There’s something magical about hiking toward the sound of rushing water, knowing that each step brings you closer to a spectacular payoff. Waterfall hikes offer the perfect combination of journey and destination—the trail itself becomes part of the reward when it culminates in thundering cascades or delicate veils of water tumbling over ancient rock formations. These trails prove that some of nature’s best surprises are worth working for, whether you’re seeking a gentle family stroll or a challenging backcountry adventure.
Here’s a list of 20 hiking trails that lead to waterfalls worth every step of the journey, from hidden gems tucked away in state parks to iconic cascades that define entire regions.
Angel’s Landing to Weeping Rock, Utah
While most people know Angel’s Landing for its death-defying chain section, the easier Weeping Rock trail offers spectacular waterfall views without the vertigo-inducing finale. The paved trail climbs gradually through Zion Canyon, leading to an alcove where water seeps through sandstone layers and creates a natural shower effect.
Spring snowmelt turns this gentle weeping into a more dramatic display, while the shaded alcove provides welcome relief during Utah’s scorching summer months.
Havasu Falls, Arizona
Havasu Falls requires a multi-day commitment and reservations, but the turquoise pools beneath 100-foot cascades make it one of America’s most photographed waterfalls. The 8-mile hike through desert landscape gives no hint of the oasis waiting at the trail’s end, where mineral-rich water creates pools that look almost artificially blue against red canyon walls.
The Havasupai Tribe manages access to protect this sacred site, requiring hikers to pack out all trash and camp only in designated areas.
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Multnomah Falls, Oregon
The paved trail to Multnomah Falls’ viewing bridge makes this 627-foot waterfall accessible to almost everyone, while the upper trail to the top rewards more ambitious hikers with spectacular Columbia River Gorge views. The two-tiered falls create a natural amphitheater where mist rises from the lower pool and catches sunlight in rainbow displays throughout the day.
Winter ice formations transform the falls into a crystalline sculpture, though trail conditions require extra caution during freezing weather.
Bridalveil Fall, California
Yosemite’s Bridalveil Fall offers a relatively easy 1.2-mile round-trip hike that showcases the valley’s geological drama on a human scale. The trail follows an old roadbed through oak and pine forest before opening onto views of the 617-foot waterfall that seems to float like fabric against granite cliffs.
Spring runoff creates a thunderous display, while late summer reduces the flow to delicate wisps that give the falls their bridal name.
Ruby Falls, Tennessee
Ruby Falls requires descending 260 feet underground through limestone caves before reaching the 145-foot underground waterfall that serves as the tour’s dramatic finale. The guided tour combines spelunking with waterfall viewing, leading visitors through narrow passages and cathedral-sized chambers before revealing the illuminated cascade in the depths of Lookout Mountain.
The cave maintains a constant 60-degree temperature year-round, making it a popular destination during Tennessee’s hot summers and cold winters.
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Kaaterskill Falls, New York
New York’s tallest waterfall drops 260 feet in two stages, accessible via a moderate 1.4-mile hike through the Catskill Mountain forest. The trail climbs steadily through mixed hardwood forest before emerging at the base of falls that inspired Hudson River School painters in the 19th century.
Winter transforms the cascade into massive ice formations that attract ice climbers, while spring runoff creates the most dramatic water flow of the year.
Crabtree Falls, Virginia
Virginia’s Crabtree Falls cascades 1,200 feet down a series of five major drops, accessible via a 2-mile trail that offers multiple viewing points along the way. The trail follows switchbacks through Blue Ridge Mountain forest, with wooden bridges and stone steps providing safe passage near the most dramatic sections.
Each viewing platform reveals different aspects of the falls, from thundering lower cascades to delicate upper tiers that seem to disappear into mountain mist.
Hanakapiai Falls, Hawaii
The 8-mile round-trip hike to Hanakapiai Falls along Kauai’s Na Pali Coast combines coastal views with tropical rainforest before reaching the 300-foot waterfall that plunges into a swimming pool surrounded by jungle vegetation. The trail crosses Hanakapiai Stream multiple times, requiring careful attention to water levels that can rise dangerously during heavy rains.
The reward includes not just the waterfall but also views of the Na Pali Coast’s dramatic fluted cliffs and pristine beaches.
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Tahquamenon Falls, Michigan
Michigan’s Tahquamenon Falls splits into upper and lower sections connected by a 4-mile trail through Upper Peninsula wilderness. The upper falls drop 50 feet across a 200-foot-wide curtain of amber-colored water stained by tannins from upstream wetlands, while the lower falls create a series of smaller cascades perfect for wading during summer months.
The trail follows the Tahquamenon River through mixed forest that explodes with color during the autumn peak foliage season.
Yosemite Falls, California
The 7.2-mile round-trip hike to Yosemite Falls’ top ranks among America’s most challenging waterfall trails, gaining 2,700 feet of elevation through switchbacks that test even experienced hikers. The trail offers multiple perspectives of North America’s tallest waterfall, from distant valley views to close encounters with the mist and spray of the middle cascade.
Spring snowmelt creates the most impressive flow, while late summer often reduces the falls to a trickle that barely justifies the strenuous climb.
