Bell Smith Springs Scenic Area

Small slice of paradise tucked back in the woods. You will not be disappointed by making this journey. You can hike as little or as much as you want with the trails they have marked around the area. Stop and see the natural bridge or devils backbone. We make a stop here every few weeks to enjoy the scenery. It never disappoints

This place is beautiful. It is definitely one to return to. There are many trails to explore. The water is so clear and beautiful. There were at least 2 swimming spots. I would even bring my swimsuit the next time!

Heck of a hike but very rewarding. Be prepared to get your feet wet, as there’s no way to access the Natural Bridge without fording the creek. The coolest part was the ladder built into the side of a rock going up about 50 feet. Was definitely a bit of a thrill. I would also add the roads nearby weren’t in great shape. It was late winter/early spring but there were some gravel/dirt roads with large potholes.

Not Meant For Non-Hikers, kids especially toddlers, that is if you're going down to the waterfall. The place is beautiful before the dangerous hike however there have been deaths and serious accidents due to slick ground which is from the slick wet rocks and also if you're afraidof hikes then you'll know where the danger starts (right at the first real waterfall). Before the waterfall is beautiful and slick. Keep in mind you're on Very hard rock.. I've been all around the Shawnee for years. I made sure this time we spent 1 full day here at Bell Springs. 1 day doesn't even scratch the surface. I have yet to looked at what hasn't been explored here but my Drone indicates this is more than just a 1 day hike. We found multiple trails leading to other sites. One site for example is Millstone Bluff which has what look like 2 modern paths that lead to it and 3 old paths that we can see was used at one point in time. When we come back we will be focusing on these paths and hoping to learn how old these are and what they were used for. As always keep the park as is, no littering, be good to your neighbor if you're camping and most importantly come prepared to hike. Because this is not for an average hiker or for anyone under 10 in my opinion but of course that depends on the child. My children live, breath, and eat hikes daily plus more so this isn't too bad for experienced kids. But make sure your kids wear a helmet or any protective gear you may have if you do have children. There are some very very dangerous cliffs on most of the trail that a 2 year old could accidently walk off if you're not in control.

Awesome trail to explore. My kids loved it and had so much fun climbing rocks and wading thru the water.