Whether you’ve been out doing long hikes all day, getting out of the car to stretch your legs, or have littles with you who can’t do long distances, you don’t always want to get out into nature and have it take hours. I discovered 2 nature walks in Eureka Springs.
One is a bit more of a walk. Through the forest. About half a mile.
The other is even less than that. It’s just hundred or so yards from the parking lot.

Both are set into nature to give you a little bit of grounding. One is natural, one is man made but looks like it belongs there.
Let’s talk about them!

Pivot Rock

The main question you have to ask yourself here is if the price is worth the walk.

Pivot Rock is located on private land. This is good and bad. Good because they have been able to keep up with keeping the area clean (and poison ivy free). There is a lot more upkeep to the area than if it were off somewhere else.
Bad because, well, that means you have to pay to play. It’s $8 per person.

I personally thought it was worth the price. I like quirky little side quests though. I get joy out of just wandering in the woods. If you’re a pessimist at all, or just one of those people who likes to gripe about everything… skip this. It isn’t the side quest for you lol.

Not only do you get to see Pivot Rock on this VERY easy hike that’s less than a mile round trip… you also get to hop onto a natural bridge as well! Two mother nature made landmarks for the price of one!

Pivot Rock Details

Trail Name: Pivot Rock
Trailhead Address: 2281 Pivot Rock Rd, Eureka Springs, AR 72632
Directions: Pivot Rock Road sits directly off 62.
Trail Length: .6ish miles.
Admission fee: $8 per person
Difficulty: Pretty easy, unless it just rained I bet when it would be slippery. Mix of paved and well kept trail.
Elevation Gain: 72ft
Dogs: Very dog friendly!
Restrooms: Yes. Inside the building/gift shop.
Parking: Pretty big parking lot. Easy access for any vehicle
Visited: October 2022

Extra notes about it

Just like any other road in Eureka Springs, Pivot Rock road is windy. Gorgeous views driving out that way though.
While the trail length is only .6 miles. Part of it is ‘out and back’ and part is a loop trail. You can take it a bit further than the rock itself and walk as far as the fence line to extend your time.
There are bathrooms inside the building where you go to pay, and its also a gift shop!

There’s also one area where it looks like a million people made cairns. I’m usually not a fan of cairns when used for anything other than directions, just do to the environmental impact… but being one spot on private land, this area is one you’ll probably want to stop at if you have kiddos with you to let them hang out and play around.
There are handrails in some areas.
If the building/gift shop is closed, there is a drop box for payment on the honor system so bring small bills to avoid overpaying.

This stop was just one town on my full on road trip of the entire NW corner of Arkansas.

Thorncrown Chapel

Thorncrown Chapel technically isn’t a hike, but it IS an easy hop skip and jump away from the parking lot. Because of the way it’s built, and the surrounding forest… it’s going on this list because I’m going to call it a very short nature walk in Eureka Springs.

This place is absolutely beautiful.
With a parking lot so large you can fit a semi truck, you have no reason not to visit.

Taking a short path, you are instantly immersed into the woods and can barely even tell you just walked away from a parking lot 10x bigger than this church itself.
This building is one of the the most stunning buildings I’ve ever stepped foot into.
I say that as someone who isn’t religious, and isn’t super fond of spending time in churches for that reason.

The Chapel

Jim Reed bought the land that this church sits on and decided to have it built. He wanted a place that was close to town, but deep enough into the woods that you didn’t notice the hustle and bustle. Somewhere you could come to sit in the silence of the forest for meditation.

E Fay Jones designed this chapel in 1980. Jones apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright, which lends a certain aesthetic to some of his designs, such as this one. Inspired by the Gothic churches, such as a popular one in Paris called Sainte-Chapelle, the many stained glass windows were switched out for regular glass.

Using so much glass, the building makes it seem as if you aren’t in a building at all… but sitting in a pew right in the middle of the forest.

The most interesting fact about this church is the rule that Jones put onto the construction of it. No structural element was allowed to be used unless 2 men could carry it through the woods themselves.
In addition, most of the materials were locally sources from the area.

2 Nature Walks in Eureka Springs

These 2 nature walks in Eureka Springs may be little short pit stops, but definitely are worth making.
If you’re interested in other things to do in Eureka Springs that include a little bit of walking, my favorite might have to be the Crescent Hotel.
Also as a note, this is a VERY dog friendly town, as is the nearby town of Bentonville.