Top 100 WATERFALLS in THE UNITED STATES

I am proud to present what I believe to be the best 100 waterfalls in the United States! This list is directly based upon my own personal visits and years of research. Each of these waterfalls is widely regarded to be one of most impressive waterfalls in America.

The list below is organized alphabetically by state (it is *not* sorted by rank). It is too hard for me to classify which ones are my absolute favorites because they are all so beautiful and each has its own distinct personality. Rest assured that each and every one of these waterfalls is absolutely outstanding and worthy of your time.

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Page #1 (0-50) | Page #2 (51-100)
DESOTO FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Alabama	DeSoto State Park	Short Walk	with its 100-foot plunge, this is likely to be Alabama's tallest falls; there are also other waterfalls within this state park, so make sure to examine a park map and plan your hike carefully before visiting

	(photo credit: Joshua Craig)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Waterfall Walks & Drives in GA, AL & TN

LITTLE RIVER FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Alabama	DeSoto State Park	Roadside / Short Walk	this is likely to be Alabama's most powerful falls; 60-foot block; other waterfalls exist in this state park; this is a popular swimming hole

	(photo credit: Joshua Craig)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Waterfall Walks & Drives in GA, AL & TN

NOCCALULA FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Alabama	Noccalulu Falls State Park	Roadside / Short Walk	this is likely to be Alabama's most popular waterfall; 95-foot plunge in an open, park-like setting

	(photo credit: Joshua Craig)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Waterfall Walks & Drives in GA, AL & TN

NORTHLAND FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Alaska	unknown	Boat	viewing this waterfall requires charting a boat or taking a boat tour or cruise; the water falls hundreds of feet off a massive glacier

DEER CREEK FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Arizona	Grand Canyon National Park	Backpacking Trip	reaching this falls requires a very difficult backpack in the Grand Canyon (do not underestimate the level of difficulty needed to each this); you'll find this 100-foot tall waterfall in a gorgeous desert-oasis; some whitewater rafting groups will take some time off of the river and hike up to the falls and it's beautiful swimming hole

HAVASU FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Arizona	Havasupai owned land	Backpacking Trip	this is undeniably one of the most beautiful waterfalls & swimming hole in the world; traveling here requires advance permits and either a (a) 10-mile hike (each way) or (b) a helicopter ride; you'll find campsites just downstream of 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 very best

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Exploring Havasupai

MOONEY FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Arizona	Havasupai owned land	Backpacking Trip	Mooney Fall is located downstream from the amazing Havasu Falls; requires advance permits and either a (a) 10.5-mile hike (each way) or (b) a helicopter ride; there are campsites just upstream of the falls between Mooney Falls and Havasu Falls (permits & reservations required); combined with Havasu Falls, these waterfalls offer one of the world's premier swimming hole destinations, if not the absolute very best

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Exploring Havasupai

CEDAR FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Arkansas	Petit Jean State Park	Roadside / Hiking Trail	"one of the most photographed, powerful and beautiful waterfalls in AR" per one author; roadside overlook or short hike to base; this is perhaps the best-known falls in Arkansas (and in one of the finest state parks in the region)

	(photo credit: Sara Nichole Newcomb)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Arkansas Waterfalls

TWIN FALLS ('TRIPLE FALLS')

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Arkansas	Boy Scouts of America (Camp Orr)	Short Walk	sometimes called "Triple Falls" since in high water flow often three plunges will often appear instead of two; "one of the most scenic and easiest waterfalls to get to (in Arkansas)" per one author

	(photo credit: Matthew Vierling)	DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Arkansas Waterfalls

ALAMERE FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
California	Point Reyes National Seashore	Hiking Trail	40-foot tall waterfall lands right on a sandy beach; one of only two such "tide falls" in California (the other is McWay Falls)

		DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Hiking Waterfalls in Northern California California Waterfalls

BRIDALVEIL FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
California	Yosemite National Park	Roadside / Short Walk	one of Yosemite's tallest and best waterfalls at 620 feet tall; this very popular attraction in Yosemite Valley; arrive early in the AM (before 8am or 9am) to snag one of the extremely limited parking spots; if you live in the area, check out nearby Horsetail Falls in the month of February when lighting can sometimes make the falls look like they are on fire

