Generated illustration of a natural swimming setting; not a photograph of this location
This location may be clothing-optional or adjacent to adult content. We do not display adult imagery and recommend discretion. Families should verify suitability.
Historical Creek/Bluff EntryAR

Half Bushel

By Hidden Swimming Holes Team · Record updated

Background: generated illustration, not a photograph of this location.

Treat Half Bushel's bridge and cliff account as historical. Confirm Big Shoal Creek entry, avoid jumping and distinguish Sorghum Hollow campground services.

Water type
Historical Creek/Bluff Entry
Access
Swimming unconfirmed
Fee
Current charges for the historical swimming entry are unverified
Best season
Choose a date only after checking access, weather and current notices
Nearby towns
Fort Smith, Clarksville, Scranton
Water body
Big Shoal Creek, Historical Bluff Reference

Location

Map & Directions

AR
Nearby towns
Fort Smith, Clarksville, Scranton
Place-name search
Half Bushel Bluff Arkansas
Map searches for the named location. Confirm the entrance and current access with the park before you go.

Sources & checks

This is a desk-researched listing. A record update or map check does not confirm current swimming permission or water conditions.

Swimming rules
Current swimming permission has not been independently confirmed for this listing. Check with the land manager before entering the water.
Access location not verified
The recorded location has no completed source check. Confirm the entrance, legal access, and parking before travelling.
Record updated
· This is a data update, not a field visit.

Found an error? Send a correction with the location and a source. How we research listings.

Half Bushel is not a bridge-and-cliff jumping itinerary

The historical account identifies Big Shoal Creek near Sorghum Hollow Road using a bridge and a cavity high in a bluff. The named saved bluff result supports a location clue, not current public parking, bank permission or a safe landing zone.

Do not stop in the middle of the bridge

The archive tells visitors to stop and look from the crossing. Do not use that as parking advice. Confirm lawful parking and the permitted bank approach before a visit; neither a cliff landmark nor other visitors establish an entrance.

Leave cliff depth and swimming promises out of the plan

No measured landing area, water-quality result or current swimming policy was verified. Do not jump or dive from the bluff. Clear-looking creek water is not evidence of safe depth, and the reported cliff dimensions are not a current survey.

Sorghum Hollow is a separate camping destination

Match facilities to the campground, not the creek

The Forest Service identifies Sorghum Hollow Horse Camp. Its recreation guide describes trailhead camping, a vault toilet and day-use parking, with no electric hookups. Those campground services do not identify Half Bushel's bank entrance; its horse-watering pond is not a swimming pool.

Check current charges and road information

Consult the campground manager for present camping arrangements and forest notices. Older recreation schedules are not current fee guarantees. Choose a confirmed land-based visit if the creek entry remains unresolved, and do not interpret national forest context as permission to cross adjoining property.

Getting There

Use the historical bridge and bluff account only as archival context. No current step-by-step creek route is verified; do not stop on a bridge or enter from an unsigned shoulder.

Access Notes

Do not stop on the bridge. Exact public bank entry and legal parking remain unverified.

Plan Your Visit

Parking & Access

Confirm the entrance, parking arrangements, and legal access with the land manager. A map pin does not establish a public right of access. Follow posted routes and never block gates or driveways.

Regulations & Fees

Use the named destination's current rules and condition notices. No unverified jumping, diving, slides or rope swings recommended. Public park access does not necessarily include permission to swim. Respect private property and posted restrictions.

Seasonality & Flow

Water conditions can change quickly. This listing does not provide a current safety or water-quality assessment. Check official alerts and avoid entering water when conditions or permission are uncertain.

Nearby Facilities

Nearby places from saved public map data, not necessarily facilities at the swimming spot. Confirm access, hours, fees, and amenities with the operator before you drive.

