Rim Trail

The Rim Trail traces the edge of the canyon above Natural Falls, providing elevated perspectives of the 77-foot waterfall and the lush gorge below from multiple vantage points along the canyon rim. The trail winds through upland oak and hickory forest interspersed with outcrops of the Cherokee sandstone that forms the canyon walls, passing several overlooks where the falls and the tree-filled canyon can be appreciated from above. The Ozark Plateau setting of northeastern Oklahoma produces a decidedly different character than the rest of the state, with more diverse forest composition and greater topographic relief than the prairies and plains that define much of Oklahoma. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, and numerous songbirds inhabit the upland forest along the rim. Spring ephemerals including trillium, bloodroot, and wild blue phlox bloom beneath the canopy in April and May, making this one of the finest wildflower trails in the state. Fall foliage from October through early November transforms the canyon and rim forest into a spectacular display of color. The Rim Trail provides the broader landscape context that the short Dripping Springs Trail alone cannot offer.