Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area & Pack Rat Falls

Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area

Pack Rat Falls

Haw Creek Falls and Pack Rat Falls are at the same location between Pelsor and Hagarville, Arkansas, in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, in the Boston Mountains subregion of the Ozark Mountains of north-west Arkansas. From Hagarville, drive 14 miles north on Arkansas 123. From Pelsor, drive 12 miles west on Arkansas 123. This is purely Ozark territory!

There is a primitive campsite at Haw Creek Falls. I could hear the falls from our campsite all night long! I loved that. Haw Creek Falls is right next to the campground. The water flows over a natural rock ledge. If we were there on a warmer day, I might have gotten in the water below the ledge. The waterfall is only about 8 feet high, but it is about 40 feet wide which makes it impressive.

The trail to Pack Rat Falls is at the end of the campground. The trail is very short to where the bottom of the stream from the waterfall begins, and .7 mile, with an elevation gain of 150 ft to the falls itself. Then it was .7 mile back! It was not an easy hike for me, as an older woman with two small dogs that required constant picking up and placing over rocks, but I managed. It would have been better without the dogs. I did have to use my hand a lot, as a short and unsteady person, to climb up and down over rocks. I would do it again though! I was thankful for the help of others in navigating with the dogs. The waterfall is 24 ft. tall. There were small cascades with that beautiful flowing water sound along the stream on the way up and back. I read that the falls are better in wetter seasons of Spring and Fall.

We stayed at Haw Creek on April 25, 2026, and April 26, 2026. We could have driven two ways, one from Cape Girardeau to Mammoth Springs and down to Haw Creek from the north, but we decided since it was raining to stick to the major highways and took Highway 55 south, turning west on Highway 40, and then north on Highway 123. The mountain views on Highway 123 were just gorgeous! This photo exemplifies what I know as the Ozarks.

We were almost to Haw Creek Recreation Area when we saw this waterfall on the side of the road. We had to stop in the middle of the road to take it in.

We arrived at Caw Creek.

Not far from the entrance is a low water bridge, but the water is flowing right over it! We had to stop here for a while and take it in as well. I can see where this might get flooded and I would not want to be stuck in the recreation area not able to cross it to get out.

This was our first time together with four Lone Peak campers! That was exciting. Everyone got along well and we had a great time.

I could hear the waterfall from my camper and it was just a very short walk off the camping area to the waterfall. I loved that! I would come here again.

We walked right across the top of the waterfall and then walked around to this view. If it were a warmer day, I might have got right in the water.

Isn't it gorgeous?

I am trying to get into more photos. It was a promise I made in 2026.

Some of the folks brought a lot of firewood and made an awesome fire for us both nights. Some of the wood was pine and it smelled wonderful!

I love this shot of all four campers together.

The next morning we walked to Pack Rat Falls. The trail is right off the back of the camping loop. At first the trail was like a typical trail. Hubby decided to stay back at camp with the others who had taken the trail the day before. I did not think fast enough when he said he was staying and should have left the dogs with him. He normally helps with the dogs, but other people were wonderful to chip in to help me.

It did not take long to reach the flowing water of the stream coming down from the waterfall, but then the trail turned into rocky ruggedness.

I had to take moments to stop and appreciate the little bits of scenery.

The dogs did not go up and down the rocks very well as they were too large for them. I was thankful for the help picking them up and setting them down on the other side.

The falls were impressive!

I gave my phone to someone else and she took video and photos of me, helping me to keep my promise. Having a person near the falls helps to relate to the size of the falls.

I'm actually okay with this photo! I do not look as fat from a further distance.

Some of the people walked around behind the falls. I wish I would have done it, but hindsight is always 20/20. I felt I was slowing people down already and did not want to take time to crawl back there. They had seen enough of me in awkward positions! Ah!

This photo was taken as we arrived back at camp after the hike.

We thought about camping somewhere else the second night, but did not find anything that worked as we would have liked, so we returned to Haw Creek for the second night. I was good with that! I kind of like the place.

The next morning before leaving I visited the falls again to relax with my tea in the morning.