Best Waterfalls in Iowa: 12 Local Favorites and Hidden Gems

The Hawkeye State is known for many wonderful attributes, but sadly, as an agricultural state in the Upper Midwest, waterfalls aren’t typically listed among Iowa’s assets. But doubters will be surprised to learn that Iowa is actually home to several natural cascades and many lovely spillways. So, if you’re searching for and worried you’ll have to leave the state to find them, fret not! Just check out our handy guide below and start checking off this list of the best waterfalls in Iowa.

Ready to explore more waterfalls beyond the state border? From jaw-dropping cascades to swimmable emerald ponds, there are countless magnificent waterfalls found across the United States to explore.

Tallest Waterfalls in Iowa

Unfortunately, information on the heights of Iowa’s waterfalls is difficult to come by, so we don’t have precise height information for the falls included on this list. But we can assure you that those we've listed in this trio of natural wonders are certainly among the biggest natural waterfalls in Iowa.

1. Dunning’s Spring

• Location: Decorah, Iowa
• Popularity: Very popular, particularly on summer weekends and during events in ​​the town of Decorah
• Need to Know:

Located in its namesake Dunning’s Spring Park, ​​the cascade here is indisputably the tallest waterfall in Iowa. Although many sources list Dunning’s Spring falls as a 220-foot cascade, it is not all that vertical. The largest vertical drop for the waterfall is probably closer to 30 or 40 feet. Whatever it is, it’s beautiful (and may well be the best waterfall in Iowa). The spring emerges from the face of a limestone bluff, surrounded by fascinating rock formations, and tumbles down a steep hillside and continues its run as a rushing stream until it joins the upper Iowa river near the parking lot. Although the waterfall is easy to access, don’t forget that there’s much more to this park than just the spring. The bluffs are laced with hiking trails and singletrack, so be sure to bring your hiking (or biking) essentials, and plan to stay for a while.

2. Beulah Spring Falls

• Location: McGregor, Iowa
• Popularity: The falls are accessible from Spook Cave and Campground on Bloody Run creek, a trout stream, all of which make the falls seasonally popular during warm weather months
• Need to Know: Be sure to visit Spook Cave if you visit the falls during its open season. The cave is only accessible by boat, and it’s home to two additional, underground waterfalls

​​Beulah Spring Falls flows out of a bluff along Bloody Run creek and plunges several feet to the stream below. This easily-accessible cascade is also one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iowa. Although the campground and cave close during the winter, you can still view the fall during cold months when it’s frozen and even more dramatic to behold.

3. Bridal Veil Falls

• Location: Pikes Peak State Park
• Popularity: Very busy at peak times, such as weekends and holidays
• Need to Know:

Accessible by a .9-mile (one way) boardwalk hike through Pikes Peak State Park, ​​Bridal Veil Falls is another of Iowa’s handful of natural waterfalls. Coming it at more than 20 feet, the cascade tumbles off of a limestone bluff in a vertical drop before rejoining the flow of the stream. Don’t just run to the waterfall and leave, though! The park is home to some of the highest river bluffs on the Mississippi, so be sure to take some time to enjoy the sweeping bluff top views out over the Mississippi River valley. Effigy Mounds National Monument is just minutes away from Pikes Peak State Park, and it’s also a must-visit when you’re in this part of the state, as are the charming towns of McGregor and Marquette.

Best Waterfall Hikes in Iowa

We are fortunate in Iowa because most of our waterfalls are relatively easy to access - those not on private property, anyway. That said, there are a few waterfalls in the Hawkeye State that require a short hike. But you know what, we love that, too! Here's a trio of our favorite waterfall hikes in Iowa.

4. Malanaphy Springs

• Location: Malanaphy Springs State Preserve, Bluffton
• Popularity:
• Need to Know: The trail to the falls can be rugged due to exposed roots and occasional slippery conditions

Another of Iowa’s most beautiful waterfalls, ​​​​Malanaphy Springs is located along the Upper Iowa River in Winneshiek County, near Bluffton. The waterfall is created by the spring’s drop into the Upper Iowa River. The hike to the falls is approximately 1.9 miles, round trip, but you’ll be surrounded by all the natural beauty of this wild and wonderful part of northeast Iowa, meaning this is definitely one of our favorite waterfall hikes in Iowa. One of the more hidden waterfalls in Iowa, the Malanaphy falls are also accessible by paddling the bluffs along this stretch of the river.

5. Big Springs

Not only is this short ramble one of our favorite waterfall hikes in Iowa, the tumbling cascade within Big Springs Nature Area may also be one of the tallest waterfalls in Iowa. Although coming in at less than half a mile, round trip, the hike to this waterfall follows a beautiful, wooded gorge upstream, along Big Springs, to the waterfall. The hike is short but stunning - and that’s why it’s one of our favorites.

6. Lake Macbride Falls

• Location: Lake Macbride State Park, Solon
• Popularity: Can be busy on warm weekend days
• Need to Know:

Located within Lake Macbride State Park, Macbride Falls is accessible by an easy and scenic 1.1-mile loop trail. The waterfall is actually a spillway made of earth and rock between Coralville Lake (Reservoir) and Lake Macbride, both of which are impoundments located between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. The falls are a gentle cascade rushing down several tiers between the two lakes and are definitely worth the short hike.

