Thursday, February 27, 2014

Falls in USA

 


I am proud to present what I believe to be the best 25 waterfalls in the United States! This list is based upon a mix of personal experience and a thorough review of dozens of internet sites and most of the waterfall guidebooks that have been published in the US over the last 25 years. Although I have visited only about twenty of these waterfalls personally, each is widely regarded to be one of most impressive waterfalls in America.

The list below is organized alphabetically by state. It is too hard for me to classify which ones are my absolute favorites because they are all so beautiful and unique. Rest assured that every single one of these waterfalls is absolutely outstanding. We will tell you that the most extensive collections of remarkable waterfalls in the country can be found in (a) Yosemite National Park in California, (b) Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, and (c) the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. 


PICTURES WANTED!
As you can clearly see, we do not have a picture on file for some of the waterfalls that are listed below. We would absolutely love to add your photographs if you have taken one of any of these waterfalls. Please send us an email with your pictures if you are willing to share them with the rest of the waterfall-hunting community. Your help in ultimately adding a picture to every waterfall on this page is greatly appreciated!

Enjoy!

- Greg

HAVASU FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
AZHavasupai-owned private landBackpacking Trip or Helicopter Day-Tripone of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world; requires advance permits and either a (a) 10-mile hike each way or (b) a helicopter ride; many campsites near the falls (permits & reservations required); combined with Mooney Falls, these waterfalls offer one of the world's premier swimming hole destinations, if not the absolute best



MOONEY FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
AZHavasupai-owned private landBackpacking Trip or Helicopter Day-Tripdownstream from amazing Havasu Falls; requires advance permits and either a (a) 10-mile hike each way or (b) a helicopter ride; any campsites near the falls (permits & reservations required); combined with Havasu Falls, these waterfalls offer one of the world's premier swimming hole destinations, if not the absolute best



BRIDALVEIL FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
CAYosemite National ParkRoadsideone of Yosemite's tallest and best waterfalls; 620 feet tall; very popular attraction in Yosemite Valley; arrive early in the AM (before 8am or 9am) to snag one of the extremely limited parking spots


Photo Credit: Tom Moore

FEATHER FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
CAPlumas National ForestHiking Trailone of the tallest waterfalls in California; about 650 feet tall; consistently rated a "10" by guidebook authors



MCWAY FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
CAJulia Pfiefer Burns State ParkShort Walknot the most impressive of waterfalls since it is so slender and has weak flow, but it is located in one of the most gorgeous coastal settings in the world



NEVADA FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
CAYosemite National ParkHiking Trailone of the most gorgeous waterfalls in the country; close to Vernal Falls; can be seen on a challenging hike trip to Half Dome by taking the Mist Trail from the Happy Isles trailhead



VERNAL FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
CAYosemite National ParkHiking Trailone of the most gorgeous waterfalls in the country; close to Nevada Falls; can be seen on a moderate day hike loop or as part of a a challenging hike trip to Half Dome; take the Mist Trail from the Happy Isles trailhead



YOSEMITE FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
CAYosemite National ParkRoadside/Hiking Trailprobably the most famous waterfall in the USA; believed to be the tallest waterfall in North America; a staggering 2,425 feet tall; best water flow is from May to June, but often keeps flowing through summer; a nice national park lodge exists near the base of the falls; a hiking trail leads to the top (be careful not to slip over the edge!)



WAIMOKU FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
HIHaleakala National ParkHiking TrailMaui Island; 400-foot tall thin horsetail; fantastic photographs from the base of the falls


Photo Credit: Jason Underwood

SHOSHONE FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
IDShoshone Falls ParkRoadside212-foot tall, 1000-foot wide massive waterfall; one of the most powerful waterfalls in the country; other good waterfalls are nearby


Photo Credit: Arnold Hansen

ARETHUSA FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
NHCrawford Notch State ParkHiking Trailthe most dramatic waterfall in New England; 120-160ft tall (the actual height is quite contested); gorgeous horsetail accessed on moderate hiking trail



NIAGARA FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
NYNiagara Falls State ParkRoadside / Short Walkfamous worldwide; includes all the falls there (i.e. American Falls, Horseshoe Falls, etc.); Canadian side of falls is actually more interesting with better views, however it is much, much more touristy



TAUGHANNOCK FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
NYTaughannock Falls State ParkRoadside / Short Walk215ft drop in spectacular setting; one of the tallest single-drop falls in the Northeast


Photo Credit: Tom Moore

LATOURELL FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
ORGuy W. Talbot State ParkShort Walkstunning waterfall in high water; just down the street from Multnomah Falls; drops off overhanging basalt cliff; 249ft tall



MULTNOMAH FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
ORColumbia Gorge Natural Scenic AreaRoadside / Hiking Trail (optional)one of the best and most famous falls in North America; 620ft two-drop scenic falls separated by attractive bridge; one of dozens of outstanding waterfalls in the area



SOUTH FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
ORSilver Falls State ParkHiking Trailone of ten waterfalls on one single day hike; several waterfalls can be walked behind; one of the best waterfall infused day-hikes in the entire country


Photo Credit: Bill Boozer

FALL CREEK FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
TNFall Creek Falls State ParkShort Walk / Hiking Trailmost famous waterfall in TN; 256-foot tall plunge with overhanging cliff in dramatic setting; about a million visitors each year; trail leads to base of falls


Photo Credit: Matt Bragstad

RUBY FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
TNprivately ownedHiking Trailprobably the best cave waterfall in the US; the 145ft drop can only be seen from within the cave itself; hundreds of thousands of visitors annually; entrance fee exists as property is privately owned; gift shop on site


Photo Credit: Chris Bowser

CALF CREEK FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
UTGrand Staircase-Escalante NMHiking Trailthe best waterfall in Utah and perhaps the best desert-waterfall in the southwest after Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls in Arizona; incredible desert-oasis setting; lower falls is the hightlight and it's a 126ft horsetail/plunge with a beautiful swimming hole at its base



THE CASCADES
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
VAJefferson National ForestHiking Trailconsidered by many to be the best waterfall in Virginia; 66ft tall; fantastic swimming hole in low/moderate water conditions; plunge falls turns into fan


Photo Credit: Mason Sanders

COMET FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
WAMt. Rainier National ParkHiking Trail320 feet tall; several other waterfalls along the way; one of the most popular day hikes near Mt. Rainier



PALOUSE FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
WAPalouse Falls State ParkShort Walkpowerful and wild falls; nearly 200ft; a strong contender for best waterfall in Washington; extremely dramatic setting



SNOQUALMIE FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
WAunknown
(privately owned?)
Roadsideone of WA's most popular tourist attractions and easily its most popular waterfall; 270ft plunge with a lot of development near and above falls


Photo Credit: Megan Bentley

LOWER FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
WYYellowstone National ParkRoadside / Short Walkone of the finest waterfalls in the world; gorgeous waterfalls surrounded by yellow rocks; 308 feet tall; several overlook trails; near "Canyon Village" in the eastern region of Yellowstone National Park; one of two major falls on the Yellowstone River



UPPER FALLS
STATE
PARK
ACCESS
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
WYYellowstone National ParkRoadside / Short Walknot as popular as the world-famous Lower Falls downstream, but a classic destination in its own right; near "Canyon Village" in the eastern region of Yellowstone National Park; one of two major falls on the Yellowstone River