Photo: trukdotcom · CC BY-SA 3.0Pams Grotto Falls
Worth a detour
Is it plungeworthy?
A plunge on tributary of Haw Creek.
The details
- Type
- Plunge
- Watercourse
- tributary of Haw Creek
- Coordinates
- 35.6833, -93.2554
About Pams Grotto Falls
Pams Grotto Falls is a 37-foot plunge in Arkansas, on tributary of Haw Creek.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates Pams Grotto Falls 6.7/10 — worth a detour. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
A 37-foot falls dropping into a huge sandstone alcove — as much a rock cathedral as a waterfall, which is why climbers love the surrounding bluff as much as hikers love the water.
The unofficial trail climbs from the highway to the bluffline, then traces its base to the grotto.
Directly across AR-123 sits Haw Creek Falls, a short 8-footer at the campground — the two are a natural double feature.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Unofficial trail from a pull-off ~0.5 mile east of Haw Creek Falls Campground
- Parking
- Small gravel pull-off on AR-123
- Road
- Paved AR-123 between Lamar and Pelsor
- Hike
- 1 mi round trip, 206 ft of climb (moderate)
- Heads up
- Half a mile one-way; unofficial but well-worn and easy to follow.
When to go
Wet-weather falls — winter and spring; often dry by late summer.
Pair it with Haw Creek Falls across the road and a night at the campground.
Popular enough with climbers and photographers that weekends aren't solitary.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- None — Ozark National Forest, no fee
- Dogs
- Permitted; leash recommended
- Hours
- No fixed hours
- Camping
- Haw Creek Falls Campground: nine primitive sites, fire rings, pit toilets (fee); dispersed camping also allowed
- Warnings
- Creek crossing and rock scrambling on an unofficial trail; the grotto floor is slick when wet.
Researched from Explore the Ozarks — Pam's Grotto Falls · Explore the Ozarks — Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Pams Grotto Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
How tall is Pams Grotto Falls?
Pams Grotto Falls drops about 37 feet, in Arkansas.
Where is Pams Grotto Falls?
Pams Grotto Falls is a waterfall in Arkansas, at 35.6833, -93.2554.
Is Pams Grotto Falls worth visiting?
Worth a detour — Plungeworthy rates it 6.7/10.
Gear for the trip
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