension bridge was fun! There is an old cabin ruin my kids liked exploring, too! I enjoyed all of the informational signs along the way talking about the wildlife, too!Parking was easy and there were plenty of friendly dogs we got to say hi to. I'd definitely recommend a visit and I think I'll try it again come fall to see the pretty leaves.

We loved the Tanyard Creek Nature Trail. It was the perfect size for our family with two young…read morekids. It was beautiful, lots of benches along the way if a rest was needed, and many things to see/look for along our way. Most of it was shaded, so even in the summer heat it wasn't too bad. Also lots of places to go into the water to cool down when needed

This was a nice break with a playground (three stories!) and walking paths as we explored Joplin…read more Cunningham Park was originally known as Cunningham Grove and was donated to the city by Thomas W. Cunningham, who was the mayor of Joplin at the time. Cunningham was a significant figure in Joplin's development, contributing to various sectors such as banking, mining, and philanthropy. In 1897, Cunningham donated eight acres of land to the city for use as a public park. The deed was officially dated on July 5, 1898, and the park was dedicated in the early 1900s1. Cunningham Park became the first park in the Joplin Parks System. Over the years, the park has seen many enhancements, including the addition of a fountain, playgrounds, a swimming pool, and picnic areas. The park was also a central location for community gatherings and celebrations1. Unfortunately, the park was destroyed by an EF-5 tornado in 2011, but the community came together to rebuild it. Today, Cunningham Park stands as a symbol of resilience and community spirit. We were here to walk around the park and to see The Miracle of The Human Spirit monument. [Review 2323 of 2024 - 392 in Missouri - 23337 overall]

Cunningham Park is a vast oasis of everything a city park should be. Sporting fields, trails, lots…read moreof playgrounds with nice equipment, water features, picnic and gathering facilities and a world class memorial garden. The Memorial garden is what caused me to visit and pay respect to those 161 Joplin residents that lost their lives to one of the worst tornadoes in American history. The garden consists of natural rock, sculptures, fountains, informational signage and a vast array of beautiful plants and flowers that are well maintained. The park was in the direct path of the tornado and offers great vantage points to see what was, what remains and what was rebuilt in the vicinity. My visit was during a slight rain shower with approaching storm clouds; which only added to the somber and reflective visit. A must see for anyone traveling in the vicinity of Joplin.

Cute little non-profit garden. 100% volunteer run…read more Woman sitting in office was very friendly and informative - provided great history of the garden and information for local tourist spots :) Came here on a Wednesday afternoon and it was very peaceful. Great place to meditate and get grounded!

Love this place. Very peaceful and beautiful. Make sure to bring quarters to feed the fish.read more

Cute little park near North Park Mall in northern Joplin. Small, flat trails for getting steps in…read moreand taking the pupper for a walk. There is a picnic area and playground - definitely give off the feeling of a nice family-friend park.

This is a great park. It has swings and two play sizes of playground equipment, one for the little…read morekids and one for the bigger kids. They have Outdoor grills and a covered area for birthday orator and get togethers. We have had a couple kids birthday parties there and it was great. They do have restrooms but like any outdoor park, they are not very clean. They also have a long walking path, a tennis court, and a large backstop for softball or baseball or just pitching practice. It's located right behind Toys-r-us but you have to take 4th street to get there so there is not much traffic. It's all FREE and pet friendly. Truly a great place to spend time with your family on a nice day.

Wonderful park connected to the trails with restrooms and water fountains. There is a stream for…read morepets and kids to cool off and of course a playground.

Horsebarn Park is located in Rogers, AR which blends into Bentonville…read more This gorgeous place was not far from our hotel. We had time to kill before we could checkin, so the first place all my girls ventured towards was the creek. Osage Creek, a brisk walk from our parking spot, had water snakes, fish, and small black crayfish - yet none of this bothered my kids or our dog. It was so dang hot on July 24, 2025 that the kids walked barefoot in the creek and the dog plopped down on her belly for a break. Lol. A walking path, public restrooms, and playground were nearby. Free parking. Trash free. The only thing that caught us off guard was when an unleashed dog rushed over to my leashed canine. The owner was slow to respond yet apologetic. Huge fan.

The parking for the southern trailhead is small and not much that a turnaround. The trail is well…read moremarked for both hikers and bikers. It's pretty walking along the lake with plenty of places to stop and enjoy the view. It's definitely worth a visit and I will come back in a different season. There isn't a bathroom at the trailhead so it might be good to stop before you arrive at the trailhead.

Spent Saturday afternoon in the park working a radio station. This is a very pretty, even with…read morebrown grass. Tons of friendly happy folks out playing disc golf and picnicking. Wonderful park in a nice community. If out that way and you want to relax and enjoy the outdoors, this is a good place to do it. I can't believe I didn't take more pictures.

The park is amazing, but it will need some serious upkeep to open up some trails…read more As we walked towards Crystal Bridges most of the trails were cleared, but the beauty of the trails were interrupted by the recent storm. They'll need to pick up and clear the fallen trees and debris. The trails were mostly cleared for walking, and the trail bikers didn't find any problems making their rounds, but it just wasn't its prettiest. I'm confident the City of Bentonville will get to it. It's a beautiful park with plenty of potential to get back to it's typical beauty.

BEAUTIFUL is the the one word to describe the Scenery here…read more I give this place only ONE STAR due to the people (Bicyclist) you may encounter here. Which can completely ruin your walk/hike. Most of the bicyclist are respectful. But over the last two years we've seen some real JERKS disrespect people walking through. This past Saturday was our first encounter with one of those Jerks. Pedestrians and bikers must share some of the same trails and bikers have signs that they they must yield to people walking and even notify when they are going to pass you so you're not ran over or hit by a bike. We've seen quite a few confrontations between pedestrians and bicyclist. My son and my 7 yr old niece were walking back from the bathroom as a family of 4 were walking the opposite direction were about to meet when this Moron tried to pass between them before the gap closed and hit and knock down my niece. He didn't have the patience to wait for the families to cross each other so he would have a clear path around after knocking her down he slowed down without stopping and look back and yelled "is she okay?" but didn't stop, just kept going. But then... As the JERK lay there on the ground with a bruised face, and two flat tires. I also didn't feel any concern or sympathy for him. But I still asked him if he was okay. I gave he a short lecture on karma and we left the park. Now remember not all bicyclists are that way. A lot of them are respectful and will wait or even let you know if they are ready to pass. But there are still those dumb few that don't care at all.

We drove all the way in to the creek. We didn't have time to wonder down any of the trails, but…read moretook a little time to view what looked like a natural spring that ran into the river. Large tree (and i mean large) is shading the rock wall area where picnic tables sit below in the shade. Great little place to stop for a little get away off the beaten path.

This is a lovely facility to visit. Very educational and informative! The walking trails are great!…read moreYou may bring your dog on a leash. Be sure to bring your little poopie bags for any waste. I definitely think you should visit there!