The best waterfalls near Frankfort, Kentucky are Falls of the Ohio, Cumberland Falls, Dog Slaughter Falls and 6 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Falls of the Ohio, about 49 miles west of Frankfort.
For more waterfalls around Frankfort, browse the nearest towns: New Castle, Louisville, Berea, Liberty, Fort Knox, Frenchburg, Campton, Booneville. You can also see every waterfall on the Kentucky waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 9 publicly accessible Kentucky waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Frankfort that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Falls of the Ohio
49 miles west of Frankfort. Our top pick near the city 4.6 out of 5 from 11 reviews.
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Falls of the Ohio is about 49 miles west of Frankfort, near Louisville. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 11 Google reviews.
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2. Cumberland Falls
98 miles south of Frankfort. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 1,511 reviews.
McCreary County, KY 42634 (GPS 36.8388, -84.3450)
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Cumberland Falls is about 98 miles south of Frankfort, near Whitley City. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 1,511 Google reviews, and 87% of them give it five stars. In short: "Huge waterfall tumbling 69-ft. over a sandstone bed, offering the occasional lunar rainbow sighting." Older records also call it The Great Falls.
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3. Dog Slaughter Falls
98 miles south of Frankfort. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 121 reviews.
Whitley County, KY 40769 (GPS 36.8585, -84.3118)
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Dog Slaughter Falls is about 98 miles south of Frankfort, near Williamsburg. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 121 Google reviews, and 90% of them give it five stars. In short: "This waterfall in the Daniel Boone National Forest empties into a swimming hole."
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4. Eagle Falls
98 miles south of Frankfort. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 85 reviews.
McCreary County, KY 42634 (GPS 36.8438, -84.3439)
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Eagle Falls is about 98 miles south of Frankfort, near Whitley City. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 85 Google reviews, and 88% of them give it five stars. In short: "44-ft. waterfall over a rock ledge into an natural swimming hole, reached by a moderate loop trail."
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5. Broken Leg Falls
78 miles east of Frankfort. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 15 reviews.
Menifee County, KY 40387 (GPS 37.9067, -83.4896)
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Broken Leg Falls is about 78 miles east of Frankfort, near Frenchburg. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 15 Google reviews.
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6. Anglin Falls
60 miles southeast of Frankfort. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 93 reviews.
Rockcastle County, KY 40456 (GPS 37.4998, -84.2172)
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Anglin Falls is about 60 miles southeast of Frankfort, near Berea. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 93 Google reviews, and 74% of them give it five stars. In short: "Mile-long hiking trail through a forest preserve, terminating at a 75-ft. waterfall in a gorge."
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7. Seventy Six Falls
99 miles south of Frankfort. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 148 reviews.
Clinton County, KY 42602 (GPS 36.7793, -85.1259)
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Seventy Six Falls is about 99 miles south of Frankfort, near Albany. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 148 Google reviews, and 74% of them give it five stars. In short: "Well-known, picturesque waterfall popular for kayaking & swimming, with picnic spots nearby."
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8. Lick Falls
99 miles east of Frankfort. Rated 4.2 out of 5 from 13 reviews.
Carter County, KY 41164 (GPS 38.1979, -83.0461)
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Lick Falls is about 99 miles east of Frankfort, near Sandy Hook. Visitors rate it 4.2 stars across 13 Google reviews.
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9. Jock Falls
96 miles south of Frankfort. Rated 3.9 out of 5 from 18 reviews.
Wayne County, KY 42633 (GPS 36.8140, -84.8852)
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Jock Falls is about 96 miles south of Frankfort, near Monticello. Visitors rate it 3.9 stars across 18 Google reviews.
Waterfall Day Trips From Frankfort
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falls of the Ohio | 49 mi west | Louisville | 4.6 |
| Anglin Falls | 60 mi southeast | Berea | 4.5 |
| Broken Leg Falls | 78 mi east | Frenchburg | 4.6 |
| Jock Falls | 96 mi south | Monticello | 3.9 |
| Dog Slaughter Falls | 98 mi south | Williamsburg | 4.8 |
| Eagle Falls | 98 mi south | Whitley City | 4.8 |
| Cumberland Falls | 98 mi south | Whitley City | 4.8 |
| Seventy Six Falls | 99 mi south | Albany | 4.6 |
| Lick Falls | 99 mi east | Sandy Hook | 4.2 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Frankfort. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Frankfort?
Falls of the Ohio tops our 2026 list. It is about 49 miles west of Frankfort and rated 4.6 stars from 11 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Frankfort?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Falls of the Ohio is the closest, about 49 straight-line miles west of the city, near Louisville.
How many waterfalls are near Frankfort?
We track 9 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Kentucky within 100 miles of Frankfort, 1 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the Kentucky waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 9 publicly accessible Kentucky waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Frankfort that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
What is the moonbow at Cumberland Falls?
It is a rainbow formed by moonlight in the falls' mist, visible on clear nights around the full moon. Cumberland Falls is one of very few places in the world where a moonbow appears with some regularity.
Summary
Falls of the Ohio is our top waterfall pick near Frankfort, rated 4.6 out of 5 and about 49 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Kentucky's falls depend on rainfall, and the wettest, most reliable period generally runs from late winter through spring. From about February into May, most falls on the Cumberland Plateau and in the Red River Gorge flow well, and wildflowers fill the ravines in April. By late summer and early autumn many smaller falls shrink to a trickle, though Cumberland Falls on a large river runs year-round. Autumn color, usually peaking in late October, makes for good scenery even when flows are modest. Hard freezes in January occasionally create ice formations. For the Cumberland Falls moonbow, clear nights around the full moon are required, and those dates draw crowds.
For more Kentucky waterfalls, see the full Kentucky waterfalls page, or read 11 Best Waterfalls in Kentucky, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Kentucky and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Kentucky.