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE California Waterfalls

BURNEY FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
California	McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial SP	Hiking Trail	a wall of streaming water, some of which appears to leak out of the side of the earth; a very unique and impressive 129-foot tall falls

		DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE California Waterfalls

FEATHER FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
California	Plumas National Forest	Hiking Trail	one of the tallest waterfalls in California (about 650 feet tall); consistently rated a "10" by guidebook authors

	(photo credit: Leslie Phillips)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE California Waterfalls

ILLILOUETTE FALL

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
California	Yosemite National Park	Hiking Trail	an excellent waterfall with views along the way to the falls; partially obstructed view of falls from trail, but it's still one of Yosemite's best falls

		DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE California Waterfalls

MCWAY FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
California	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

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE California Waterfalls

NEVADA FALL

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
California	Yosemite National Park	Hiking Trail	one of the most gorgeous waterfalls in the country; close to Vernal Fall; this falls can be seen on a challenging hike trip to Half Dome by taking the Mist Trail from the Happy Isles trailhead

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE California Waterfalls

RAINBOW FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
California	Devil's Postpile National Monument	Hiking Trail	access to this beautiful waterfall is via the east side of the Sierras; you'll often find a beautiful rainbow glowing across the 101ft plunge; there are several other hikes offered in the national monument, including trails that visit the "Postpile" (a fascinating example of columnar basalt)

	(photo credit: Christy Hibsch)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE California Waterfalls

VERNAL FALL

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
California	Devil's Postpile National Monument	Hiking Trail	one of the most gorgeous waterfalls in the country; close to Nevada Fall; 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

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE California Waterfalls

YOSEMITE FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
California	Yosemite National Park	Roadside / Hiking Trail	probably the most famous waterfall in the USA and one of the tallest waterfalls in North America; its height is a staggering 2,425 feet; the best water flow is from May to June, but this waterfall can have some flow throughout summer in good snow/rain years; a nice national park lodge exists near the base of the falls; a hiking trail leads to the top of the falls (be careful not to slip over the edge like many have unfortunately experienced!)

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE California Waterfalls

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Colorado	Uncompahgre National Forest	Roadside / Short Walk	this waterfall, located in the Telluride area, is one of the state's highest waterfall at over 350 feet; at least one house is directly adjacent to the top of the falls, so the falls are not as wild as they once were

	(photo credit: Randy Stephens)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Hiking Waterfalls in Colorado

NORTH CLEAR CREEK FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Colorado	Rio Grande National Forest	Roadside / Short Walk	100-foot tall powerful horsetail in a fully exposed setting; probably Colorado's most scenic waterfall

		DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Hiking Waterfalls in Colorado

KENT FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Connecticut	Kent Falls State Park	Roadside / Short Walk	several tiers of waterfalls make this the tallest waterfall in CT; great picnic/family spot with huge grassy lawns at the base of the falls; a short but steep hiking trail visits the equally scenic upper falls; just a warning: the parking fee is a bit steep for non-Connecticut residents (shame on the state of Connecticut)

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE New England Waterfalls Hiking Waterfalls in New England

AMICALOLA FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Georgia	Amicalola Falls State Park	Roadside / Short Walk	one of the tallest waterfalls on the East Coast; its height varies based on the source you are reading, but the falls are likely to be in excess of 600-feet tall

	(photo credit: Tom Moore)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Waterfall Walks & Drives in GA, AL & TN

TOCCOA FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Georgia	Toccoa Falls College	Short Walk	186-foot tall gorgeous plunge that is located on the actual college campus; be aware that there is a bit of a flooding risk here

	(photo credit: Tom Moore)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Waterfall Walks & Drives in GA, AL & TN

AKAKA FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Hawaii	Akaka Falls State Park	Short Walk	located on Big Island; may be the state's tallest plunge at 442ft; one of Hawaii's best waterfalls

	(photo credit: Amy Demelia)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos

MOAULA FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Hawaii	privately owned	Hiking Trail	located on Molokai Island; 250 feet tall; requires permission to enter land; hiring a guide is recommended as trails are not maintained well; a phenomenal swimming hole

