We can all agree that waterfalls are extraordinary natural wonders that really must be experienced in person and should be on your bucket list. If you are planning your next trip to the USA, this article will take you through the top 10 biggest waterfalls in the USA to visit while on your trip.
It is also best to get a USA SIM card while going on your trip to be able to communicate with your loved ones at very low rates.
Yosemite Falls (California)
Yosemite Falls isn’t just the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in California, it is also the fifth-largest waterfall in the entire world, dropping a total of 2,425 feet, split across three stages which are, the Upper Yosemite Fall, Middle Cascades, and Lower Yosemite Fall.
The waterfall is seasonal and rarely flows during summer or autumn, so to see Yosemite Falls at its best, visit in late spring. Yosemite Falls is massive and absolutely beautiful although the hike to the upper falls may be strenuous, it’s worth the experience.
Are you planning a trip in summer?
Further reading: Best places to visit in summer
Niagara Falls (New York)
There are many ways to experience the power of Niagara Falls, from viewpoints to cruises that take you out to the bottom of the waterfalls. The Niagara Falls sits on the border between Canada and the U.S.A. where the Niagara River connects Lake Erie with Lake Ontario.
You will not only get to fully experience the falls from different vantage points, but you’ll also get to experience the amazing activities on offer. The falls are impressively high at 167 feet but equally impressively long, and while the Canadian side boasts a touristy town to spend the weekend, the American side trades mostly in natural, scenic views. For blue skies and high waterfall rainbow visibility opportunities, visit between May and September.
Further reading: Best places to visit in winter
Havasu Falls (Arizona)
Right next to Grand Canyon National Park, the Havasu Falls are located at the base of Havasu Canyon on the Havasupai Indian Reservation. It is just under 100 feet tall and its powerful cascade spills into its iconic waters.
It is one of the most beautifully-situated waterfalls in the country and it also flows year-round in the larger Grand Canyon area, which alone makes it more special. This waterfall combines colour and contrast and that is unmatched compared to other waterfalls.
Lower Falls (Wyoming)
This Lower falls cascades down from a height of 308 feet and is nearly twice as high as Niagara Falls, but has something Niagara Falls does not have, which is a scenic location at the head of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
The Lower Falls was the signature waterfall of Yellowstone National Park, with about nearly 4 million visitors per year. The waterfall clearly held its own in terms of attracting tourists’ attention.
Great Falls (Washington DC)
Great Falls is an amazing waterfall in the United States, located in Montgomery County, Maryland, 15 miles from Washington DC. The Potomac River flows over a series of 20’ falls, falling a total of 76’ in elevation over less than 1 mile. As the river approaches Great Falls and Mather Gorge it narrows significantly.
The Potomac River’s Great Falls are also known as the Great Falls of the Potomac. You can get wonderful views of Great Falls from overlooks and trails at Great Falls Park in Virginia or Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Park in Maryland.
Further reading: Best places to visit in fall
Willamette Falls (Oregon)
Known as the second biggest waterfall in the US after Niagara Falls, Willamette Falls is the largest waterfall in the Pacific Northwest and the world’s sixth-largest at 1,500 feet. Situated halfway between West Linn and Oregon City, the waterfall is a huge crescent-shaped basalt cataract on the Willamette River.
You can take part in activities such as fishing, as the falls were an important fishing ground for the Kalapuya, Molalla, and other American Indian people. Willamette Falls still serves as a tribal lamprey-harvesting site.
Sandstone Falls (West Virginia)
Sandstone Falls is one of the widest falls in the US and the New River’s largest waterfall at 1500 wide. It is formed by the New River in West Virginia and ranges in height from 10-25 feet. The Falls form the dramatic starting line for the New Rivers final rush trough the New River Gorge.
To view the Falls, you will need to get ready to drive along two of the park’s most scenic roads, Route 20 from I-64 at the community of Sandstone, ten miles upstream to the town of Hinton, then downstream eight miles along River Road, the park’s only scenic riverside drive.
Kootenai Falls (Montana)
Situated in Montana’s Lincoln Country, Kootenai Falls, also known as Kootenay Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in the US with a height of 55 feet and a width of 1, 000 feet. You can access the falls by a foot trail from the parking area next to the highway.
The Kutenai Tribe consider the site as a sacred site as they see the falls as the centre of the world and a place where tribal members can commune with the spiritual forces. Kootenai Falls resides in the Kootenai National Forest near Libby in Lincoln County, Montana. You can access the falls by a foot trail from the parking area next to the highway.
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone
Lower Falls is the biggest waterfalls in Yellowstone, surging more than 300 feet into the pinnacled Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It is 308-foot tall with numerous views of the Falls from both the east and west sides of the Grand Canyon, most of which require only a short walk or virtually no walk to see.
It is located just to the east of Canyon Village where a one-way drive takes you to the edge of the Grand Canyon and offers four views, with the last stop at the trail that leads to the top of the Falls. The experience of standing atop the Falls is one of the most amazing experiences in the entire Park.
Are you planning a trip this Christmas?
Further reading: Best places to visit in December
Palouse Falls (Washington)
Palouse Falls is a waterfall on the Palouse River, and they are 200 ft (61 m) in height, about 4 mi (6 km) upstream of the confluence with the Snake River in southeast Washington, US.
Also known as Aput, meaning “Falling Water,” named by the Palouse Indians, Palouse Falls is located within Palouse Falls State Park. To visit the Falls at the park for a hiking experience, sites are available on a first come, first served basis, so make sure you get there as early as possible.
Biggest USA waterfalls FAQs
1. How many waterfalls are there in the USA?
With about 17, 077 waterfalls, the USA has more waterfalls than any other country in the world.
2. Which state has most waterfalls in the USA?
The state that has most waterfalls than any other is Washington.
3. What is the largest waterfall in USA by volume?
The largest waterfall in the USA by volume is Niagara Falls.
4. What is the tallest waterfall in the USA?
The tallest waterfall in the USA is Ribbon Falls.
5. What are the two tallest waterfalls in America?
The two tallest waterfalls in America is the Olo’upena Falls and Pu’uka’oku Falls.
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