Fun at Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas

This was our view as we hiked along beside Cedar Creek, near Davies Bridge, at Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas. It's near the spot where we went Letterboxing and found a snake egg. Not quite what we were hunting, but still fun, nonetheless.

That's Mr. Studley standing next to the marker, probably contemplating how he'd like to live in a cave, and wondering how to convince me. Dream on Stud!

The cave is known as Rock House Cave. You can go inside and walk around with no ropes or barriers preventing you from getting up close to the paintings on the wall, which some archeologists suspect to be more than a thousand years old. Technically, it isn't a cave, at least not the likes of Carlsbad or other caverns which go deep into the underground. This is more of a shelter under a huge rock bluff. It's quite large inside, and goes back plenty deep enough that it's inhabitants would be completely sheltered from the weather.

The hike down to it from the nearby parking lot and road is easy enough for a healthy person, though I think it might be too much for an elderly person, or anyone who has trouble with their balance, as you have to climb over a fairly rocky area before getting to the trail leading down to the cave. I like to add little details like that for anyone who may Google about the park when considering a trip there. I do lots and lots of Googling before we travel. I don't like surprises....unless it's flowers..or chocolate...or a diamond ring...or....well, you get the picture.

Our view from atop Davies Bridge. I'm not sure if this little waterfall had a name or not. Cedar Falls was farther on down the creek. We didn't hike to it, though we did hike to the overlook above it. I took a picture of the falls from there, and will show it in a subsequent post. Picasa only lets me send four pictures to a blog post at one time. Drat.

This is one of my stepgrandsons posing in the cave. Is he a cutie, or what? I only add the 'step' in there so no one will think I'm old enough to have a grandson that age. Vain, aren't I?

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!
For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.

~Psalm 100:4-5 Amplified Bible