Mule Trail Falls
A 31-foot plunge on the same bluffline that links Haley Falls and Thousand Kisses Falls — the natural middle stop on the Cave Mountain Road Waterfall Loop.
- Height
- 31 ft
- Type
- Plunge
- District
- Upper
- Round trip
- 2.2 mi
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Best season
- Spring
- Est. time
- 2–3 hours
- Flow-dependent
- Yes
- Pet friendly
- No
- Coordinates
- 35.89363°N, 93.44988°W
Current conditions
- Rain 24h
- 0.00″
- Rain 72h
- 0.00″
- Rain 7d
- 1.35″
Next 3 days (preview)
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The falls
Named after an old mule trail that once ran the full length of Whitaker Creek — from the mouth of the creek at the Buffalo River all the way up to Cave Mountain Road. Most of that historic route has long since disappeared back into the wilderness but the falls that bears its name remains. At 31 feet Mule Trail Falls drops over the same bluffline that connects Haley Falls and Thousand Kisses Falls, making it the natural middle stop on one of the most scenic bluff walks in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness. Mule Trail Falls is also the key navigation landmark for the loop return — from the base of the falls, follow the creek upstream to intersect with the main trail and turn left back to the trailhead. Mule Trail Falls is the second waterfall stop on the Cave Mountain Road Waterfall Loop. See nearby: Haley Falls, Thousand Kisses Falls, and Hawksbill Crag.
Getting there
Two options from the Hawksbill Crag Trailhead. For the loop route: follow the main trail to the creek crossing at 0.4 miles, turn right and follow the creek downstream 0.4 miles to Mule Trail Falls. For the direct route continuing from Haley Falls: follow the bluffline northwest from Haley Falls and Mule Trail Falls appears at 1.4 miles from the trailhead. Quad: Boxley.
