Must-See Waterfalls by State (2026)

Five top-rated, widely visited falls per state, spread across its regions.

Each state list below ranks real visitor data for that state.

Must-See Waterfalls by State

Must-See Waterfalls: FAQs

What counts as a must-see waterfall?

Five top-rated, widely visited falls per state, spread across its regions.

Which states have the most must-see waterfalls?

Alabama (5), Alaska (5), Arizona (5) have the most in our directory.

Why is my state missing?

These lists are built only for states with enough rated waterfalls to rank fairly. 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.
  • Historic Waterfalls: Falls with a written record: a USGS naming history, a gazetteer description or older recorded names.
  • 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.
  • Roadside Waterfalls: Top-rated falls you can see with little or no hiking.