14 Best Waterfalls in Ohio (2026 Updated)
Of the 19 named waterfalls in Ohio, these 14 earn the strongest visitor ratings, led by Brandywine Falls, Cedar Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. The list spans the Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio, Hocking Hills and the Mohican Country, and Western Ohio and Lake Erie.
How We Picked
We ranked the 14 publicly accessible Ohio waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands. Every waterfall links to a full page with coordinates, maps and nearby falls.
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1. Brandywine Falls
Boston Heights, OH · Summit County · Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio
Why it made the list
It is the most reviewed waterfall in Ohio, holding 4.8 stars across 551 Google reviews. 83% of reviewers give it five stars. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: 86 feet high. Brandywine Falls, within Cuyahoga Valley National Park, is accessed by a parking lot located on Stanford Road about 30 m (100 ft) from Brandywine Road, approximately 3.2 km (2 mi) south of State Route 82 and 1.6 km (1 mi) northwest of Olde Eight in Sagamore Hills. Name history: "The rocks at the base of this ""bridalveil"" falls were formed more than 400 million years ago. The cascades began about ten thousand years ago after the last glacial retreat." It is one of 11 named falls in the Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio region. Buttermilk Falls is only 1.8 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Boston Heights, about 1.5 miles to the southeast.
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2. Cedar Falls
Logan, OH · Hocking County · Hocking Hills and the Mohican Country
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 3rd most reviewed in the state, with 141 reviews. 88% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Waterfall with a shallow pool amid cliffs & grottos, with nearby restrooms & a picnic area." It is one of 5 named falls in the Hocking Hills and the Mohican Country region. The nearest town is Logan, about 10 miles to the northeast.
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3. Bridal Veil Falls
Bedford, OH · Cuyahoga County · Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 4th most reviewed in the state, with 110 reviews. 81% of reviewers give it five stars. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Located in the Bedford Reservation, just north of the community of Walton Hills; within Bedford Township, Original Lot 64, and the Connecticut Western Reserve. It is one of 11 named falls in the Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio region. Great Falls is only 1.1 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Bedford, about 1.5 miles to the northeast.
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4. Minnehaha Falls
Garrettsville, OH · Portage County · Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 16 reviews. It is one of 11 named falls in the Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio region. Cascade Falls is only 0.3 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Garrettsville, about 4.2 miles to the southwest.
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5. Buttermilk Falls
Peninsula, OH · Summit County · Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.7-star Google rating and is the 5th most reviewed in the state, with 82 reviews. 83% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Secluded, 20-ft.-high waterfall in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, accessible via a hiking trail." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Located approximately 1.6 km (1 mi) south of Boston, within Boston Township, Original Lot 1, and the Connecticut Western Reserve. It is one of 11 named falls in the Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio region. Blue Hen Falls is only 0.4 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Peninsula, about 1.7 miles to the southeast.
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6. Cascade Falls
Garrettsville, OH · Portage County · Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.7-star Google rating and is the 9th most reviewed in the state, with 27 reviews. 89% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 11 named falls in the Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio region. Minnehaha Falls is only 0.3 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Garrettsville, about 4.3 miles to the southwest.
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7. Cedar Falls
Peebles, OH · Adams County · Western Ohio and Lake Erie
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.7-star Google rating and is the 10th most reviewed in the state, with 17 reviews. Reviews most often mention muddy trail, waterfall viewing point, trailhead, and easy to follow trail. It is one of 3 named falls in the Western Ohio and Lake Erie region. The nearest town is Peebles, about 7.9 miles to the north.
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8. Chagrin Falls
Chagrin Falls, OH · Cuyahoga County · Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 11 reviews. It is one of 11 named falls in the Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio region. It is right in Chagrin Falls.
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9. Grove Falls
Oak Hill, OH · Knox County · Hocking Hills and the Mohican Country
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 17 reviews. It is one of 5 named falls in the Hocking Hills and the Mohican Country region. The nearest town is Oak Hill, about 2.4 miles to the northeast.
