This Region Of Kentucky Is Home To Over 800 Waterfalls Just Waiting To Be Explored
By Sarah McCosham|Published April 12, 2022
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
It’s a well-known fact that Kentucky is a waterfall wonderland, boasting some of the tallest, rarest, most wondrous falls on the planet. But there’s one region of the Bluegrass that certainly earns its waterfall stripes, and that’s the Kentucky Wildlands. Spanning 14,000 square miles in the southeastern corner of the state, the Kentucky Wildlands is an untamed region full of natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and over 800 jaw-dropping waterfalls. So lace up your boots and set forth to explore this resplendent region in Kentucky that’s a true waterfall chaser’s paradise.
Encompassing 14,000 square miles and 41 counties in the southeast corner of the Bluegrass State, the Kentucky Wildlands is an area positively teeming with natural beauty and splendor.
This region is larger than nine states; it's seven times bigger than the Grand Canyon; and it touches four different states: Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee.
The region encapsulates world-renowned waterfall wonderlands such as the Daniel Boone National Forest; and, by extension, Cumberland Falls. Hailed as Kentucky's "Niagara of the South," Cumberland Falls is a commanding 68-foot waterfall on the Cumberland River.
In addition to the superlative superstar falls, many of the region's cascades are smaller, seasonal falls, like the babbling beauties you'll find at Breaks Interstate Park following a heavy spring rain or snowmelt.
Red River Gorge, Daniel Boone National Forest, Cumberland Gap National Park, oh my! These are just a few of the pristine places you can go waterfall chasing in the Kentucky Wildlands -- and we challenge you to explore them all!
Have you gone waterfall chasing in the Kentucky Wildlands before? If you have, be sure to share your photos and favorite falls with us in the comments below!
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