All around the country, you can find gorgeous natural wonders that are exciting to explore. If you’re looking for an adventure that you’ll never forget, try going for a stroll behind a waterfall – you’ll get a completely different perspective. Here are 10 U.S. waterfalls you can walk behind that you will never forget!

1. Dry Falls - North Carolina
Dry Falls, North Carolina 28741, USA
Timothy Wildey/Flickr
Dry Falls flows over a beautiful cliff in North Carolina and drops down 75 feet. A gorgeous walkway will take you right behind the falls. Located within the Nantahala National Forest, this is a waterfall that you'll want to see for yourself. To find out more information, check out this article all about Dry Falls!
2. Hamilton Pool - Texas
Jonathan Cutrer/Flickr
One of the most famous natural wonders that you can find in America, Texas' Hamilton Pool is a destination that nearly everyone has on their bucket lists. The underground grotto makes you feel like you've entered another world. It's a popular swimming spot during the summertime. To find out more information, read our recent feature about this cerulean blue pool.
3. Watkins Glen - New York
Watkins Glen, NY, USA
Richard Due/Flickr
A state park that simply seems otherworldly, Watkins Glen State Park in New York's Finger Lake region is the perfect place to visit if you love exploring waterfalls. The state park has a two-mile-long Gorge Trail that's filled with nineteen waterfalls, many of which you'll be able to walk right behind. This place is a real-life fairy tale!
4. Horsetail Falls - Oregon
Horsetail Falls, Oregon, USA
Michael Matti/Flickr
Just outside of Portland, you can hike along a quick half-mile trail that will lead you to Horsetail Falls. Nearly 180-feet tall, the stunning waterfall has an upper area that you can reach and walk behind. From Upper Horsetail Falls, you'll have a beautiful view and will get to enjoy the relaxing mist rising from the falls. To find out more information, be sure to read our feature article all about this waterfall.
5. Little Marshel Falls - Washington
Little Mashel River Waterfalls, Washington 98328, USA
John Callery/iStock via Getty Images Plus
Here's a hiking experience that comes with caution; some people exploring along this trail have died from slipping on the rocks. An adventure that most consider as moderate, the trail is just over five miles round trip and will bring you right up to Little Marshel Falls.

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6. Ash Cave - Ohio
Ash Cave, 26400 OH-56, South Bloomingville, OH 43152, USA
J. Todd Poling/Flickr
A natural wonder that's quite easily accessible, you can reach Ash Cave at Hocking Hills State Park by taking the short Gorge Trail or Rim Trail. Right in the city of Logan, the waterfall isn't always running throughout the year but when it is, it's nothing short of a magical experience to walk behind.
7. Memorial Falls - Michigan
Memorial Falls, Munising, MI 49862, USA
James Marvin Phelps/Flickr
Unless you’re from the Great Lakes State, you might not be aware that Memorial Falls exists. The waterfall can be found in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, dropping down 40 feet in a serene forest. The hike to reach this waterfall is short and easy, but it's best to visit after heavy rainfall. To find out more information, check out our feature article about Memorial Falls!
8. Grotto Falls - Tennessee
Grotto Falls, Tennessee 37738, USA
Timothy Wildey/Flickr
One of the many treasures hiding within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, you can reach Grotto Falls with a three-mile round trip hike. The 25-foot tall waterfall may not be the biggest one you've ever seen, but it's certainly surrounded by a ton of scenic beauty that will leave you in awe. To find out more information, be sure to read this article.
9. Noccalula Falls - Alabama
Noccalula Falls, Gadsden, AL 35904, USA
Nataliya Dubrovskaya/500Px Plus Collection via Getty Images
A popular outdoor attraction to visit all throughout the year, people from all different areas come to experience Noccalula Falls for themselves. Out in Etowah County, the waterfall flows down over 90 feet into the creek at its base. The waterfall is beautiful to stare at from the parking lot, but once you get down behind it, it'll feel like you're looking at a whole new world. Noccalula Falls truly is one of the most dazzling hidden gems in Alabama!
10. Buttermilk Falls - Pennsylvania
Buttermilk Falls, Ligonier Township, PA 15658, USA
David Fulmer/Flickr
Like other states, Pennsylvania has numerous waterfalls named Buttermilk Falls so you'll often hear locals referring to this place as Homewood Falls. Easy to get to from the parking lot, a quick and short hike will take you right to the waterfall. To find out more information, check out this article about Buttermilk Falls.

We’re lucky to live in a country that has so many exciting outdoor adventures like this! Have you ever visited these exciting spots, or been to waterfalls with caves behind them? If so, we’d love to read about your experiences in the comments section below.

Beyond this, which waterfall is your favorite to walk behind in America? Let us know about this as well!

If you want to enjoy more of nature our country has to offer, check out this video which sheds a light on some of the least visited national parks (perhaps you can help change that!):

 

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Waterfalls near me

Sarah M. | March 15, 2022

What are some of the tallest waterfalls in the U.S.?

The U.S. is a waterfall chaser's paradise and is home to some of the most spectacular falls on the planet. California is particularly flush with fabulous falls -- and even firefalls! -- and while each is extraordinary, there’s one world-famous waterfall that’s truly on another level. Yosemite Falls isn’t just the largest waterfall in California, it's the tallest waterfall in all of North America. Yosemite is the fifth-largest waterfall in the entire world, dropping a total of 2,425 jaw-dropping feet from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall. Seeing it with your own eyes is definitely an experience worth seeking out.

Another superlative stunner is in Yellowstone National Park, a national treasure that's truly a waterfall chaser's playground. The national park is home to upwards of 45 glorious cascades, the tallest and most visited of which is Lower Falls. This waterfall is a vision; it cascades down from a height of 308 feet and is nearly twice as high as Niagara Falls. And Lower Falls also has something Niagara doesn't have: a scenic location at the head of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. This prime location sets the stage for a bold and breathtaking view that's truly bucket-list-worthy.

What are some bucket-list-worthy waterfall hikes in the U.S.?

One of our favorite waterfall hikes in the U.S. is located at Utah's Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, where you'll find a hidden oasis with a duo of dazzling waterfalls: Upper Calf Creek Falls and Lower Calf Creek Falls. The latter is the larger of the two; a 126-foot waterfall that rushes into a resplendent cerulean pool. The hike to these falls is as wow-worthy as the falls themselves, so take your time and allow yourself to feel the immense beauty of Utah's treasured Grand Staircase-Escalante natural area.

Another epic waterfall hike is located on the Minnesota/Canada border: the hike to High Falls, a 120-feet fall of pure power that will leave you completely spellbound. The 1.2-mile hike to access this waterfall is almost as swoon-worthy as the falls themselves, too. A well-marked trail that's perfect for all skill levels, the hike ends at a scenic overlook. Prepare to be dazzled: there is no sight quite like the rushing waters of the High Falls as they tumble over the cliff on their way to Lake Superior.

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