7. Woodman Hollow Falls

• Location: Woodman Hollow State Preserve, Webster County, Iowa
• Popularity: You will likely have this relatively remote waterfall to yourself
• Need to Know: Although the hike to the falls is relatively short, it’s considered moderately challenging, so be prepared with the ​​proper footwear and hiking gear to help with your footing

Located within ​​Woodman Hollow State Preserve, the waterfall that bears the preserve’s name is likely the most difficult-to-access cascade located on public land. The trails to the falls is a one-mile loop, but the path is frequently overgrown and has been described as more akin to bushwhacking than hiking. Nevertheless, the payoff is time spent with one of Iowa’s most striking waterfalls. If you’re looking for waterfall trip ideas, you could pair your hike to Woodman Hollow Falls to the easily accessible Beeds Lake Spillway, which is only about 45 minutes away and said to be the most photographed spillway in the Midwest.

Accessible Waterfalls in Iowa (No Hiking Required)

As we noted, many - if not most - of Iowa’s waterfalls are readily accessible via a short walk or even visible from a car. These beautiful waterfalls in Iowa are not only excellent day trip destinations, we think stringing a few together is an excellent idea for an Iowa road trip. Here are a couple to get you started.

8. Willow Creek Waterfall

• Location: Mason City, Iowa
• Popularity: The public viewpoint for the waterfall is not usually busy
• Need to Know:
• This waterfall is located on private property, but it is visible from a nearby bridge
• You can book a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright Stockman House and Architectural Interpretive Center to get a more up-close look at the waterfall

The Willow Creek Waterfall in Mason City is located on private property, but it is visible from the State Street bridge over the creek. But you can get a little closer, as the waterfall is located in the back yard of the Frank Lloyd Wright Stockman House and Architectural Interpretive Center. All you need to do is pay the price of admission to visit - which is worth it, notwithstanding the waterfall - and as you wander the grounds, drink in the waterfall.

9. Siewers Spring

• Location: Decorah Fish Hatchery, Decorah, Iowa
• Popularity: Siewers Spring is located at the Decorah Fish Hatchery, another popular destination; the park can, therefore, be very busy on weekends
• Need to Know:

​​Siewers Spring is the second largest natural spring in Iowa and the headwaters of Trout Run creek, which flows into the Upper Iowa River a few miles north of the Decorah Fish Hatchery. The falls are technically a spillway created by a small dam built in front of the cave from which the spring emerges. The dam is used to divert water from the spring to the hatchery’s raceways. The cold clean spring water is perfect for the rainbow trout reared at the hatchery and then stocked in several area streams, including Trout Run. As you can imagine, this makes the stream below Siewers Spring a magnet for anglers. The hatchery is also a great place to start a hike or bike ride on Trout Run Trail, which follows the course of the stream to its mouth and loops through the town of Decorah.

Best Waterfalls Near Des Moines

You don't necessarily have to travel to the far reaches of the state to find the best waterfalls in Iowa. In fact, many are within easy day trip distance of Des Moines, the Hawkeye State's most populous city. Here are three that DSM residents can reach in an hour or so.

10. Union Grove State Park

• Location: Union Grove State Park, Gladbrook, Iowa
• Popularity: With its proximity to Des Moines, this park can be very busy on weekends and during the summer
• Need to Know: There is no fee to enter the state park or to access the waterfall

The spillway on the main lake at ​​Union Grove State Park is a picturesque waterfall that’s just over an hour from Des Moines. You can access the waterfall by a short hike - less than a mile total, out and back - that’s also quite scenic; or stretch the hike into a 2.3-mile loop to see more of the park. In addition to the waterfall, there’s plenty more to do at this popular park, so plan to spend the day if you make the trip.

11. Briggs Woods Falls

• Location: Briggs Woods County Park, Webster City, Iowa
• Popularity: The park can be busy on weekends, but the trails tend to be uncrowded
• Need to Know:

​​Briggs Woods County Park in Webster City is a little over an hour north of Des Moines. There, you’ll find a series of cascades on the Boone River that make this the prettiest natural waterfall in the Des Moines area. Take the Briggs Woods Recreational Trail, a moderate, 2.6-mile loop hike, to access the falls. It’s also a really nice hike in its own right.

12. Ledges State Park

• Location: Ledges State Park, Boone, Iowa
• Popularity: Very busy on weekends and during warm weather
• Need to Know:

​​Folks in Des Moines can reach Ledges State Park, near Boone, in just under 50 minutes. Although the “waterfall” here isn’t much of a cascade in terms of height, it’s extremely accessible and creates a popular place for cooling off on hot, summer days. It’s one of the park’s most popular features. Be sure to take some time to explore the park’s beautiful rock formations and its fascinating ruins.

We are sure this list will put any doubts to rest about the beauty of the Hawkeye State. Do you agree that these are the best waterfalls in Iowa? Are there any others that you would include? Be sure to let us know!