Is there anything more fascinating to us than falling water? We absolutely love waterfalls! So in this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are sharing some of the best national parks to visit if you want to see waterfalls and some of the best waterfalls that you can’t miss.
If you are ready to go on a waterfall-chasing adventure, this episode is for you!
Join us as we cover:
- The six best national parks for seeing waterfalls
- Our favorite tall waterfalls
- The most scenic waterfalls
- Where to find the most powerful waterfalls
- Waterfalls with the best colors
- The splashiest waterfalls
- Waterfalls with the most adventurous routes
We hope you enjoyed this episode and that you get to check out some of these amazing waterfalls on your next trip to the national parks. We would love to hear from you! What are your favorite waterfall parks?
Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:
Waterfalls in the National Parks Overview
In this episode, we embark on a journey to explore some of the most breathtaking waterfalls across various national parks. From the tranquil forests of Great Smoky Mountains to the awe-inspiring heights of Yosemite Falls, each location offers a unique and enchanting experience.
Join us as we dive into the natural wonders that await in these remarkable parks. We discuss our favorite overall parks for seeing waterfalls, as well as our favorite specific waterfalls around the country!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: A Symphony of Waterfalls
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you’ll be captivated by the allure of its waterfalls. While well-known cascades like Laurel Falls, Grotto Falls, and Rainbow Falls draw many visitors, the park also shelters hidden gems.
Keep an eye out for “quiet walks” signs; these paths lead to secluded creeks and falls nestled amidst lush surroundings. The Deep Creek area near Bryson City, North Carolina, is particularly noteworthy for its picturesque cascades.
Olympic National Park: Cascades in a Fairytale Forest
In Olympic National Park, visitors can immerse themselves in a fairytale setting with its stunning waterfalls. Notable cascades include the mesmerizing Sol Duc Falls, set amidst old-growth forests, and the sparkling Marymere Falls.
Madison Falls offers beauty with minimal effort, while Third Beach boasts a unique waterfall that trickles directly into the ocean. Just a heads-up: the beach naming in Olympic might be a bit confusing, but each location promises its own charm.
Mount Rainier National Park: Majestic Cascades beneath the Giant Volcano
Mount Rainier National Park boasts an array of striking waterfalls set against dramatic landscapes. Myrtle Falls is renowned for its breathtaking backdrop of Mount Rainier.
Narada Falls impresses with its height and frequent rainbows, while Christine Falls surprises visitors on the route to Paradise. Silver Falls can be found near the Grove of the Patriarchs, notable for its powerful cascade.
For those keen on a hike, Comet Falls is the park’s tallest accessible waterfall, surrounded by picturesque avalanche lilies. Lastly, while on the Skyline Trail, catch a distant view of the blue-tinted Wilson Glacier Falls. Each cascade in the park offers a unique and unforgettable experience.
Yosemite National Park: Where Giants Meet Waterfalls
Yosemite National Park is renowned for its majestic waterfalls. Dominating the scene is Yosemite Falls, cascading from a staggering 2,425 feet, making it one of the park’s iconic attractions.
Other notable cascades include Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, Bridalveil Fall, and Horsetail Fall, all impressive with their significant heights and flows. However, visitors should note the seasonal nature of these waterfalls.
Fed mainly by snowmelt, these waterfalls typically peak in late May and can substantially diminish or even dry up by August. To experience these natural wonders at their finest, it’s best to visit before mid-July.
Glacier National Park: Glacial Waters and Cold Cascades
Glacier National Park, renowned for its grand mountains, also houses an abundance of stunning waterfalls, many of which are fed by its namesake glaciers. These cascades not only offer a visual treat with their glacial blue tinges but also a refreshing chill, given their cold glacial origins.
Some of our favorite waterfalls in Glacier are:
- Birdwoman Falls: Arguably one of the most impressive waterfalls in the park, Birdwoman Falls is visible from the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Standing at a remarkable 492 feet, this waterfall becomes a staple sight during the drive up to Logan Pass.
- Weeping Wall: A seasonal spectacle, this waterfall showers down and might even sprinkle your car as you drive past, adding a playful touch to the journey.
- St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls: Located on the east side of the park, both these waterfalls are remarkable. The path between the two also boasts several smaller, unnamed cascades.
- Baring Falls: Easily accessible and a favorite for many, it’s a refreshing spot where visitors often indulge in the playful ritual of dipping their heads into the water.
- Twin Falls: Nestled along the trail to Upper Two Medicine Lake, this waterfall features two separate cascades in the same vicinity.
- Trick Falls (Running Eagle Falls): Another gem near Two Medicine, this waterfall has two unique layers that you won’t see anywhere else in the park.
- Avalanche Lake and Grinnell Lake Waterfalls: Both these lakes are fed by monumental cascades, with the latter being particularly favored due to its source from the Grinnell Glacier area.
While the park has several iconic waterfalls, many others don’t even have names. Some might appear as creeks cascading down mountainsides but look like massive waterfalls from a distance. These unnamed treasures, as much as their renowned counterparts, contribute to the breathtaking landscape of Glacier National Park.
