Catfish Falls
One for the list
Is it plungeworthy?
A historical waterfall on Pecos River.
The details
- Type
- Historical Waterfall
- Watercourse
- Pecos River
- Coordinates
- 35.05645, -104.68889
About Catfish Falls
Catfish Falls is a historical waterfall in New Mexico, on Pecos River.
Fed largely by snowmelt, it runs hardest in late spring and early summer and can thin to a trickle by late season.
Plungeworthy rates Catfish Falls 3.6/10 — one for the list. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
Know what this listing is before you drive: a waterfall that no longer exists above water. Catfish Falls was a 15-foot bedrock drop on the Pecos River — the only named waterfall in New Mexico on a major river outside the mountains — until Santa Rosa Dam put it permanently under the reservoir.
A historical photograph, “Still Pool, Catfish Falls, Rio Pecos,” survives in the Museum of the Big Bend archive. The lake above it is now Santa Rosa Lake State Park — a fine visit, just not a waterfall.
Getting there
- Heads up
- Submerged beneath Santa Rosa Lake since the dam was built.
When to go
Gone — permanently underwater.
Rules & fees
Researched from Doug Scott — Catfish Falls · Museum of the Big Bend — Still Pool, Catfish Falls. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Catfish Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Planning a visit? We want your photo.
Catfish Falls doesn't have a photo yet. If you make the trip, send one to hello@plungeworthy.com and we'll publish it here with credit to you.
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
Where is Catfish Falls?
Catfish Falls is a waterfall in New Mexico, at 35.05645, -104.68889.
Is Catfish Falls worth visiting?
One for the list — Plungeworthy rates it 3.6/10.
Gear for the trip
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