18 of America's great cascades, plunges, and punchbowls.
From the thunder of Niagara to the misty plunges of the Pacific Northwest, America's waterfalls are among its most photographed natural wonders. This is a curated checklist of 18 of the best, grouped by region, with each waterfall's location and what makes it worth the trip.
| Waterfall | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Niagara Falls (American + Bridal Veil) | Niagara Falls, NY | Most-visited waterfall in the world |
| Tahquamenon Falls (Upper Peninsula) | Paradise, MI | second-largest east of Mississippi |
| Cumberland Falls | Corbin, KY | 'Moonbow' on full moons |
| Middle Falls (Letchworth State Park) | Castile, NY | Grand Canyon of the East · 107 ft |
| Brandywine Falls | Sagamore Hills, OH | Cuyahoga Valley NP |
| Waterfall | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Amicalola Falls | Dawsonville, GA | tallest east of Mississippi · 729 ft |
| Looking Glass Falls | Brevard, NC | Pisgah National Forest · NC · 60 ft roadside falls |
| Rainbow Falls (Smoky Mountains) | Gatlinburg, TN | 80 ft drop |
| Waterfall | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Multnomah Falls | Bridal Veil, OR | Most-photographed in U.S. · 620 ft |
| Snoqualmie Falls | Snoqualmie, WA | Twin Peaks · 268 ft |
| Palouse Falls | LaCrosse, WA | WA State Waterfall · 198 ft |
| Toketee Falls | Steamboat, OR | Two-tier |
| Wahclella Falls | Cascade Locks, OR | Columbia River Gorge |
| Waterfall | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Yosemite Falls | Yosemite NP, CA | Tallest in U.S. · 2,425 ft |
| Bridalveil Fall (Yosemite) | Yosemite NP, CA | 188 ft · seasonal |
| Vernal & Nevada Falls (Yosemite) | Yosemite NP, CA | Mist Trail |
| Havasu Falls (Grand Canyon) | Supai, AZ | Turquoise water · Havasupai tribal land |
| Akaka Falls | Honomu, HI | Big Island · 442 ft |
Turn this list into a keepsake. The Triptyka Waterfalls Passport is a printable PDF with a curated checklist, a detail page for each fall, suggested routes, and achievement badges to earn.
Get the Printable Passport — $9.99 on Etsy →Go in spring for the biggest flow; snowmelt and spring rain make most waterfalls at their most powerful from April to June. Arrive early at marquee falls like Yosemite and Multnomah — parking fills fast. Watch your footing; rocks near waterfalls are slick, and every year visitors are injured climbing where they shouldn't. Shoot in soft light — early morning, late afternoon, or an overcast day gives the best photos and avoids harsh glare on the water.
Yosemite Falls in California, at about 2,425 feet in total drop, is the tallest measured waterfall in North America. Several tall falls in Yosemite and the West are seasonal, running strongest in spring.
Spring, from roughly April to June, is usually best, when snowmelt and rain push the most water over the falls. Some western waterfalls slow to a trickle by late summer.
It varies. Some, like Niagara and Multnomah, are steps from a parking lot, while others require a strenuous hike. Check the trail distance and difficulty before you go.
Be very careful. Rocks near falls are extremely slippery, currents above and below can be deadly, and climbing on wet rock causes injuries every year. Follow posted signs and stay on marked trails.
A printable waterfalls passport — a curated checklist grouped by region, a detail page for each fall, suggested routes, and achievement badges — makes it easy to mark off each one.