Are there fees or permits required for Saddler Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Saddler Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Saddler Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Saddler Falls.

LiDAR terrain view · USGS 3DEP

Saddler Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Saddler Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Saddler Falls.

Arkansas

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

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.

About Saddler Falls

Saddler Falls is a ledge drop on the Spring River in Fulton County, Arkansas, about 5 river miles below the put-in at the dam south of Mammoth Spring. American Whitewater calls it the most difficult rapid at summer levels on the Class I-II Mammoth Spring to Hardy run, because the channel makes a sharp S-turn; at higher water it can be run straight over the ledge. It is seen from a canoe or kayak, and we found no public hiking trail or bank access to it.

Trail & Hike Details

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Saddler Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Saddler Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

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

Saddler Falls is the trickiest drop on this stretch at summer levels because of its sharp S-turn. Scout it if unsure and wear a life jacket.

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Mammoth Spring hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Saddler Falls Frozen?

Updated about 8 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

Saddler 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 65 feet in steep steps rather than one leap. The ground at the falls is roughly 410 feet above sea level.

Most of the action is upstream: the ground drops about 77 feet in the 500 feet above the pin and flattens beneath the falls. Facing east, the falls catch soft morning light.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Saddler Falls near Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, for comparison with the lidar view

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 410 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 65 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: East; Catches soft morning light.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading east).

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 Maps