A Day Hiking at Devil’s Den State Park, Arkansas.

Hiking at Devil’s Den State Park, the Arkansas icon, is a must-do. There are five trails for hikers only and two trails for hikers and cyclists. That’s the information I got from the park’s trail brochure.

Monument Trails are on the north side of the park. These multi-use trails offer enduring, memorable opportunities for cyclists, runners, and hikers of all skills. It’s one of the favorite places for mountain biking in Arkansas State Parks.

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Of all the trails in the park, which one should I do when spending one day at the park? You may wonder.

Generally speaking, it depends on your interests, physical endurance, how long you can stay in the park, and the weather.

We came from Robbers Cave State Park in Wilburton, Oklahoma, about 116 miles southwest. It was a long drive, so we didn’t have much time to spend in the park. But I had two places in the park that I wanted to see: the Devil’s Den Cave and the Yellow Rock Overlook.

Fortunately, I got to visit both through the two trails I did and share them with you here.

Devil’s Den State Park Hiking

Devil’s Den hiking trails are mostly shaded. You will hike under tall trees, with sunshine penetrating through the trees. The trails are a mix of hard ground, rocks, and boulders. While you can hike with walking shoes here, I prefer to hike in my hiking boots on rocky terrain. Please don’t wear your flip-flops.

Hiking trails at Devil’s Den State Park are divided into easy, moderate, and strenuous difficulty.

I went hiking in mid-July. The temperature was in the lower 80s, but it was humid. Sweat dripped from my temples, and my backpack was glued to my t-shirt, but the sun didn’t fall straight to my body. I was good with that, but fall and spring will be a better time to visit.  

Let’s check out the two trails I did with my dog in Devil’s Den State Park. 

1. Devil’s Den Trail

Length: 1.5-mile loop

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: 100 feet

Trailheads: Behind the visitor center at Highway 170 bridge

How to get here: Enter Highway 74, and you will see the trailhead on the right. There’s a small parking space across the trailhead. I went to the Visitor Center first and left the car there. There’s a path from behind the Visitor Center to the trailhead.

At the beginning of the trail, there’s a wooden platform with information boards about the Devil’s Den Trail. Take a picture of the trail or use the Alltrails app so you won’t lose on the trail.

From here, you will take a hard ground stairs framed by rocks. Then you will hike on a flat trail under tall trees. The trail is quite spacious. Several yards later, you will go up on several stone steps. Keep right when you see a trail to the left. Then, the trail gradually goes up until you reach the Devil’s Den Cave.

The cave area reminded me a little of The Ledges Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. It’s because of the crevices covered by moss. The caves are currently closed to protect bats and their habitat.

Unfortunately, the Devil’s Den Cave and Ice Box signs were missing. I missed feeling the cold air coming from the cave. But even if the sign is there, I wouldn’t go down to the Ice Box. It was just me and my dog there. There’s nobody else. I didn’t feel adventurous enough that day.  

After this spot, the trail gradually descends. Before you get to Twin Falls, there are cool rock formations. I didn’t take any pictures because there was a big group of people there.

The Devil’s Den Trail is one of the popular trails in the park, so expect to see crowds on weekends. In my case, during a holiday.

Too bad I didn’t see any waterfalls that day, not even a trickle of water. It looked like the area hadn’t seen rain for weeks because the water level at Lee Creek was also low.

You will pass bridges and stepstones when hiking back to the starting point.

Hiking on Devil’s Den Trail is fun. Adults and children enjoy this trail. The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) built the trail in the 1930s, and it is designated as part of the National Trails System. 

2. Yellow Rock Trail

Length: 3-mile loop

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: 300 feet (lower trailhead), 100 feet (upper trailhead) 

Trailheads: Highway 170 overlook, near Camp Area A

The terrain is rough and rocky in most areas. Some people said it’s easy, and some said it’s moderately challenging. But both groups agreed that it’s a beautiful trail.

I was soaking wet after finishing Devil’s Den Trail, so I did the Yellow Rock Trail from the CCC Overlook on Highway 170. The trail is longer to get to the overlook, but there is less elevation change. 

In the beginning, the trail is flat and canopied by tall trees. About halfway to the overlook, there will be some ascends and descends before you go up to the overlook.

You will get to the intersection with one sign pointing to Yellow Rock Overlook and the other to Trailhead. Take the one to the overlook.

There will be an opening at the overlook that amazes you. Slow down here because there’s a deep drop at the edge of the rock.

If you hike with a dog, hold its leash tight. You don’t want your dog to run to the edge of the rock and have a free fall. Of course, it goes the same with your kids.

The trail continues going up and eventually loops back to the CCC Overlook. I went back to the way I came.

There were no other people when I got there with my dog. So I spent quite a long time to experience with my tripod and my dog. Fortunately, it was not windy, so I was confident enough to leave my tripod and cell phone near the edge of the rock when I walked to the hanging rock. However, I don’t recommend you do it. If you decide to do it, you take your responsibility.

The out-and-back trail is 2.4 miles, and I saw more than ten people on the way back. Yes! Yellow Rock Trail is another popular trail in Devil’s Den State Park.

The Ozark National Forest looked beautiful from the overlook. I read it looks colorful in the fall when the leaves change colors.

If you hike out and back from the Yellow Rock Trailhead to the Overlook, the trail length is 1.8 miles. It’s shorter, but you will mostly climb to the Overlook. The 3-mile range if you do the whole loop.

Yellow Rock Trail is part of the National Trails System and an original CCC-constructed trail from the 1930s.

Other trails at Devil’s Den State Park

1. CCC Interpretive Trail – hikers only

Length: .25-mile loop

Difficulty: easy

Trailhead: Adjacent to the pavilion below the dam

2. Lake Trail – hikers and cyclists

Length: .5-mile one way

Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Change: 40 feet

Trailheads: Highway 170 bridge picnic area; Camp Area E bathhouse by softball field

3. Woody Plant Trail – hikers only

Length: .25-mile one way

Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Change: 20 feet

Trailheads: near each bathhouse in Camp Area E

4. Lee Creek Trail – hikers only

Length: 1.25-mile loop

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation change: 30 feet

Trailhead: Camp Area A

5. Butterfield Trail – hikers and cyclists

Length: 15 miles

Difficulty: Strenuous

Elevation Change: Varies by section

Trailhead: At the cedar shelter located past the pavilion below the dam 

Conclusion on Devil’s Den State Park Hiking

I recommend you hike Devil’s Den Trail and Yellow Rock Trail on your day trip to Devil’s Den State Park. If you stay for the weekend, you can add the other four trails, which are between 0.25 and 1.25 miles and easy. You can even do part of the Butterfield Trail. Or, check out the Fossil Flats Trail at the Monument Trails. It’s the park’s main mountain bike trail but is also great for hiking.

Where is Devil’s Den State Park Arkansas?

Devil’s Den State Park is in Northwest Arkansas, on the upper Lee Creek Valley of the Ozark Plateau. It is about 7.3 miles from exit 45 on highway I-49 N.

The closest big cities to the park are Fort Smith, about 47 miles south, and Fayetteville, about 26 miles north.

Address: 11333 West Arkansas Hwy. 74, West Fork, AR 72774.