Slate Falls is located in a gigantic
horseshoe canyon in one of the wildest areas of Poteau
Mountain. Getting there will require a five-mile roundtrip
hike. Bring plenty of water and wear some good shoes. The
first leg of the hike is an easy trek on an old road, but the
final 200 yards is down a sometimes vertical slope littered
with boulders. You will need good shoes to keep your
footing.
You will need to travel Poteau Mountain
Road, which can be found on Highway 71 between Waldron and
Mansfield. Find a deer camp area at these coordinates:
34.57.413
094.16.733
There is an old logging road running out the
back of the camp. Follow the road for nearly two miles to these
coordinates:
34.59.082 094.16.415
At that point, leave the road and bushwack
down the hillside to the falls. BE CAREFUL. This is a very
treacherous area. The cache is located at one of the most gorgeous
spots in the area.
Be sure to check out the old ruins on the
other side of the canyon. Someone built a small lean-to over there
at one time. It is worth a look.
Photo by Mooremonkeys
(click here to see their awesome photo page from a trip to Slate
Falls)
To get out of the canyon, we went down the
canyon on the ruins side and found a large tree growing beside a
cliff. We put our backs to the tree and climbed out.
This will be one rough hike, but you will be
rewarded immensely. Enjoy!