A short drive from the hustle and bustle of Bath House Row, Lake Catherine State Park is home to a plethora of natural beauty. The crown jewel of the park is Falls Creek Falls. Standing 12 feet tall and twice as wide, it is one of the most photographed spots in the Ozarks. And the most beloved swimming hole.

A two-mile loop hike accompanies the falls. Head to the right for two miles for a big payoff, or go left to hit the falls in short order. This was the same swimming hole that cooled off Civilian Conservation Corps workers back in the 1930s when the state park was constructed.

As with most waterfalls, Falls Creek is more dramatic during high rains. The park stays very busy, especially in the summer months. It is under a mile hike to the falls, even without the two-mile loop.