If you’re venturing into this natural haven, be prepared for numerous spontaneous stops, awe-struck moments, and an undeniable urge to dip your head into the glacier-fed waters, embracing the park’s chilly essence.
Yellowstone National Park: A Symphony of Water in Stone
Yellowstone, typically renowned for its geysers, is a treasure trove of waterfalls. While geysers like Old Faithful might dominate our immediate thoughts of the park, the cascades offer their own brand of captivating beauty.
Our favorite waterfalls in Yellowstone are:
- Lower Falls: Nestled in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, this is the quintessential image that springs to mind when thinking of the park’s waterfalls. Standing at a magnificent 308 feet, its beauty is iconic.
- Upper Falls: Just above the Lower Falls, this cascade may be shorter at 110 feet, but it impresses with its sheer power and proximity.
- Tower Fall: Easily accessible from the road, this 132-foot waterfall is remarkable for its singular powerful chute of water that seems to vanish amidst the trees, giving it an endless appearance reminiscent of waterfalls from cinematic fantasies.
- Firehole, Undine, Gibbon Falls & Kepler Cascades: These are among the several waterfalls that you can spot almost effortlessly as you drive through the park. Their ease of access doesn’t detract from their allure but makes the experience even more gratifying.
- Fairy Falls & Mystic Falls: Both offer picturesque scenes at the end of rewarding hikes, reminding visitors of the diverse water features in this park.
Yellowstone truly is the “king of drive-by waterfalls.” With an abundance of cascades – some towering, others more subtle but equally mesmerizing – the park provides waterfall enthusiasts with a wide range of experiences.
So, while the geysers may shoot water up into the sky, the waterfalls bring it gracefully down, adding another layer to the park’s rich tapestry of natural wonders.
Favorite Individual Waterfalls in the National Parks
Here are a few lists of some of our favorite individual waterfalls found in various national parks. We categorized our favorite waterfalls by height, scenery, color, splash, and adventure!
Waterfalls by Height:
- Yosemite Falls – stands out due to its great height.
- Tokopah Falls – located in Sequoia National Park, is impressively tall at 1,200 feet.
- Sperry Glacier Falls – a tall waterfall in the Avalanche Lake area.
- Takaka Falls – in Yoho, Canada, is a noteworthy mention due to its dramatic size and setting.
Waterfalls by Scenery:
- Myrtle Falls – located in Mount Rainier, is known for its perfect placement.
- Hidden Falls – in Grand Teton, has a delicate flow, making it especially scenic.
- Mist Falls – in Kings Canyon, offers a picturesque view from the top.
- Kings Creek Falls – in Lassen Volcanic, is enjoyed via a charming boardwalk trail.
- Brandywine Falls, in Cuyahoga Valley, is delicate yet beautiful.
- Abram Falls – in Great Smoky Mountains, is known for its power.
- Firehole Falls – in Yellowstone, has its own distinctive charm.
Waterfalls by Color:
- St. Mary Falls – in Glacier, is a stunning blue.
- Silver Falls – in Mount Rainier, has a silvery white tint.
- Ladder Creek Falls – in North Cascades, lights up with colors in the evening.
- Horsetail Falls – in Yosemite, known as the “Firefall” for the reddish tint it gets during certain times of the year.
Waterfalls by Splash:
- Vernal Fall – in Yosemite, is probably the most “splashy” waterfall.
- Virginia Falls – in Glacier, offers a significant splash if visited at the right time.
- Running Eagle Falls/Trick Falls – also in Glacier, offers a unique two-layered splash.
Waterfalls by Adventure to Reach:
Waimoku Falls – in Haleakala National Park, Hawaii, stands out for the incredible adventure to reach it, including driving the world-renowned Road to Hana and hiking through a bamboo forest. Visiting this waterfall is our favorite waterfall adventure in any national park!
We think we did a pretty good job listing out some of the best waterfalls in the national parks, but we definitely didn’t cover them all and would love to hear from you! What’s your favorite waterfall?
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Laurel Falls
- Grotto Falls
- Abrams Falls
- Rainbow Falls
- Sol Duc Falls
- Marymere Falls
- Mount Rainer Waterfalls
- Yosemite Waterfalls
- Birdwoman Falls
- Weeping Wall
- Virginia Falls
- St. Mary Falls
- Baring Falls
- Grand Canyon
- Firehole
- Gibbon Falls
- Fairy Falls
- Mystic Falls
- Tokopah Falls
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Have you hiked Ramsey Cascades in Great Smokey Mountains? I think it is more beautiful than Abrams Falls, especially in early November at leaf change. It is the tallest falls in the park and the late afternoon autumn sunlight hits it just perfect. It is a strenuous 8 mile RT with 2000’ elevation gain, so the casual tourists don’t ruin your photos. In fact, my photo of Ramsey Cascades may be the best photo I’ve ever taken in a National Park.
That is so cool! Thanks for sharing!