Historic Waterfalls by State (2026)

Falls with a written record: a USGS naming history, a gazetteer description or older recorded names.

We publish a ranked page for each state where at least 5 waterfalls qualify. 29 states meet that bar.

Historic Waterfalls by State

Top Pick in Each State

WaterfallStateWhy it made the list
Eatonville FallsNew YorkThe USGS gazetteer describes it as: 20 ft. high; along Otter Creek in Otter Creek State Forest, in the Town of Greig, 2.3 mi. NNE of Greig.
Platinum FallsOregonThe USGS gazetteer describes it as: Approximately 100 ft. high; in Elliott State Forest, on Bickford Creek just downstream from the confluence of Baker Creek and Bickford Creek; Sec. 23, T23S, R10W, Willamette Meridian.
ʻŌpaekaʻa FallsHawaiiThe USGS gazetteer describes it as: Along the course of Opaekaa Stream, on the island of Kauai, just S of Nonou Mountain approximately 1.8 mi W of Wailua Bay and 3.5 mi SW of Kapaa.
Le Conte FallsCaliforniaThe USGS gazetteer describes it as: In Yosemite National Park, on the Tuolumne River, just above mile marker 140, on the north slope of Falls Ridge. (US-T121).
Brooks FallsAlaskaThe USGS gazetteer describes it as: Near the S shore of Iliuk Arm, Naknek Bay, on the outlet of Lake Brooks, in Katmai National Monument, NW on Mount Katmai, Alaska Peninsula, Aleutian Range.
Potawatomi FallsMichiganThe USGS gazetteer describes it as: The falls have a vertical drop of 40 feet.
Mary Pamela FallsWashingtonThe USGS gazetteer describes it as: 85 ft. tall; located along an unnamed tributary of the Sultan River, 0.95 mi. S of Echo Lake; Sec 28, T29N, R8E, Willamette Meridian.
Bash Bish FallsMassachusettsThe USGS gazetteer describes it as: On Bash Bish Brook, 4.7 km (2.9 mi) W of Guilder Pond and 5.6 km (3.5 mi) SW of South Egremont; Town of Mount Washington (US-T121).
Ramsey CascadesTennesseeThe USGS gazetteer describes it as: Located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 19 km (12 mi) east of Gatlinburg.
Albeni FallsIdahoThe USGS gazetteer describes it as: On the Clark Fork in Kaniksu NF just E of Newport, WA; a gigantic cascade, formed by a rugged constriction which holds back the waters of Lake Pend d'Oreille in springtime, causing extremely high water.

Historic Waterfalls: FAQs

What counts as a historic waterfall?

Falls with a written record: a USGS naming history, a gazetteer description or older recorded names.

Which states have the most historic waterfalls?

New York (60), Oregon (60), Hawaii (51) have the most in our directory.

Why is my state missing?

We only publish a state page when at least 5 waterfalls in that state genuinely qualify, so the list is never padded. Every waterfall in every state is still on its state page.

Other Waterfall Types

  • Hidden Gem Waterfalls: Highly rated falls that few people review: 4.6 stars or better from 75 or fewer Google reviews.
  • Cascades: Named cascades: water stepping down a series of ledges rather than falling in one drop.
  • Tall Waterfalls: Falls with a recorded height of 100 feet or more in the USGS gazetteer or their Google listing.
  • Small Waterfalls: Falls with a recorded height of 25 feet or less, often easy to reach and good in any season.
  • Waterfall Trails: Falls you reach on foot, ranked by the hikers who reviewed them.
  • Most Photographed Waterfalls: The falls visitors photograph and rate five stars most often.
  • Popular Waterfalls: The falls that draw the most visitors, by Google review volume.
  • Must-See Waterfalls: Five top-rated, widely visited falls per state, spread across its regions.
  • Roadside Waterfalls: Top-rated falls you can see with little or no hiking.