Think waterfalls are only for above-ground? Think again. Some of nature’s most spectacular cascades flow through hidden chambers deep beneath our feet, creating magical underground worlds that few people ever get to experience. These subterranean waterfalls offer something special – the combination of rushing water and ancient rock formations creates an atmosphere that’s both mysterious and breathtaking.
Underground waterfalls form when water finds its way through limestone or other soluble rock, carving out passages over thousands of years. Here is a list of 18 caves with underground waterfalls, most of which offer guided tours for visitors.
Ruby Falls, Tennessee
Deep inside Lookout Mountain, near Chattanooga, lies Ruby Falls, the tallest and deepest underground waterfall in the U.S. open to the public. Ruby Falls, the tallest and deepest underground cave waterfall in the U.S. that’s open to the public, is set inside Lookout Mountain.
The 145-foot cascade drops dramatically through a limestone chamber, creating an awe-inspiring sight that’s been wowing visitors since 1929. You’ll descend 26 stories by elevator to reach this underground wonder, where colored lights illuminate the falling water against ancient rock formations.
Niagara Cave, Minnesota
Don’t let the name fool you – this Minnesota gem has nothing to do with its famous New York cousin. Niagara Cave in Harmony, Minnesota, has remained a family-owned and operated natural attraction since its opening in 1934. The cave features a stunning 62-foot waterfall that cascades into a stream, surrounded by millions of year-old fossils and intricate rock formations.
The discovery happened by accident when a farmer lost three pigs in a sinkhole, leading to the revelation of these magnificent caverns.
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Secret Caverns, New York
Located in the hamlet of Howes Cave, this underground wonderland lives up to its mysterious name. Secret Caverns is located just a few miles away from another famous attraction, Howe Caverns. Visitors descend 103 steps into prehistoric limestone passageways to reach the main attraction: a spectacular 100-foot waterfall plunging into a large cavern.
The cave maintains its natural character, making it feel like a true underground adventure rather than a polished tourist attraction.
Cumberland Caverns, Tennessee
This extensive cave system near McMinnville harbors one of the most mystifying water features in any American cave. Inside Cumberland Caverns, we also have a magical waterfall, our Neverending Waterfall. This incredible formation has enchanted visitors for decades and has mystified scientists since its discovery.
Despite extensive studies, no one has ever discovered where the water originates or where it goes. The constant flow has puzzled researchers for decades, making it one of the most enigmatic underground waterfalls in the country.
Blanchard Springs Caverns, Arkansas
Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, this living cave showcases nature’s ongoing artistry, with a spring that emerges from the mountainside in a waterfall and flows into Mirror Lake.
This Forest Service-managed cave offers multiple tour options, from easy walks through beautifully lit chambers to challenging spelunking adventures through undeveloped sections.
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Laurel Caverns, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s largest cave system features Calico Falls, a beautiful underground cascade that highlights the Laurel Highlands’ sandstone formations. The colorful lights throughout the caverns create stunning reflections off the walls, while the underground waterfall provides a peaceful soundtrack to your subterranean journey.
Cascade Caverns, Texas
The Lone Star State’s only underground waterfall can be found in this historic cave near Boerne. First dedicated as a show cave in 1932, Cascade Caverns truly looks like something from another planet. Its name comes from the seven waterfalls that used to flow through its chambers, six of which dried up in the 1950s during a particularly bad drought.
Though only one waterfall remains active, it still creates a spectacular sight in the Cathedral Room, 132 feet beneath the Texas Hill Country.
Lost River Caverns, Pennsylvania
Near Allentown, this cave system gets its name from the underground river that flows through its chambers. The caverns feature beautiful formations and water features created by the same underground river system that gives the cave its identity.
Guided tours reveal how water has carved these passages while continuing to shape new formations today.
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Crystal Cave, Pennsylvania
As Pennsylvania’s first show cave, Crystal Cave has been welcoming visitors since 1871. The cave features beautiful crystal formations, and water features that sparkle under carefully placed lighting.
Underground streams and pools add to the mystical atmosphere of this historic cave system.
Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
The world’s longest-known cave system contains numerous underground water features and streams. Various tours through different sections of Mammoth Cave showcase underground rivers and water-carved passages that demonstrate the incredible power of subterranean water flow over geological time.
Luray Caverns, Virginia
The largest caverns in the eastern United States feature the famous Dream Lake, where underground water creates perfect reflections of stalactites. While not a traditional waterfall, the water features here create some of the most photographed underground scenes in America.
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Fantastic Caverns, Missouri
This unique drive-through cave tour showcases water-carved formations and underground streams. Visitors can see how water continues to shape the cave while riding in jeep-drawn trams through the spacious underground passages.
Natural Bridge Caverns, Texas
Located near San Antonio, these caverns feature stunning formations created by underground water flow. The cave’s natural bridge formation and various chambers showcase the artistic power of water working through limestone over thousands of years.
Ohio Caverns, Ohio
Styled as America’s most colorful caverns, this cave system features beautiful formations and underground water features. The cave’s streams and pools reflect the colorful formations, creating a rainbow effect that gives the caverns their famous nickname.
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Meramec Caverns, Missouri
This historic cave system, located along the Meramec River, features underground streams and water formations that have been attracting visitors for over a century. The cave’s connection to the river creates unique water features and formations throughout the tour route.
Wind Cave, South Dakota
Known for its unique boxwork formations, Wind Cave also features underground water systems that continue to shape the cave. The water features here demonstrate how underground streams create the complex passage systems that make this cave so unique.
Jewel Cave, South Dakota
As one of the longest cave systems in the world, Jewel Cave contains numerous underground water features and streams. Tours reveal how water has carved the intricate passages while creating the crystal formations that give the cave its sparkling reputation.
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Florida Caverns, Florida
The only state park in Florida offering cave tours, Florida Caverns, features underground streams and water features unique to the state’s limestone geology. Florida Caverns is the only state park in Florida where visitors can take a guided tour through a large cave system and see spectacular examples of cave formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and flowstone.
The cave’s water features demonstrate how Florida’s unique geology creates underground waterways.
Nature’s Hidden Concert Halls
These underground waterfalls represent more than just tourist attractions—they’re windows into geological processes that have been shaping our planet for millions of years. The highest known subterranean waterfall is located in Vrtoglavica Cave in Slovenia and is at least 400 meters (1,300 ft) high. However, the American caves on this list offer the perfect combination of accessibility and natural wonder.
Each underground waterfall tells a story of patient water working through solid rock, creating spaces that feel like nature’s own cathedrals. Whether you’re seeking adventure or simply want to experience something truly unique, these hidden waterfalls prove that some of Earth’s most spectacular sights wait just beneath our feet.
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