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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
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| AZ | Havasupai-owned private land | Backpacking Trip or Helicopter Day-Trip | one 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
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| AZ | Havasupai-owned private land | Backpacking Trip or Helicopter Day-Trip | downstream 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
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| CA | Yosemite National Park | Roadside | one 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
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| CA | Plumas National Forest | Hiking Trail | one of the tallest waterfalls in California; about 650 feet tall; consistently rated a "10" by guidebook authors |
MCWAY FALLS
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| CA | Julia Pfiefer Burns State Park | Short Walk | not 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
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| CA | Yosemite National Park | Hiking Trail | one 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
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| CA | Yosemite National Park | Hiking Trail | one 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
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| CA | Yosemite National Park | Roadside/Hiking Trail | probably 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
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| HI | Haleakala National Park | Hiking Trail | Maui Island; 400-foot tall thin horsetail; fantastic photographs from the base of the falls |
Photo Credit: Jason Underwood
SHOSHONE FALLS
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| ID | Shoshone Falls Park | Roadside | 212-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
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| NH | Crawford Notch State Park | Hiking Trail | the most dramatic waterfall in New England; 120-160ft tall (the actual height is quite contested); gorgeous horsetail accessed on moderate hiking trail |
NIAGARA FALLS
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| NY | Niagara Falls State Park | Roadside / Short Walk | famous 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
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| NY | Taughannock Falls State Park | Roadside / Short Walk | 215ft drop in spectacular setting; one of the tallest single-drop falls in the Northeast |
Photo Credit: Tom Moore
LATOURELL FALLS
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| OR | Guy W. Talbot State Park | Short Walk | stunning waterfall in high water; just down the street from Multnomah Falls; drops off overhanging basalt cliff; 249ft tall |
MULTNOMAH FALLS
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| OR | Columbia Gorge Natural Scenic Area | Roadside / 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
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| OR | Silver Falls State Park | Hiking Trail | one 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
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| TN | Fall Creek Falls State Park | Short Walk / Hiking Trail | most 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
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| TN | privately owned | Hiking Trail | probably 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
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| UT | Grand Staircase-Escalante NM | Hiking Trail | the 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
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| VA | Jefferson National Forest | Hiking Trail | considered 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
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| WA | Mt. Rainier National Park | Hiking Trail | 320 feet tall; several other waterfalls along the way; one of the most popular day hikes near Mt. Rainier |
PALOUSE FALLS
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| WA | Palouse Falls State Park | Short Walk | powerful and wild falls; nearly 200ft; a strong contender for best waterfall in Washington; extremely dramatic setting |
SNOQUALMIE FALLS
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| WA | unknown
(privately owned?) | Roadside | one 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
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| WY | Yellowstone National Park | Roadside / Short Walk | one 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
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| WY | Yellowstone National Park | Roadside / Short Walk | not 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 |
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