Jace Lamonica
Not all breathtaking waterfalls require a passport or a packed overlook. Some sit behind trees, spill into hidden pools, or crash through lava rock like ancient sculptures in motion. You won’t find massive crowds at these places—but you will find awe. Here’s a look at ten magical waterfalls hiding across America’s state parks.
Fall Creek Falls: Falls State Park, Tennessee
At 256 feet, Fall Creek Falls stands as one of the tallest waterfalls in the eastern U.S. You’ll find it deep within rugged gorges, surrounded by scenic trails. The plunge pool below is cold year-round, making it a rewarding endpoint for hikers.
Cummins Falls: Cummins Falls State Park, Tennessee
Rather than one dramatic drop, this waterfall tumbles over layered rock ledges and forms multiple streams that converge in a swimmable basin. Getting there requires wading through a rocky gorge, but the natural amphitheater and turquoise pool have made it a beloved local summer hangout.
Elakala Falls: Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia
Just off a wooden bridge in the forest, Elakala surprises with delicate tiers sliding down mossy sandstone. Photographers love its dreamy swirls in long exposure shots. The first falls are easy to reach, while additional cascades downstream demand careful climbing.
Burgess Falls: Burgess Falls State Park, Tennessee
This horseshoe-shaped waterfall drops 136 feet into a limestone gorge. Upper flows build anticipation before the final plunge, which crashes into a turquoise basin surrounded by cliffs. An overlook offers a panoramic view, but the real magic’s in the roaring power up close.
Gooseberry Falls: Gooseberry Falls State Park, Minnesota
Known as “The Gateway to the North Shore,” this multi-tiered waterfall, which is circled by bridges and trails, crashes dramatically through lava rock carved by ancient glaciers. Seasonal changes, from spring torrents to icy winter sculptures, make every visit a different experience.
Hocking Hills Falls: Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio
These enchanting falls seem straight from a fantasy realm. Hidden among hemlock groves and sandstone cliffs, spots like Cedar Falls and Old Man’s Cave have a mix of gentle trickles and thunderous drops. The cave shelters and hanging mosses complete the dreamy atmosphere.
Raven Cliff Falls: Caesars Head State Park, South Carolina
South Carolina’s tallest waterfall plunges 420 feet through rugged cliffs cloaked in dense forest. The 4-mile out-and-back trail offers bluff-top views and hanging bridges. Mist rises like smoke early in the morning, giving the entire gorge a mystical energy you don’t easily
forget.
Buttermilk Falls: Buttermilk Falls State Park, New York
Water slips down a 165-foot stair-stepped rock face just minutes from downtown Ithaca. Carved pools and layered shale make it a geologist’s dream, while the gorge trail winds past smaller falls and natural swimming holes.
Silver Falls: Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
Dubbed the “crown jewel” of Oregon’s park system, Silver Falls offers a rare thrill, walking behind a 177-foot cascade. Known as South Falls, it’s just one of ten waterfalls along the Trail of Ten Falls, a loop that practically guarantees mist-kissed adventure at every turn.
Tahquamenon Falls: Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Michigan
Split into upper and lower sections, these copper-tinted falls owe their color to tannins from cedar swamps. The Upper Falls span 200 feet across and drop nearly 50 feet. In winter, they freeze into wild ice formations, making the park a rare year-round waterfall destination.
