Falling Water Creek,

Falling Water Falls to Richland Campground (7 miles)

Falling Water Falls

Falling Water Falls
Photo of Jessica Robinson by Jesse Scribner taken 7-3-04

Gauge Information

River Description

Falling Water Road is closed by a large landslide and downed timber about 2 miles below the Falling Water Creek Bridge. Must access the Richland Creek Campground via the north side of the Richland Creek (LONG SHUTTLE). The lowest access point available above the landslide is the primitive campground at mile 4.6, 1.6 miles below the bridge.

Note: The combination of steep banks and lots of dead red oak trees (thanks to the borer beetle infestation) tend to clog the creek with wood from time to time, so keep a look out.

Put-in: Go East on Hwy 16 from Ben Hur for 1.5 miles and turn onto Pope County Road 68 (NFS 1205) and following to the Falls on the side of the road. There is limited parking along the road and several primitive camping/parking spots upstream a few hundred feet.

Take-out: Continue downstream to the NFS Richland Creek Campground. This road will parallel Falling Water Creek most of the way. Multiple access points are available along the road. This road can also be reached by taking Pope County Road 18 (Falling Water Road)(NFS 1313) farther East off Hwy 16. Or from NFS road 1219 from Hwy 16 near Witts Spring.

Falling Water road will cross the creek about halfway between the Falls and the campground. At lower levels, many opt to just run from the bridge down.

The Falls are the highlight (10-12 feet) with the rapid immediately below being the most difficult. It offers an undercut on the right and tight slots for pinning elsewhere. The other significant rapids include the shoals below the bridge, which can develop powerful hydraulics and 'The Grotto' just before reaching the campground.

At medium to high water levels, the shoals (especially below the bridge half-way down) offer some fun play.

See action from this creek in


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