Map data retrieved 2026-06-15

Bathroom

Public bathroom

Clarksville, AR 72830

Spadra Creek Nature Trail

Park

4.7 (108)

Clarksville, AR 72830

Picnic tables

Love's Travel Stop

Truck stop

4.4 (335)

1025 S Crawford St, Clarksville, AR 72830

Wi-Fi

Clarksville Aquatic Center

Swimming facility

4.4 (548)

1611 W Oakland St, Clarksville, AR 72830

Johnson County Public Library

Public library

4.9 (40)

2 Taylor Cir, Clarksville, AR 72830

USFS PHill

District office

4.4 (7)

2591 AR-21, Clarksville, AR 72830

Restroom

Frequently Asked Questions About Half Bushel

Does the bluff match confirm public swimming?

No. A named landmark does not establish present bank access or bathing permission.

Should I stop on the bridge to find the hole?

No. Confirm lawful parking independently; the archive is not traffic or parking authorization.

Is jumping safe if I check the pool first?

No safe landing or permission is established. This listing does not recommend jumping or diving.

Are Sorghum Hollow facilities at Half Bushel?

No. The documented campground and its toilet/parking are separate from the creek entry.

Is the horse-camp pond a swimming alternative?

The Forest Service guide identifies it for watering horses, not as a swimming pool.

Is creek access free or camping included?

No exact-entry fee or overnight permission is verified. Confirm campground terms separately.

Highlights

Bridge-stop instruction removed from current directions
No jumping or surveyed-depth claim
Campground services kept separate

Location & Area Map

Safety Information

Important Safety Tips

Photos and old visitor reports do not establish depth, flow, water quality or lawful access.

Cultural & Historical Context

Historical Background

The historical directory record is retained as evidence, not proof of present access or a verified cultural account.

Photography Guide

Photo Opportunities

Choose lawful public viewpoints. Photographs do not establish depth, safe conditions or permission.

Conservation & Ethics

Protect This Place

Respect private boundaries and signs, use authorized paths and pack out waste.

Explore More Nearby Swimming Guides

You Might Also Like

At a Glance

Best Time to Visit
Choose a date only after checking access, weather and current notices.
Difficulty Level
Exact lawful swimming approach and accessibility have not been verified.
Fee
Current charges for the historical swimming entry are unverified
Facilities
Horse-camp guide describes a vault toilet and day-use parking; those are not verified Half Bushel water-entry facilities.
Activities
Authorized land-based recreation only; this listing does not recommend jumping, diving or rope swings
Phone

Safety & Access Notice

This information is for general planning only and may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. Access rules, closures, water levels, currents, hazards, and legal restrictions can change at any time. Always verify current rules with the land manager or official source before visiting.

You are responsible for your own safety and for following all posted signs, laws, and local regulations. Read the full disclaimer.

Camping Information

Sorghum Hollow Horse Camp is separately documented; confirm current operation and fees. No Half Bushel bank camping permission established.

Loading weather data…

Safety & Access Notice

This information is for general planning only and may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate. Access rules, closures, water levels, currents, hazards, and legal restrictions can change at any time. Always verify current rules with the land manager or official source before visiting.

  • Do not swim where swimming is prohibited, unsafe, or not clearly allowed.
  • Follow posted signs, local regulations, closures, and private-property boundaries.
  • Assess conditions on site. Water flow, depth, temperature, and underwater hazards change quickly.
  • Never jump or dive without personally confirming depth and underwater obstacles.
  • Swim with a buddy and consider flotation for weak or non-swimmers.
  • Pack out all trash; respect wildlife and fragile environments.

You are responsible for your own safety and for following all posted signs, laws, and local regulations. Read the full disclaimer.

J
Joshua Havens
Founder & Editor, Hidden Swimming Holes

Joshua Havens created Hidden Swimming Holes to make it easier for people to find — and safely visit — natural freshwater swimming destinations across the United States. He researches access conditions, water quality resources, and land management rules so you don't have to start from scratch. He holds a strong belief that good outdoor recreation information should be accurate, honest about its limitations, and freely available.

Explore More Swimming Holes

Discover other amazing natural swimming destinations across America