Laurel Falls, Tennessee
Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Laurel Falls offers an easy 2.6-mile round-trip hike on a paved trail that makes this 80-foot waterfall accessible to families and wheelchair users. The trail follows an old logging road through mixed forest typical of the Appalachian Mountains, with wildflower displays that peak in spring and early summer.
The falls themselves drop over a series of rock ledges, creating pools that reflect the surrounding forest and sky in mirror-like surfaces.
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Seven Falls, Colorado
Colorado Springs’ Seven Falls lives up to its name with seven distinct cascades tumbling 181 feet down a granite canyon accessible via a short but steep trail. The hike begins with 224 steps carved into the canyon wall, followed by additional trails that lead to viewing platforms at different elevations.
Evening illumination transforms the falls into a light show that reflects off canyon walls, while winter ice formations create a completely different but equally spectacular display.
Cunningham Falls, Maryland
Maryland’s Cunningham Falls drops 78 feet over rock ledges in Catoctin Mountain Park, accessible via a moderate 1.5-mile trail through mixed deciduous forest. The trail crosses several small streams before reaching the falls, which flow year-round but reach peak volume during spring snowmelt and after summer thunderstorms.
The surrounding park offers additional trails and camping, making this a perfect base camp for exploring the region’s other natural attractions.
Linville Falls, North Carolina
North Carolina’s Linville Falls plunges 90 feet into Linville Gorge, accessible via multiple trails that offer different perspectives on this Blue Ridge Mountain cascade. The easiest trail leads to upper views in less than a mile, while more challenging routes descend into the gorge for bottom-up perspectives that showcase the falls’ full power.
The surrounding wilderness area protects some of the oldest mountains on Earth, creating a sense of geological time that puts human concerns into perspective.
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McWay Falls, California
Big Sur’s McWay Falls drops 80 feet directly onto a pristine beach, accessible via a short 0.6-mile trail that offers one of California’s most photographed coastal scenes. The trail follows the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean, providing views of rugged coastline before reaching the overlook where the waterfall meets the sea.
Winter storms create the most dramatic displays, while summer fog often shrouds the falls in mystery, adding to their romantic appeal.
Blackwater Falls, West Virginia
West Virginia’s Blackwater Falls drops 57 feet over sandstone ledges stained amber by tannic acid from upstream hemlock and spruce forests. The easy 0.25-mile boardwalk trail makes the falls accessible to everyone, while longer trails explore the surrounding canyon and river system.
Winter transforms the falls into a frozen sculpture surrounded by snow-covered evergreens, creating scenes that define West Virginia’s mountain beauty.
Burney Falls, California
California’s Burney Falls creates a 129-foot curtain of water that flows year-round from underground springs, accessible via a 1.3-mile loop trail through the volcanic landscape in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. The trail descends to the falls’ base, where visitors can walk behind the cascade and experience the power of water that President Theodore Roosevelt called the ‘eighth wonder of the world.’
The surrounding area showcases Northern California’s volcanic geology through lava tubes, cinder cones, and unusual rock formations.
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Cumberland Falls, Kentucky
Kentucky’s Cumberland Falls creates a 68-foot wide curtain that drops 60 feet into the Cumberland River, accessible via easy trails that make this the ‘Niagara of the South’ available to hikers of all abilities. The falls gain fame for creating moonbows during full moon nights when conditions align perfectly. However, daytime visits reveal the power and beauty that make this one of the Southeast’s premier natural attractions.
The surrounding state park offers camping and additional trails that explore Kentucky’s unique blend of Appalachian and Midwestern ecosystems.
Brandywine Falls, Ohio
Ohio’s Brandywine Falls drops 65 feet over shale ledges in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, accessible via a 1.5-mile trail that showcases the Midwest’s surprising natural beauty. The trail follows the Brandywine Creek through mixed forest before reaching viewing platforms that provide different perspectives on the falls and the surrounding gorge.
The park’s location between Cleveland and Akron makes this an easily accessible escape from urban environments, proving that spectacular waterfalls don’t require wilderness destinations.
Snoqualmie Falls, Washington
Washington’s Snoqualmie Falls plunges 268 feet into a misty pool below, accessible via a short 0.3-mile trail from the visitor center to an observation deck that provides spectacular views. The falls played a starring role in the television series ‘Twin Peaks,’ but their natural beauty transcends pop culture fame through sheer power and the grandeur of the Pacific Northwest.
The surrounding park offers additional trails that explore the Snoqualmie River valley and connect to longer hiking networks in the Cascade foothills.
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Nature’s Grand Finale
These waterfall trails demonstrate that some of nature’s most spectacular displays reward those willing to walk toward the sound of falling water. What begins as distant rumbling grows into thunderous cascades that dwarf human visitors, providing perspective on the forces that have shaped our landscapes over millions of years.
From desert oases in Arizona to coastal cascades in California, these trails prove that waterfalls exist in every American ecosystem, each offering unique combinations of geological drama, natural beauty, and the simple satisfaction that comes from reaching a destination that justifies every step of the journey.
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