Must-see waterfalls in 10 beautiful spots

Often you hear it before you see it—water roaring down a rocky ledge or trickling into a pool. While waterfalls in the Midwest and the South certainly don’t have the force of Niagara Falls, they’re often surrounded by lovely forest glades and remarkable views. These 10 watery wonders are wet-weather falls, meaning they’re mightiest after significant rainfall.

Four major waterfalls highlight Clifty Falls State Park, situated along the Ohio River. Big Clifty Falls and Little Clifty Falls plunge about 60 feet. Hoffman Falls (78 feet) and Tunnel Falls (83 feet) rise even higher. Overlooks and observation decks provide great views. At times the cascading falls roar, while they’re delicate mists during dry spells.

No matter the season, you can hike nearly 15 miles of trails that range from easy to rugged. Don’t want to hike? The overlooks are generally a short distance from the parking areas.

As you wander, look for fossil remnants. The shale and limestone rocks here are among the oldest in Indiana. But don’t disturb any fossils that you see; take only photographs. Admission: $7 for Indiana residents driving non-commercial vehicles; $9 for out-of-state vehicles.

Choose how much effort you want to exert to see several waterfalls in Shawnee National Forest’s Burden Falls Wilderness Area. You can admire the Upper Falls, a wide curtain of water falling from a ledge, from a parking lot. Or take a moderately difficult trail descending to the bottom of the bluff to view Twin Falls, with its dual free-falling ribbons of water.

One of the highest waterfalls in Illinois, Burden Falls descends some 100 feet in a series of cascades, steep drops, and cataracts. Hiking trails meander past abandoned homesteads, cemeteries, and decommissioned roads to the falls, which are situated in a horseshoe-shaped canyon.

Located in the southern Illinois hills near Shawnee National Forest, Ferne Clyffe State Park features impressive rock formations and cliff caves visible from most of the 35 miles of hiking trails. Yet one of the most popular sites is an intermittent waterfall dropping about 100 feet. Choose between an easy 0.75-mile round-trip trail or a moderately difficult 1.5-mile round-trip route to reach the falls.

More than 700 species of plants thrive in this wooded wonderland, including flowering dogwood, sumac, serviceberry, redbud, and vibrant wildflowers. Because of the area’s abundance of ferns, the 19th-century owners of a portion of the land used the plant’s Old English spelling when naming the property. The park’s beauty has been attracting nature lovers for more than 100 years.

Recent rains and sturdy hiking shoes are prerequisites for the visual treat that is Mina Sauk Falls, located in Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. More than 130 feet high, Mina Sauk is Missouri’s tallest waterfall, and some folks say the loveliest. The waterfall feeds into Taum Sauk Creek, which normally carries very little water. Time your visit to follow heavy rains for the best water show.

The 2.9-mile loop trail to the falls is relatively easy, but expect some rocky and rugged sections. With adequate rainfall, water tumbles over a series of ledges and creates a roaring, misty sight. Taum Sauk Mountain itself is the highest natural point in Missouri, and the park includes a section of the Ozark Trail.

A geology lesson never looked as splendid as Rocky Falls in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. About 1.5 billion years ago, hot lava slowly crept over the landscape. As it cooled, it formed a reddish-brown rock known as rhyolite porphyry. If the surfaces had been softer, a stream might have eroded them to create a wider valley, but that’s not the case here.

At Rocky Falls, water cascades over steep rock and pours into a large pool of water because the hard rock has “shut in” the stream. It’s a perfect swimming hole on a hot summer day. While the most impressive flow is after a heavy rain, the falls can be enjoyed year-round. The site is a short walk from a parking area.

At 35 feet, Geary Lake Falls is the tallest waterfall in pancake-flat Kansas. It’s also one of the most scenic. Active in the spring, especially after plenty of rain, the waterfall is actually the spillway of Geary State Fishing Lake, located south of Junction City.

It’s a short walk over the dam to the top of the falls. For the most spectacular views, climb down the steep slope and look up the cliff face for a view of exposed rock bands framed by trees.

Just south of the Richland Creek Wilderness, Falling Water Falls flows from a height of 10 feet into an emerald-green pool, a popular summer swimming spot. Best of all, it’s easily visible from a Forest Service road.

Also in the area, Six Finger Falls might be only 6 feet high, but it stretches at least 100 feet across. This beautiful cascade formed from 6 thin falls (hence its name) is easily accessible because it’s only about 100 feet from the road.

In waterfall-chasing, as in baseball, a double is great. But a triple is even better. This 48-foot beauty officially known as Twin Falls is one of Arkansas’ most photographed waterfalls. The primary source is a freshwater spring, allowing water to flow year-round. With ample rainfall, a wet-weather creek also feeds more water, often forming a third waterfall.

Over the years, the site has become widely known as Triple Falls, partly to distinguish it from several other waterfalls also called Twin Falls. Accessing the site on a 0.5-mile round-trip hike is easy. However, an all-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended for the rough road to the trailhead.

Even the state’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks acknowledges it: The concept of waterfalls in Mississippi sounds like an oxymoron. But at Clark Creek Natural Area, just east of the Mississippi River, visitors can discover nearly 50 waterfalls, ranging in height from about 10 feet to more than 30 feet.

Hikers on the hunt for waterfalls will find developed trails as well as more challenging terrain with primitive trails crossing tributaries, scaling steep hills, and cutting through mixed hardwood and pine forests. Admission, $2 per person; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Changes in terrain mean possibilities for waterfalls, which is evident at J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert Wildlife Management Area. Located about 6 miles west of Sicily Island in northeast Louisiana, the area’s rugged terrain belies the fact that Louisiana is one of the nation’s flattest states.

Accessed via a 1.5-mile trail, Rock Falls drops about 17 feet and is one of Louisiana’s tallest. The 7-mile Big Creek Hiking Trail passes several falls, while the 1.75-mile St. Mary’s Falls Trail showcases several others, including its namesake. All of the options are loop trails.

The wildlife area’s 7,000-plus acres of natural habitat includes upland hardwoods. It’s home to black bears, white-tailed deer, and turkeys. Adult admission is $5 for a 5-day WMA access permit.

Kim Hill is a freelance writer from St. Louis.