Waterfall Hikes in Kentucky (KY)

1 Park
548 Major Cities
17 Waterfalls

to explore

Kentucky's waterfalls are chiefly found along the Cumberland Plateau and its escarpments, where resistant sandstone and shale form cliffs and narrow gorges, while limestone karst and river valleys farther west feed sinkhole streams and recessed drops. Most waterfall hikes are moderate, featuring rocky streamside trails, ridge-to-gorge approaches, and occasional backcountry scrambles, with a smaller number of short, family-friendly paths. The juxtaposition of plateau escarpments and karst drainage yields distinctive recessed and seasonal cascades. See waterfalls near major Kentucky cities .

Popular Difficulties

Moderate: 13 trails
Easy: 4 trails

Trail Types

Loop: 1 trails
Out And Back: 15 trails
Out And Back: 1 trails

Featured Parks

Parks in Kentucky

0 Waterfalls

0.0 Total Trail Miles

Flowing strongest right now in Kentucky

Updated about 1 hour ago

Ranked by live stream-gauge flow versus each waterfall's seasonal normal.

  1. 1 Falls of Buffalo Strong · 93 cfs 83rd percentile
  2. 2 Amos Falls Strong · 2770 cfs 76th percentile
  3. 3 Cumberland Falls Strong · 2770 cfs 76th percentile
  4. 4 Dog Slaughter Falls Strong · 2770 cfs 76th percentile
  5. 5 Eagle Falls Strong · 2770 cfs 76th percentile
  6. 6 Jock Falls Moderate · 61 cfs 62nd percentile

Best Waterfall Hikes in Kentucky

Our top picks based on trail quality and scenic value.

11.1 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.5 miles 300 ft
44.1 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
12.2 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
40.1 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.4 miles 200 ft
40.4 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
30.8 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft

All Waterfall Hikes in Kentucky

36.2 miles away
Kentucky
Easy
1.8 miles 200 ft
37.1 miles away
Kentucky
Easy
1.7 miles 200 ft
44.1 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
12.2 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
10.2 miles away
Kentucky
Easy
0.4 miles 100 ft
40.1 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.4 miles 200 ft
40.4 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
10.4 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
1.5 miles 300 ft
30.8 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
40.1 miles away
Kentucky
Easy
1.2 miles 50 ft
48.1 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
33.5 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
11.1 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.5 miles 300 ft
10.9 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
1.5 miles 200 ft
43.7 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
32.7 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
35.3 miles away
Kentucky
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft

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Major Cities in Kentucky

Waterfall Hikes Near Louisville

963.8 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Lexington

321.3 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Bowling Green

99.7 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Elizabethtown

77.8 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Covington

40.9 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Georgetown

37.5 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Richmond

34.9 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Florence

32.1 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Nicholasville

31.4 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Jeffersontown

28.8 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Independence

28.7 K residents

Waterfall Hikes Near Frankfort

28.5 K residents

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