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Even though The Goonies didn’t come out in October, it always seems to make a comeback around Halloween. The mix of mystery, underground tunnels and childhood adventure fits the season perfectly. Every time I see it pop up on TV, I’m transported right back to being a kid and dreaming about finding a treasure map, rounding up my friends and setting off on a wild adventure in search of buried pirate gold. All my fellow Gen Xers can probably relate to that lingering sense of wonder and the idea that somewhere out there, hidden in the hills, is a treasure just waiting to be found.
While we might not stumble upon an ancient pirate ship in Arkansas, our state does have its fair share of hidden places that once held (or were rumored to hold) secrets of their own. Exploring Arkansas’s caves and rock shelters is like stepping back in time. Tucked into the hills and hollows across the state, these hideouts once sheltered pioneers, moonshiners, outlaws and ancient peoples. Below, we’ll explore a few of these historic hideouts that still spark the imagination of anyone who ever dreamed of a real-life Goonies-style adventure.
Photo by Alan Wagoner
Window Falls Rock Hideout (Mount Magazine Area)
In the Clear Creek area at Mount Magazine, the Window Falls Rock Hideout is a small stone cabin near a waterfall that is visible through the cabin’s window. Built from unmortared native stone, its origin remains a bit of a mystery. Local lore claims it was a Civil War hideout for guerrillas or deserters. Others say moonshiners used it for bootlegging. What’s certain is that it’s a remarkable secret spot. It’s remote, a bit difficult to reach, and beautifully concealed in a steep canyon. Four Wheel Drive and GPS are recommended, but adventurous hikers can bushwhack about half a mile through rugged forest near Havana to find it.
Photo by Maureen Kaiser
Moonshiner’s Cave (Devil’s Den Area)
Just outside Devil’s Den State Park, the Moonshiner’s Cave is a bluff shelter with a rock wall and doorway built by settlers around 1905, their initials “J.P.H.” still carved in the stone. Though most of the evidence points to the shelter being a root cellar for a nearby homestead, legend claims it was used by bootleggers during Prohibition and is how the cave got its name. If you’re up for a little hike, the secret hideaway can be reached by an unofficial 0.4-mile hike down an old jeep trail off Highway 74. It’s not on the park map, but it’s well-known to locals and well worth the short trek.
Photo by Jamie C. Brandon, CC BY 2.0
Indian Rockhouse (Buffalo National River near Yellville)
Indian Rockhouse is a massive natural bluff cave near the Buffalo National River that has been used by people for nearly 9,000 years. Archaeologists have found tools, storage pits, woven baskets and even ancient burials inside. Evidence shows that it served as both a shelter and a sacred place for Native Americans and local lore tells that Confederate soldiers may have hidden here during the Civil War. The shelter’s scale is breathtaking, with a natural skylight and spring-fed pool flowing through. Visitors can reach it by hiking the 1.75-mile Indian Rockhouse Trail at Buffalo Point. It’s a moderately challenging hike that winds past old mines and streambeds before opening into the enormous rock shelter.
Indian Rock Cave (Fairfield Bay)
Indian Rock Cave, also known as the Edgemont Shelter, is a significant historical location. Inside, various petroglyphs of people, animals and symbols were carved into its walls by Native Americans dating as far back as 1000 B.C.. In the 1930s, a claim that explorer Hernando de Soto once visited the cave was falsely made in an effort to attract tourists to the area. Despite that tall tale, the cave’s real history is remarkable and people have used it for nearly 8,000 years. Visitors can easily explore it via a short walking trail near the Log Cabin Museum and Fairfield Bay golf course. The cave is open to the public, and interpretive signs help identify ancient carvings, offering a fascinating glimpse into the layers of history hidden in plain sight.
Photo courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
Cob Cave (Buffalo National River near Ponca)
Hidden in Lost Valley near Ponca, Cob Cave is a massive 200-foot bluff shelter once used by Native Americans more than 2,000 years ago. In 1931, archaeologists uncovered baskets and tools inside the cave. Thousands of tiny corn cobs were also discovered, giving the cave its name and serving as evidence that the cave was used for food storage long before settlers arrived. In the 1940s, rumors of mummified remains and buried treasure fueled Ozark legends, though none were ever found. Today, hikers can easily explore the cave along the Lost Valley Trail at Buffalo National River.