OPAEKAA FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Hawaii	Wailuku River State Park	Roadside / Short Walk	located on Big Island; 151-foot segmented horsetails; flows over basalt; 40-feet wide; access is no longer allowed to the swimming hole, which was a popular spot in the past

RAINBOW FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Hawaii	Wailuku River State Park	Short Walk	located on Big Island; surrounded by tropical foliage; 80-foot plunge

	(photo credit: Amy Demelia)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos

WAILUA FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Hawaii	Wailuku River State Park	Short Walk	located on Kauai Island; segmented powerful falls; one of the state's most popular; 200ft tall

	(photo credit: Kathleen Griffin)

WAIMOKU FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Hawaii	Haleakala National Park	Hiking Trail	located on Maui Island; 400-foot tall thin horsetail; fantastic photographs from the base of the falls

	(photo credit: Jason Underwood)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos

FALL CREEK FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Idaho	unknown	Short Walk	scenic exposed waterfall that lands in the Snake River; enjoys a wide-open and panoramic location; 60-foot fanning waterfall

		DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest Edition

PERRINE COULEE FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Idaho	unknown	Short Walk	nearly 200-foot tall plunge; access via US-93; don't miss nearby Shoshone Falls

	(photo credit: Tom Moore)	DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest Edition

SHOSHONE FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Idaho	Shoshone Falls Park	Roadside / Short Walk	212-foot tall, 1000-foot wide massive waterfall; one of the most powerful waterfalls in the country; other good waterfalls are nearby as well; bring a picnic to enjoy the small park that is found here (across from the parking lot & viewing platforms); don't miss nearby Perrine Coulee Falls

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest Edition

UPPER MESA FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Idaho	Targhee National Forest	Short Walk	beautiful 114-foot tall block-style waterfall; also known as "Big Falls"; 300ft wide; this waterfall is only an hour southwest of the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park; a strong & colorful rainbow often spans the gorge that the falls dump into

	(photo credit: Ben Prepelka, www.scenicusa.net)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest Edition

CUMBERLAND FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Kentucky	Cumberland Falls State Park	Short Walk	68 foot famous falls; one of the most popular state parks on the east coast; displays "moonbows"; 125-feet wide

	(photo credit: Ben Prepelka, www.scenicusa.net)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos

YAHOO FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Kentucky	Big South Fork NR/NRA	Short Walk	most likely Kentucky's tallest falls; 113-foot plunge; can be seasonal, so make sure to visit early in the spring or after heavy rains

	(photo credit: Kathleen Griffin)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos

MOXIE FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Maine	Moxie Falls Scenic Area	Hiking Trail	near the town of The Forks, this is a 90-foot plunge that has additional cascades above and below; you can swim at the base of the falls if the water conditions are low enough; the falls are set in a wild, deep-forest setting, but they are damn controlled (you can't see the dam though); notorious for mosquitoes from late May through early July; most visitors to the falls are lodging with nearby whitewater rafting trip outfitters (who are based here to run the Kennebec and Dead Rivers)

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE New England Waterfalls Hiking Waterfalls in New England

GREAT FALLS OF THE POTOMAC

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Maryland	Great Falls Park	Short Walk	located on the MD-VA state line; 76-foot total drop, but tallest is only 35ft; wide, powerful scene; falls lack character but present a bold statement on huge river

	(photo credit: Kathleen Griffin)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos

BASH BISH FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Massachusetts	Bash Bish Falls State Park	Hiking Trail	unquestionably the best waterfall in Massachusetts; 80-foot total drop; water splits into two sections by a mighty boulder; trailheads in both NY and MA, but you need to access both from the NY side; hundreds or even thousands of visitors come here on summer weekends, even though no swimming is allowed; visit in April, May or June for the best water flow; gorgeous in early winter if you can make the trip then

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE New England Waterfalls Hiking Waterfalls in New England

LAUGHING WHITEFISH FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Michigan	Laughing Whitefish Falls Natural Area	Hiking Trail	considered by many to be the best waterfall in Michigan; hike to waterfall is 0.6 miles each way, but there is more hiking with this park; northwestern Michigan; 100-foot total drop

