Developer API - WaterfallHikes MCP Server

Connect your AI assistant to WaterfallHikes via the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and let it search 2,500+ waterfalls across 50 US states.

Quick Start

Add this to your MCP client config to get started immediately — no API key required:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "waterfallhikes": {
      "url": "https://waterfallhikes.com/mcp/sse"
    }
  }
}

Authentication

Unauthenticated access is available at 10 requests per minute per IP. For higher limits, request an API key by emailing contact@waterfallhikes.com.

Authenticated clients get 60 requests per minute. Pass the key as a Bearer token:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "waterfallhikes": {
      "url": "https://waterfallhikes.com/mcp/sse",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer wh_your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Discovery

The MCP discovery document is served at:

https://waterfallhikes.com/.well-known/mcp.json

Available Tools

SearchWaterfallsTool

Search waterfalls by state, difficulty, and features like dog-friendly, kid-friendly, swimming, or free admission.

Argument	Type	Required	Description
state	string	No	State name or abbreviation
difficulty	string	No	easy, moderate, hard, or drive_up
dog_friendly	boolean	No	Filter for dog-friendly trails
kid_friendly	boolean	No	Filter for kid-friendly trails
swimming	boolean	No	Filter for swimming allowed
free	boolean	No	Filter for no entrance fee
limit	integer	No	Max results (default 10, max 25)

FindNearbyWaterfallsTool

Find waterfalls near a geographic location, sorted by distance.

Argument	Type	Required	Description
latitude	float	Yes	Latitude of the location
longitude	float	Yes	Longitude of the location
radius_miles	integer	No	Search radius in miles (default 30, max 50)
limit	integer	No	Max results (default 10, max 25)

GetWaterfallDetailsTool

Get detailed information about a specific waterfall including trail details, visitor tips, directions, camping, and more.

Argument	Type	Required	Description
name	string	Yes	Waterfall name (fuzzy match supported)

GetStateGuideTool

Get a state guide with waterfall counts, featured waterfalls, and parks.

Argument	Type	Required	Description
state	string	Yes	State name or abbreviation

GetParkWaterfallsTool

Get park information and all its waterfalls.

Argument	Type	Required	Description
park_name	string	Yes	Park name (fuzzy match supported)

Resources

The server also exposes an MCP resource:

waterfallhikes:///states

States Directory — all US states with waterfall counts and links to their WaterfallHikes.com pages.

Embeddable Widget

No code required

Don't need the full API? Drop a single script tag into your site to show an interactive waterfall widget. Filter by state, customize the look, and let your visitors discover nearby hikes.

Build your embed snippet →

Rate Limits

Tier	Limit	Authentication
Unauthenticated	10 req/min per IP	None
Authenticated	60 req/min per IP	Authorization: Bearer wh_...

When rate-limited you'll receive a 429 response with a JSON error message.

Get an API Key

Email contact@waterfallhikes.com with your name and use case. We'll send you a key with the wh_ prefix that unlocks higher rate limits.

Developers