Photo courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
Rock House Cave (Petit Jean State Park)
Rock House Cave on Petit Jean Mountain is one of Arkansas’s most accessible and fascinating places to see Native American rock art. This large bluff shelter was visited hundreds of years ago by Indigenous peoples who painted and carved images on its sandstone walls—depictions of people, animals, and abstract symbols that likely held spiritual or storytelling meaning. More than a hundred pictographs have been identified here, including a distinctive paddlefish with a fish trap. The short 0.25-mile Rock House Cave Trail leads past the park’s unique Turtle Rocks that look like giant turtle shells.
Photo of War Eagle Cavern courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
War Eagle Cavern (Beaver Lake – Rogers)
Located on the shores of Beaver Lake, War Eagle Cavern has a storied past, sheltering everyone from Civil War soldiers to gangsters. Later, Ozark moonshiners cooked up batches of whiskey in its dark chambers. There are even tales that outlaws like Pretty Boy Floyd and members of the James gang used War Eagle Cavern as a hideout in the 1920s.
In addition to the sites above, Arkansas has a wealth of other caves and hideaways with colorful histories. Here are a few more worth including on your tour of secret hideouts in Arkansas.
Old Spanish Treasure Cave (Sulphur Springs)
The Old Spanish Treasure Cave is rumoured to hold buried Spanish gold. Legends say Spanish conquistadors hid a treasure here in the 1600s, and the mystery of the lost loot still draws curious adventurers. You may not be able to hunt for treasure, but you can tour the cave and enjoy a movie inside the main room. They often show Goonies in the fall, a unique experience in an underground setting.
Hideout Hollow (Buffalo National River)
Tucked deep in the upper Buffalo River country near Compton, Hideout Hollow lives up to its name. This scenic spot features a 50-foot waterfall and a broad rock shelter once used as a hideaway by a group of World War I draft evaders known locally as the “Slacker Gang.” In 1917–18, nine men from the Cecil Cove area hid here through winter before finally surrendering, and their story became part of Ozark folklore. Though tales also link Jesse James and other outlaws to the hollow, those claims remain unverified. Today, visitors can reach the site by hiking a short, one-mile trail that ends at the waterfall and the shelter beneath the bluff—a quiet, secluded place where Arkansas history and rugged beauty meet.
Bull Shoals Caverns (Bull Shoals)
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence showing Native Americans were in Bull Shoals Caverns as early as 300 B.C.. During the Civil War, the cave was mined for saltpeter by Confederate troops. In the Prohibition era, moonshiners turned the cave into a secret distillery and storage for whiskey. Local folklore even claims outlaws used it as a hideout. Today, you can take guided tours of Bull Shoals Caverns and literally walk through the same passages used by soldiers and bootleggers over the centuries.
Mystic Caverns (Harrison area)
This show cave was once nicknamed “The Moonshine Cave” after locals discovered a secret Prohibition-era speakeasy inside. In the 1920s, bootleggers not only ran a still in Mystic Caverns, they allegedly built a dance floor in one chamber, hosting clandestine jazz parties underground! Once a bustling social club, the cave has been closed to the public since 2020.
This list is just a sampling, as nearly every cave and bluff shelter in Arkansas has its lore. From outlaw loot to ghost stories, the Natural State’s underground hideouts are packed with history and mystery, and each one offers a unique adventure into Arkansas’s secret past. So grab a flashlight, embrace your inner explorer and happy treasure hunting!
Looking for more? Check out these related articles:
Cave City’s Crystal River Cave
Arkansas Caves
Panning for Gems at War Eagle Caverns
Fairfield Bay Log Cabin Museum and Indian Rock Cave
Panning for Gems at War Eagle Caverns
Chilling in the Mystic Caverns
Blanchard Springs
Arkansas Bluff Shelters
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