	(photo credit: Adria Vittitow)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE A Guide to 199 Michigan Waterfalls

TAHQUAMENON FALLS ('UPPER FALLS')

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Michigan	Tahquamenon Falls State Park	Short Walk	probably the most powerful and popular falls in Michigan; 50 feet tall and about 200 feet wide; there are other additional falls nearby

	(photo credit: Kathleen Griffin)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE A Guide to 199 Michigan Waterfalls

GOOSEBERRY FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Minnesota	Gooseberry Falls State Park	Hiking Trail	five (5) sets of falls within one of Minnesota's best state parks; "an absolute must for any Minnesota sight-seeing enthusiast" per one author

	(photo credit: Ben Prepelka)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Waterfalls of Minnesota's North Shore and More Minnesota Waterfalls

HIGH FALLS OF THE PIGEON RIVER

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Minnesota	Grand Portgage State Park	Short Walk	one of two excellent waterfalls in Minnesota named "High Falls"; may or may not be the tallest waterfall in the state

	(photo credit: Tom Moore)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Waterfalls of Minnesota's North Shore and More Minnesota Waterfalls

PALISADES FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
Montana	Palisades Falls Picnic Area	Hiking Trail	80-foot falls (another source says 98-feet) over basalt tower; fantastic in high water; near the outdoorsy & hip city of Bozeman

		DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE Montana Waterfalls

ARETHUSA FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
New Hampshire	Crawford Notch State Park	Hiking Trail	the most dramatic waterfall in New England; 120-160 feet tall (the actual height is quite contested); gorgeous horsetail accessed on moderate hiking trail; visit in winter (snowshoes typically needed) to watch ice climbers ascend the side of the falls; a spur trail en route also visits other waterfalls along Bemis Brook

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE New England Waterfalls Hiking Waterfalls in New England

ITHACA FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
New York	Ithaca Falls Natural Area	Roadside / Short Walk	this is a 130-foot stunning horsetail in a region that is loaded with waterfalls (you've probably heard that "Ithaca is Gorges!"); owned by the city of Ithaca; free parking in residential area

	(photo credit: Christy Hibsch)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE New York Waterfalls Waterfalls of New York State Hiking Waterfalls in New York

KAATERSKILL FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
New York	Catskill Park	Hiking Trail	the best waterfall in the Catskill Park; 260ft two-tier falls; one of the tallest waterfalls in the Northeast

	(photo credit: Sheri Stylianopolous)	ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE New York Waterfalls Waterfalls of New York State Hiking Waterfalls in New York

LETCHWORTH FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
New York	Letchworth Falls State Park	Short Walk / Hiking Trail	includes three major waterfalls (upper, middle & lower falls); the most impressive and famous waterfall is the Middle Falls, but the lower and upper falls are excellent too; the Gorge Path will allow you to walk to all three (5.6 mile mile round-trip); Middle Falls has the easiest access; Lower Falls requires a moderately steep hike, and Upper Falls requires a short walk

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE New York Waterfalls Waterfalls of New York State Hiking Waterfalls in New York

NIAGARA FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
New York	Niagara Falls State Park	Roadside / Short Walk	one of the most famous waterfalls of the world; you'll see three main falls here (i.e. American Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls); the Canadian side of falls is actually more interesting with better views and a variety of tourist attractions; the American side has the famed Cave Of The Winds, the Maid of the Mist, and also a unique perspectives of the falls; I recommend bringing your passport and visiting both sides (there is a pedestrian bridge you can walk over)

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE New York Waterfalls Waterfalls of New York State Hiking Waterfalls in New York

TAUGHANNOCK FALLS

STATE	PARK	ACCESS	OVERVIEW
New York	Taughannock Falls State Park	Roadside / Short Walk	215ft drop in spectacular setting; one of the tallest single-drop falls in the Northeast; views can be round along the northern rim, or via a 1.5 mile round-trip hike to the base of the falls on the Gorge Trail (highly recommended!)

		ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS photos DIRECTIONS / TRAIL GUIDE New York Waterfalls Waterfalls of New York State Hiking Waterfalls in New York

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