Haw Creek Falls

From the parking area beside the two restrooms in Haw Creek Falls Campground, walk a short distance to the falls.

Approximate distance from a firsthand visitor account (visit 2013, page updated 2020). A 2024 newspaper report also describes the falls as steps from parking. Not a measured accessible-route length.

Short walk on the recreation-site trail, which the Forest Service describes as accessible. The rocks at the falls are uneven and slippery when wet. The entrance crosses a low-water bridge that can flood.

Where to start

Park inside Haw Creek Falls Campground near the two restrooms, reached by driving counterclockwise around the campground loop. While the Fort Douglas trailhead is closed for bridge work, the Forest Service also directs Ozark Highlands Trail hikers to park at Haw Creek Falls Campground. Do not drive across the low-water bridge when water is over it.

Timing & water

Listed as open year-round. The Highway 123 bridge over Big Piney Creek is closed for repairs from August 31 to about December 3, 2026, with a signed detour by Highways 164 and 7. Check the detour before driving.

Before you go

The Forest Service 2026 recreation schedule lists Haw Creek Falls day use and its 9-site campground as free.