9 Incredible Waterfalls To Visit For A Truly Memorable Experience
With their awe-inspiring power and immense size, waterfalls capture our imagination and are wonders of the natural world. The United States is filled with so many of these incredible features spreading from coast to coast.
In this articles, we’ll narrow down 9 of Americas best waterfalls to visit across the country. While a true list would go on for much longer, these 9 are a great place to get started in you waterfall exploration.
One of the most well known and popular waterfalls in not only the country but the world, Niagara Falls, on the border of the US and Canada, surpasses all others when it comes to size and power. During its daytime peak, more than six million cubic feet of water pass over the cress of the falls every minute.
There’s so many activities to enjoy around the falls including hiking, dining, and shopping. The Cave of the Winds is allows you to get close to the Falls by descending 175 feet into the Niagara Gorge. It’s a wet and wild adventure where you’ll experience the power of the Falls while you walk on the aptly named Hurricane Deck.
You can also hop on the famous Maid of the Mist boat tour which floats you up close and personal to both American Falls and basin of Horseshoe Falls. It has ferried generations of tourists for over 150 years and is usually described as the highlight of most peoples trip.
2. Bridalveil Fall, California
One of Yosemite National Parks most well known waterfalls, Bridalveil Fall frames the iconic image of Yosemite Valley with Half Dome making up the other half of the landscape. It’s part of what is often referred to as “The Gates of Yosemite Valley,” and has had a place in the parks history having been described by environmentalist John Muir and photographed by legendary photographer Ansel Adams.
If you’re looking to get closer to Bridalveil, there is an easy, half mile trail that takes you to the base of the Falls. Depending on what season you go, the water flow will be different. Spring and early summer offers a thundering waterfall due to the snowmelt while the rest of the year it presents its characteristic light, swaying flow.
3. Tahquamenon Falls, Michigan
Located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, this picturesque waterfall sits in the northern part of Tahquamenon Falls State Park. This is a beautiful, 13 mile area of undeveloped woodlands that contains many waterfalls, but the centerpiece of the park is Tahquamenon Falls. It has a nearly 50 foot drop and is over 200 feet across, one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi.
There is a 0.4 mile paved pathway that leads through old-growth forests right to the observation platforms at the crest of the Falls. Anyone looking for a more adventurous hike can take the 4-mile trail that leads along the river to the Lower Falls. There are also 25-miles of trails that extent from the park to explore the surrounding area.
The Upper Falls also has a restaurant and gift shop located in a replica of the original logging camp that use to occupy the spot. There’s a fireplace, chairs, and picnic tables near the trail entrance for anyone looking to picnic before hitting the trail. Four campgrounds also dot the park to accommodate those looking to stay the night.
At a staggering 400 feet tall, this impressive feature located in East Maui is an idyllic paradise that makes for great photo opportunities. It’s one of Hawaii’s most popular waterfalls with nearly a half-million visitors each year and famous for its natural pools located at the base.
Pipiwai Trail is the pathway you’ll take to access the Falls. It is an unforgettably beautiful, 1.8 mile journey that takes you through an immense bamboo grove and lush tropical rainforest. The trail is safe and well maintained with boardwalks that span the muddy sections and stone steps on the paths steeper grades.
Just a 30-minute drive from Portland, this iconic waterfall is over 600 feet of cascading icy water that takes the title of Oregon’s most incredible natural attraction. According to Native American lore, the falls was created to win the heart of a young princess wanting a hidden place to bathe. With only a 5-minute walk from the nearby parking area, Multnomah is extremely accessible for anyone looking to enjoy its beauty.
You can also get even closer by heading up to Benson Bridge, which spans the first tier of the falls. It stands 69-feet over the second tier of Multnomah, allowing you to enjoy the mist as it drifts from 542-feet above. The waterfall can also be seen year-round as it’s fed by rainwater, snow melt, and an underground spring meaning it won’t dry up during summer.
