The U.S. has an abundance of beautiful waterfalls, and you can find them in every state. Some are pretty cascades adding beauty and tranquility to a setting, but others are truly epic. Here are 12 U.S. waterfalls everyone should see at least once.
Brooks Falls, Alaska
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The falls on the Brooks River in Katmai National Park are pretty, but it’s not the water that makes this place exceptional. Every summer, salmon return from the Pacific to struggle their ways up the cascades to spawn and die in the shallow waters where they were born. And huge brown bears show up in great numbers to take part in a feast.
Wailua Falls, Hawaii
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This is a 173’ waterfall on the island of Kauai, renowned for its waterfalls. The 1970s TV show Fantasy Island helped make this waterfall famous by showing it during its opening credits.
Palouse Falls, Washington
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In the high desert of eastern Washington, the Palouse River roars over a 200’ drop among basalt cliffs. Nothing prepares you for this spectacle that seems so unlikely given its surroundings.
Multnomah Falls, Oregon
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This famous waterfall tumbles down in two drops. A footbridge lets you cross in front of the falls about halfway up, and it’s one of the most famous photo-ops in the country.
McWay Falls, California
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In California’s spectacular Big Sur country, this waterfall in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park spills over a tall cliff and onto a sandy beach below. With the shores of the Pacific Ocean just feet away, the setting seems like something from a fantasy movie.
Yosemite Falls, California
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With three main drops totaling 2425’ in all, Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in Yosemite National Park and one of the tallest in the world. It’s one of the iconic sights of Yosemite Valley and is best viewed in late spring when melting snow makes the flow reach maximum volume.
Bridalveil Fall, California
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Named for the wispy mist usually blowing about it, this waterfall is on the other side of the valley from Yosemite Falls and has been in many classic photos of the valley. It’s one of the first stops after you enter the valley, and a short, easy trail leads to a good viewpoint.
Havasu Falls, Arizona
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Havasu Canyon is on the Havasupai Reservation in Arizona and feeds into the Grand Canyon. In the canyon is a series of waterfalls that tumble over travertine cliffs. The most remarkable of them is Havasu Falls and the turquoise pool it falls into.
Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls, Wyoming
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In the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park, the deep-green Yellowstone River rushes through a narrow gorge and takes two major plunges. Easily accessible viewpoints let you enjoy the scenery, and one strenuous trail gets you close enough to the lower falls that you’ll get wet from the spray.
Tahquamenon Falls, Michigan
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Not especially tall, this waterfall is still an incredible sight because of its width and dark waters. After its drop, the river continues a short distance before emptying into Lake Superior.
Cumberland Falls, Kentucky
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Cumberland Falls is worth a visit just for its scenic quality, but what makes it a must-see is something else. It’s one of the few places in the world where, when conditions are just right, you can see a moonbow.
Niagara Falls, New York
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It’s crowded. It’s overly commercialized. It’s a tourist trap. But it’s still an incredible sight, and when you’re beholding the falls, you’ll temporarily forget about those other things. Even if crowds are a turnoff for you, you should see this natural marvel at least once.
The 30 Most Beautiful Places in the World That Everyone Must See
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There’s no way you could ever come up with a definitive list of the world’s most beautiful places. However, if you ask around, some places come up a lot more frequently than others do.
The following are some of the places that people mention over and over again, not in any particular order.
30 Breathtaking Places You Must See Before You Die
The Two Best Scenic Wonders in Each of the Mountain States
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The Mountain States– Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico– have some of the wildest and most rugged landscapes in the United States. Because they’re so big, it can take a lot of time to visit them, so it helps to be able to plan for some specific destinations.
Following are our choices for the top two must-see outdoor locations in each of these seven states.
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