Before you go
No public hiking trail or bank access to these falls is documented, and the riverbanks here are not public land on federal maps. Plan to see them from the river on a float trip.
Photo Credits (5)
About Cottonwood Falls
Cottonwood Falls is a named ledge on the Spring River in Fulton County, Arkansas, about 5 miles south of Mammoth Spring and roughly a quarter mile upstream of Saddler Falls. It lies on the Class I-II Mammoth Spring to Hardy float, where most drops are 1 to 3 foot ledges, and is seen from a canoe or kayak; we found no public hiking trail or bank access to it.
Trail & Hike Details
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Cottonwood Falls?
❌ Dogs are not allowed
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Cottonwood Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
The float season runs from spring through fall, when the private outfitter access points are open; warm-weather weekends are the busiest.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.
Safety Information
Most drops on this stretch are 1 to 3 foot ledges, and Saddler Falls just downstream is the trickiest at summer levels because of a sharp S-turn. Wear a life jacket.
Know when to go.
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Is Cottonwood Falls Frozen?
Updated about 8 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately
Cottonwood Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 70°F to 36°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- no gauge
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
The ground through the falls loses about 57 feet in steep steps rather than one leap. The ground at the falls is roughly 416 feet above sea level.
Most of the action is upstream: the ground drops about 64 feet in the 500 feet above the pin and flattens beneath the falls. Facing south, the falls sit in full sun for most of the day, best photographed early or late.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 416 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 57 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- South
- Sunlit most of the day. Go early or late for softer light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading south).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
Put in at the Arkansas Game and Fish access on Highway 342 below the dam south of Mammoth Spring (from Highway 63 south of town, turn west on Highway 342). The falls are about 5 river miles downstream; private outfitter take-outs are at miles 5, 6 and 7.5, and the full run ends at Hardy, about 15 miles down.
Get Directions on Google MapsElevation
420 feet above sea level
Coordinates
36.422210° N, -91.528382° W
Visitor Tips & Gear
Where to Stay
Quality Inn West Plains
My Hideaways Serinity Hill
half Mi to State Park! Riverfront Ozarks Retreat
Village Inn of Hardy
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Nearby Hot Springs
Hot springs near Hardy, Arkansas
Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near Hardy, Arkansas on SoakingSprings.
Explore Arkansas springsAdditional Information
Nearby Attractions
Mammoth Spring State Park is about 5 miles north, and the town of Hardy is about 7 miles downstream to the southeast.
Wildlife
The area is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, birds, and small mammals. Visitors should also be aware of the possibility of encountering snakes or insects.
Cities near Cottonwood Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
LiDAR
Other waterfalls named Cottonwood Falls
3 other waterfalls share this name across the U.S.
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