This Epic Road Trip in Indiana Hits 5 of the State’s Best Waterfalls

Starting off strong with a waterfall known as the Niagara Falls of Indiana, Thistlehwaite Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in the state. The man-made waterfall has a 25-foot drop into a shallow pool where you can swim and splash around if you’d like. The trail to Thistlehwaite Falls is short, sweet, and paved, making it one of the most accessible waterfalls in Indiana.

While you’re in the area, enjoy a meal at Little Sheba’s. The building dates back to the mid-1800s, and it’s a bit of a historic landmark in Indiana. The menu boasts a wide range of casual bites, including quesadillas, pizza, salads, and a bunch of sandwiches that will turn you into a customer for life. 

We might be cheating here because there's more than one waterfall at this stop. Overlooking the Ohio River, Clifty Falls State Park is home to four named waterfalls: Hoffman Falls, Tunnel Falls, Little Clifty Falls, and Big Clifty Falls. There’s a six-mile loop trail that will take you to all of them, including a fun little cave area. If you don’t want to tackle the six-mile trek, you can always pick one of the other shorter trails at Clifty Falls State Park that will take you to each waterfall separately.

After spending the remainder of your day exploring Clifty Falls State Park, it's time to call it a day. We found a scenic rental in Bloomington that's the perfect spot to call home for a night.

After a day of exploring Indiana’s waterfalls, kick back and relax at this beautiful lakeview rental in Bloomington. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom Airbnb offers breathtaking views of Lake Monroe, plus you’ll be staying within the Eagle Pointe Golf Resort, which offers an on-site restaurant, a poolside bar, a driving range, and a golf course. 

For dinner, you can't go wrong with a meal at The Elm, one of our favorite restaurants in Bloomington.

Our next stop is McCormick’s Creek State Park. The trail to McCormick’s Creek Canyon Falls is just shy of a mile and is rated moderately strenuous. There are several stairs to get to the viewing area, so you’ll be getting a workout. The waterfall drops about 10 feet over some rocky ledges and boulders before dropping into a small pool area you can splash in.

As with any waterfall hike, you'll want to ensure you've got the best hiking gear, including a good pair of waterproof boots. You're bound to get your feet wet at least once on this waterfall road trip, and no one wants to spend an entire day with wet socks.

Sitting pretty in the Lieber State Recreation Area, Cataract Falls is the largest waterfall by volume in Indiana. It has two separate falls: the Upper Cataract Falls drops 20 feet, and the Lower Cataract Falls (pictured above) drops 18 feet. The trail to view Lower Cataract Falls is about 1.5 miles and pretty easy as far as hiking trails in Indiana go. 

Our final stop on this Indiana waterfall road trip is the picturesque Williamsport Falls, Indiana's tallest waterfall. The 90-foot waterfall is part of the Wabash River and can be found after a 1.5-mile hiking trail. Visitors can swim at the base of the waterfall and even walk underneath the sandstone ledge. You can see the waterfall from the parking lot, but to get the full experience, take the hike.

Williamsport is one of the oldest towns in Indiana, and it’s worth carving out some time to explore after you view the waterfall.