About this spot
DeSoto Falls drops 104 feet on the West Fork Little River just north of DeSoto State Park near Mentone/Valley Head, reached by an easy 1.2-mile round-trip trail with informal roadside parking. Locals have jumped for decades from ledges about 70 feet above the large plunge pool below the main falls. A second cliff on the far bank, roughly 125 feet, is far more dangerous since the pool's depth and submerged rocks or logs there are unconfirmed. Multiple guides and forums document ongoing jumping, and at least one drowning has been recorded, making this a real but genuinely risky local tradition rather than a groomed swim spot. No fee at the falls; flow and pool depth shift fast after rain or spring runoff, so check conditions before jumping.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.