Don’t forget to check out the Multnomah Falls Lodge before heading out. Built in 1925, it’s a historic building that’s been serving visitors to the Columbia Gorge for almost a century. There’s a restaurant, gift shop, and hiking information all available for guests to take part in.
Consisting of two major waterfalls, these powerful landmarks run through one of America’s most well known natural features, Yellowstone National Park. While it’s most popular attraction are the numerous geysers, the parks waterfalls come in close second with their incredible beauty and awe-inspiring size.
The Upper Falls, while not as popular as its lower counterpart, still offers a stunning view of the river as it flows from the Yellowstone Lake to the north. It cascades 109-feet and marks the junction between a hard rhyolite lava flow and a weaker glassy lava flow. It can be viewed from a platform that stands right at the brink of the falls.
Further down the river sits the Lower Falls, which was said in 1870 that, “A grander scene than the lower cataract of the Yellowstone was never witnessed by mortal eyes.” Viewing this 308-foot marvel, it’s hard to argue otherwise. During the peak runoff in spring, 63,500 gallons of water flow over the falls every second. You can view this up close by visiting the platform on the Brink of the Lower Falls.
Those looking for a more adventurous experience can check out Uncle Tom’s Trail, a strenuous hike that takes you from the top of the canyon to the base of Lower Falls. Originally built by “Uncle” Tom Richardson in 1898, he began giving tours in 1903 to the parks visitors on a rough trail so they could picnic at the bottom. Now, if you’re up for it, you can walk the 328 steps down and up that covers 500 vertical feet.
7. Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania
Nicknamed the “Niagara of Pennsylvania,” this famous attraction located deep in the wooded Pocono Mountains offers a beautiful network of waterfalls, hikes, and bridges to experience and explore. Starting as a single pathway to the main falls in 1904, it has evolved into an incredible series of boardwalks that lead you pass 8 of the parks waterfalls.
The focal point of the park is the 100-foot Bushkill Falls as it’s one of the tallest and most powerful waterfalls in the region. There are several viewing areas surrounding the falls that give you spectacular views from both the top and the base. The interconnected trails make it easy to walk from waterfall to waterfall where you can also view the beautiful cliffs that make up the gorge.
You can take the path that leads straight to the main falls, but it is recommended that you enjoy the entire two-mile route that lets you view all eight. Not only will you be experiencing every fall the park has to offer, you’ll also be immersing yourself in scenery of the wonderful Pocono Mountains.
Made up of both the Upper and Lower falls, Mesa Falls in Idaho offers an incredibly powerful view of these unique natural features. They flow over remnants of an ancient volcanic super-eruption that had spewed ash all over the US. It’s a mix of solidified ash and lava that continues to be carved away by the water with some layers more than a million years old.
The Upper Mesa is thunderous curtain of water that’s as tall as a 10-story building. Around 1.3 million years ago, the Messa Falls Tuff was formed and provided the rock in which the falls cascade over. The Lower Mesa Falls also extends from this formation and continues to erode the layers as time goes on. These waterfalls are the last from the Snake River not to be interfered with by mankind.
While on your visit, you can check out the historic Mesa Falls Visitors Center. Built in 1915 as the Big Falls Inn, the building has now be turned into a museum with exhibits on flora and fauna, area geology, and the history of the lodge. The visitors center also allows you to access the Mesa Nature Trail which will give you a spectacular view of the falls.
9. Snoqualmie Falls, Washington
A premiere spot in Washington state, Snoqualmie Falls offers easy access to an incredibly scenic view. The 0.7 mile trail takes you from the upper falls viewpoint to the lower falls viewpoint and is a great trail for any skill level. There are spots along the way that give information about the local flora and fauna as well as Native American history all ending in a fantastic view of the falls.
Snoqualmie Falls is also famous for its inclusion in the credits sequence of David Lynch’s, “Twin Peaks.” Because of this, the park attracts more than 1.5 million visitors per year and is a popular photo spot for fans. Be sure to also check out the visitors center while you’re there which contains a gift shop and more history on the falls. You can also view the falls in the evening as lights illuminate it during dusk.
