Expert
Indiana · United States
- Distance
- 93.7 km / 58.2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 747 m
- Typical duration
- 23 hr
- Waterfall
- Lake
- Mountain
Best Waterfall Hikes in United States
The directory currently contains 63 quality-checked routes matching this guide in United States. Their average mapped distance is 15.5 km and average recorded ascent is 194 m (636 ft); the longest route in the set is 400 km.
This subset represents 1% of the 5,699 quality-checked routes in United States. Its average distance is 15.5 km, compared with 14.1 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 194 m (636 ft), versus 264 m (866 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.
Every route in this set carries the directory’s waterfall tag. The tag identifies the recorded theme; it does not report current water flow or access. Within this set, 13 routes (21%) are rated easy, 7 (11%) are rated hard or expert, and 5 (8%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.
Data refreshed September 2026
Choose by the details
How do these routes differ?
A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.
Shortest mapped distance in this sample
4.9 km
Upper Cascade Falls TrailCompare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.
Lowest recorded ascent in this sample
125 m
ADT - Iowa - K - Seg 36 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.
Return logistics
0 recorded loops
Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.
Plan the return journey →Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.
Trails
Expert
Idaho · United States
- Distance
- 400 km / 249 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,018 m
- Typical duration
- 97 hr
- Waterfall
- Mountain
- Long-distance path
Expert
Maryland · United States
- Distance
- 42.8 km / 26.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,151 m
- Typical duration
- 11 hr
- Waterfall
- Lake
- Mountain
Expert
Indiana · United States
- Distance
- 113 km / 70.2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 514 m
- Typical duration
- 27 hr
- Waterfall
- Mountain
- Long-distance path
Expert
Iowa · United States
- Distance
- 128 km / 79.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 125 m
- Typical duration
- 30 hr
- Waterfall
- Mountain
- Long-distance path
Moderate
Colorado · United States
- Distance
- 4.9 km / 3.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 784 m
- Typical duration
- 2 hr 12 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
- Mountain
Moderate
Connecticut · United States
- Distance
- 2.8 km / 1.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 153 m
- Typical duration
- 49 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
- Waymarked route
Easy
Connecticut · United States
- Distance
- 1.5 km / 1.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 22 m
- Typical duration
- 21 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
- Waymarked route
Moderate
Arizona · United States
- Distance
- 2.3 km / 1.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 52 m
- Typical duration
- 33 min
- Waterfall
- Mountain
Easy
Maryland · United States
- Distance
- 0.8 km / 0.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 25 m
- Typical duration
- 12 min
- Waterfall
- River
- Waymarked route
Moderate
California · United States
- Distance
- 2.5 km / 1.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 134 m
- Typical duration
- 44 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
- River
Moderate
Colorado · United States
- Distance
- 1.3 km / 0.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 38 m
- Typical duration
- 20 min
- Waterfall
- Mountain
Moderate
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 12.1 km / 7.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 379 m
- Typical duration
- 3 hr 5 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
- Waymarked route
Moderate
California · United States
- Distance
- 2.2 km / 1.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 266 m
- Typical duration
- 51 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
Hard
Maryland · United States
- Distance
- 18.4 km / 11.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 95 m
- Typical duration
- 4 hr 4 min
- Waterfall
- Waymarked route
Moderate
Maryland · United States
- Distance
- 18.0 km / 11.2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 95 m
- Typical duration
- 3 hr 59 min
- Waterfall
- Waymarked route
Easy
Connecticut · United States
- Distance
- 1.1 km / 0.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 15 m
- Typical duration
- 15 min
- Waterfall
- Waymarked route
Moderate
Georgia · United States
- Distance
- 1.8 km / 1.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 56 m
- Typical duration
- 27 min
- Waterfall
- Waymarked route
Easy
Connecticut · United States
- Distance
- 1.1 km / 0.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 32 m
- Typical duration
- 16 min
- Waterfall
- Waymarked route
Moderate
California · United States
- Distance
- 3.1 km / 1.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 188 m
- Typical duration
- 55 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
Moderate
California · United States
- Distance
- 1.8 km / 1.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 90 m
- Typical duration
- 31 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
Easy
California · United States
- Distance
- 0.6 km / 0.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 36 m
- Typical duration
- 10 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
Moderate
California · United States
- Distance
- 1.6 km / 1.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 43 m
- Typical duration
- 23 min
- Waterfall
- River
Moderate
Connecticut · United States
- Distance
- 0.9 km / 0.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 115 m
- Typical duration
- 21 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
- River
Moderate
New Hampshire · United States