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10. Greenville Falls
Covington, OH · Miami County · Western Ohio and Lake Erie
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.6-star Google rating and is the 7th most reviewed in the state, with 30 reviews. It is one of 3 named falls in the Western Ohio and Lake Erie region. The nearest town is Covington, about 1.3 miles to the northeast.
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11. Blue Hen Falls
Peninsula, OH · Summit County · Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.5-star Google rating and is the 2nd most reviewed in the state, with 250 reviews. 73% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Spectacular beauty spot named for the spring upstream that feeds this creek year-round." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Located approximately 1.9 km (1.2 mi) southwest of Boston, within Boston Township, Original Lot 2, and the Connecticut Western Reserve. It is one of 11 named falls in the Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio region. Buttermilk Falls is only 0.4 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Peninsula, about 1.6 miles to the southeast.
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12. Mill Creek Falls
Newburgh Heights, OH · Cuyahoga County · Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.1-star Google rating and is the 6th most reviewed in the state, with 42 reviews. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Located along Mill Creek within the City of Cleveland. Also located in Newburgh Township and the Connecticut Western Reserve. It is one of 11 named falls in the Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio region. The nearest town is Newburgh Heights, about 2.0 miles to the west.
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13. Cascade Falls
Chardon, OH · Lake County · Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 3.6 stars across 13 reviews. It is one of 11 named falls in the Cuyahoga Valley and Northeast Ohio region. The nearest town is Chardon, about 4.5 miles to the southeast.
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14. Sandusky Falls
Sandusky, OH · Erie County · Western Ohio and Lake Erie
Why it made the list
It holds a 3.3-star Google rating and is the 8th most reviewed in the state, with 28 reviews. Reviews most often mention patio view, location, restaurant, and drinks. It is one of 3 named falls in the Western Ohio and Lake Erie region. The nearest town is Sandusky, about 3.3 miles to the east.
When to Visit Ohio's Waterfalls
Ohio's falls are rain-fed, so late winter and spring, roughly February through May, are the most reliable months. In the Cuyahoga Valley and Hocking Hills, falls run fullest after a few days of steady rain or a thaw, and early spring adds wildflowers to the ravines. Summer often reduces smaller falls such as Buttermilk and Blue Hen to a trickle, while Brandywine Falls usually keeps some flow. Autumn color peaks around mid to late October, and fall rains can restore flows. Prolonged cold in January and February sometimes freezes Brandywine and the Hocking Hills falls into dramatic ice formations, though trails and stairs become slippery.
Before You Go
Most of Ohio's notable falls are on public land: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cleveland Metroparks and Summit Metro Parks, Ohio state parks and state nature preserves. Hocking Hills State Park is extremely popular, and its lots fill on autumn weekends and holidays, so early arrival helps. Some nature preserves prohibit pets and require staying on trails. Hazards are mainly cliffs and slick sandstone: falls from gorge rims in the Hocking Hills cause injuries and deaths, and climbing on wet ledges near falls is dangerous. Rock-walled gorges can flood quickly during heavy rain. A few smaller falls are on private property or near roads, so check access before visiting.
Read our waterfall safety rules and packing list before heading out.
Explore More Ohio Waterfalls
See all 19 waterfalls in the Ohio waterfall guide, or browse by town: Boston Heights, Logan, Bedford, Garrettsville, Peninsula, Peebles, Chagrin Falls, Oak Hill.
More Ohio Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best waterfall in Ohio?
Brandywine Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.8-star rating from 551 Google reviews. It is near Boston Heights in Summit County.
How was this list made?
We ranked the 14 publicly accessible Ohio waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands.
How many waterfalls are in Ohio?
Our directory lists 19 named waterfalls in Ohio. See them all, sorted by town, in the Ohio waterfall guide.
What is the most visited waterfall in Ohio?
Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the most reviewed in our directory, followed by Blue Hen Falls in the same park and Cedar Falls in the Hocking Hills.