About this spot
Shady Lake Cascade is a named waterfall beside the historic 1937 CCC-era Shady Lake Dam, on the Shady Lake Trail in the Ouachita National Forest near Mena. It's one of several falls along Saline Creek in the recreation area, which also has a developed swimming beach at the lake itself, but no source ties swimming or jumping specifically to the cascade at the dam. Free day-use trail; a small fee may apply for the campground/beach area.
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.