- Distance
- 3.8 km / 2.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 204 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 6 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
Moderate
Kentucky · United States
- Distance
- 0.5 km / 0.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 31 m
- Typical duration
- 8 min
- Waterfall
- Long-distance path
Moderate
New Hampshire · United States
- Distance
- 2.0 km / 1.2 mi
- Typical duration
- 25 min
- Waterfall
Moderate
New Hampshire · United States
- Distance
- 2.1 km / 1.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 10 m
- Typical duration
- 27 min
- Waterfall
Moderate
California · United States
- Distance
- 2.9 km / 1.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 180 m
- Typical duration
- 52 min
- Waterfall
Moderate
Georgia · United States
- Distance
- 3.6 km / 2.2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 167 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr
- Waterfall
- Mountain
Moderate
Maryland · United States
- Distance
- 1.8 km / 1.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 59 m
- Typical duration
- 28 min
- Waterfall
Moderate
New Hampshire · United States
- Distance
- 1.7 km / 1.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 61 m
- Typical duration
- 26 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
Easy
New Hampshire · United States
- Distance
- 0.5 km / 0.3 mi
- Typical duration
- 7 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
- Waymarked route
Moderate
Connecticut · United States
- Distance
- 0.5 km / 0.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 7 min
- Waterfall
Moderate
Connecticut · United States
- Distance
- 5.4 km / 3.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 157 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 22 min
- Waterfall
- Waymarked route
Moderate
Connecticut · United States
- Distance
- 1.8 km / 1.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 63 m
- Typical duration
- 28 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
- Forest
Easy
Maine · United States
- Distance
- 6.2 km / 3.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 80 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 25 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
Moderate
California · United States
- Distance
- 9.5 km / 5.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 580 m
- Typical duration
- 2 hr 50 min
- Waterfall
Moderate
Idaho · United States
- Distance
- 1.9 km / 1.2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 45 m
- Typical duration
- 27 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
- River
Easy
Idaho · United States
- Distance
- 1.6 km / 1.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6 m
- Typical duration
- 21 min
- Waterfall
Moderate
Georgia · United States
- Distance
- 1.2 km / 0.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 47 m
- Typical duration
- 19 min
- Waterfall
Easy
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 1.4 km / 0.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 52 m
- Typical duration
- 22 min
- Waterfall
Moderate
Minnesota · United States
- Distance
- 2.4 km / 1.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 161 m
- Typical duration
- 44 min
- Waterfall
Hard
Montana · United States
- Distance
- 19.6 km / 12.2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 254 m
- Typical duration
- 4 hr 36 min
- Waterfall
- Coastal
- Mountain
Easy
Maine · United States
- Distance
- 0.7 km / 0.5 mi
- Typical duration
- 9 min
- Waterfall
- Coastal
Moderate
Kentucky · United States
- Distance
- 4.6 km / 2.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 102 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 6 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
Moderate
Alaska · United States
- Distance
- 1.1 km / 0.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 56 m
- Typical duration
- 19 min
- Waterfall
- Lake
Moderate
California · United States
- Distance
- 1.9 km / 1.2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 217 m
- Typical duration
- 43 min
- Waterfall
- Mountain
The shortlist, side by side
The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time | Difficulty | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADT - Indiana (South) - H - Seg 2Indiana | 93.7 km | 747 m | 23 hr | Expert | April to October |
| Palouse to Cascades State Park TrailIdaho | 400 km | 2,018 m | 97 hr | Expert | April to October |
| Catoctin National Recreation TrailMaryland | 42.8 km | 1,151 m | 11 hr | Expert | April to October |
| ADT - Indiana (South) - H - Seg 1Indiana | 113 km | 514 m | 27 hr | Expert | April to October |
| ADT - Iowa - K - Seg 3Iowa | 128 km | 125 m | 30 hr | Expert | April to October |
| Upper Cascade Falls TrailColorado | 4.9 km | 784 m | 2 hr 12 min | Moderate | July to September |
| Beacon Falls Yellow TrailConnecticut | 2.8 km | 153 m | 49 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Turkington Falls LoopConnecticut | 1.5 km | 22 m | 21 min | Easy | April to October |
| Lava Falls TrailArizona | 2.3 km | 52 m | 33 min | Moderate | April to October |
| Orange TrailMaryland | 0.8 km | 25 m | 12 min | Easy | April to October |
ADT - Indiana (South) - H - Seg 2, Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail, Catoctin National Recreation Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.
Frequently asked questions
Plan with more confidence
All planning articles →Choosing a route
How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label
Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.
Read article →Understanding the map
Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb
Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.
Read article →Planning your day
Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace
Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.
Read article →Related guides
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