The best waterfalls near Indianapolis, Indiana are Upper Cataract Falls, Lower Cataract Falls, Groundhog Falls and 7 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Lower Cataract Falls, about 42 miles southwest of Indianapolis.
For more waterfalls around Indianapolis, browse the nearest towns: Cloverdale, Greencastle, Brookville, Richmond, Wabash, North Madison, Hanover, Shoals. You can also see every waterfall on the Indiana waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 13 publicly accessible Indiana waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Indianapolis 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. Upper Cataract Falls
42 miles southwest of Indianapolis. Our top pick near the city 4.8 out of 5 from 313 reviews.
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Upper Cataract Falls is about 42 miles southwest of Indianapolis, near Cloverdale. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 313 Google reviews, and 82% of them give it five stars. In short: "Scenic waterfall & recreation area with a covered bridge, picnic facilities & a playground."
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2. Lower Cataract Falls
42 miles southwest of Indianapolis. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 296 reviews.
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Lower Cataract Falls is about 42 miles southwest of Indianapolis, near Cloverdale. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 296 Google reviews, and 82% of them give it five stars.
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3. Groundhog Falls
47 miles west of Indianapolis. Rated 4.2 out of 5 from 5 reviews.
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Groundhog Falls is about 47 miles west of Indianapolis, near Greencastle. Visitors rate it 4.2 stars across 5 Google reviews.
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4. Tunnel Falls
80 miles southeast of Indianapolis. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 18 reviews.
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Tunnel Falls is about 80 miles southeast of Indianapolis, near North Madison. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 18 Google reviews. In short: "Set near an old railroad tunnel, this waterfall cascades over a limestone ledge into a canyon."
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5. Clifty Falls
79 miles southeast of Indianapolis. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 11 reviews.
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Clifty Falls is about 79 miles southeast of Indianapolis, near North Madison. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 11 Google reviews.
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6. Wallace Falls
80 miles southeast of Indianapolis. Rated 4.2 out of 5 from 5 reviews.
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Wallace Falls is about 80 miles southeast of Indianapolis, near North Madison. Visitors rate it 4.2 stars across 5 Google reviews.
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7. Crowe Falls
82 miles southeast of Indianapolis. Rated 4.2 out of 5 from 5 reviews.
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Crowe Falls is about 82 miles southeast of Indianapolis, near Hanover. Visitors rate it 4.2 stars across 5 Google reviews.
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8. Hindostan Falls
87 miles southwest of Indianapolis. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 51 reviews.
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Hindostan Falls is about 87 miles southwest of Indianapolis, near Shoals. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 51 Google reviews, and 75% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention peaceful atmosphere, river, and water levels.
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9. Hoffman Falls
80 miles southeast of Indianapolis. Rated 3.8 out of 5 from 5 reviews.
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Hoffman Falls is about 80 miles southeast of Indianapolis, near North Madison. Visitors rate it 3.8 stars across 5 Google reviews. In short: "78-ft.-high waterfall at Clifty Falls State Park, with a picturesque cascade over a limestone ledge."
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10. Horseshoe Falls
81 miles southeast of Indianapolis. Rated 3.6 out of 5 from 7 reviews.
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Horseshoe Falls is about 81 miles southeast of Indianapolis, near Hanover. Visitors rate it 3.6 stars across 7 Google reviews.
Waterfall Day Trips From Indianapolis
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Cataract Falls | 42 mi southwest | Cloverdale | 4.7 |
| Upper Cataract Falls | 42 mi southwest | Cloverdale | 4.8 |
| Groundhog Falls | 47 mi west | Greencastle | 4.2 |
| Clifty Falls | 79 mi southeast | North Madison | 4.6 |
| Tunnel Falls | 80 mi southeast | North Madison | 4.7 |
| Wallace Falls | 80 mi southeast | North Madison | 4.2 |
| Hoffman Falls | 80 mi southeast | North Madison | 3.8 |
| Horseshoe Falls | 81 mi southeast | Hanover | 3.6 |
| Crowe Falls | 82 mi southeast | Hanover | 4.2 |
| Hindostan Falls | 87 mi southwest | Shoals | 4.5 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Indianapolis. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Indianapolis?
Upper Cataract Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 42 miles southwest of Indianapolis and rated 4.8 stars from 313 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Indianapolis?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Lower Cataract Falls is the closest, about 42 straight-line miles southwest of the city, near Cloverdale.
How many waterfalls are near Indianapolis?
We track 13 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Indiana within 100 miles of Indianapolis, 3 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the Indiana waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 13 publicly accessible Indiana waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Indianapolis 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.
Where are the best waterfalls in Indiana?
Clifty Falls State Park near Madison has the greatest concentration, with several named falls in one canyon system, and Cataract Falls in Owen County is the most reviewed single site in our directory. Both are best after rain.
Summary
Upper Cataract Falls is our top waterfall pick near Indianapolis, rated 4.8 out of 5 and about 42 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.
Indiana's falls are rain-driven, so timing matters a great deal. Late winter and spring, roughly March through May, usually bring the most reliable flow, when soils are saturated and storms are frequent. The Clifty Falls canyons in particular can run dramatically after spring rains yet slow to a trickle or dry rock faces in late summer and early autumn. Cataract Falls, on a larger stream, holds water better through the year. A day or two after a soaking rain is the best window in any season. Autumn color in the southern Indiana hills peaks around mid to late October. Hard freezes occasionally produce ice formations in Clifty's ravines, though footing then becomes dangerous.
For more Indiana waterfalls, see the full Indiana waterfalls page, or read 14 Best Waterfalls in Indiana, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Indiana and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Indiana.