Cedar Falls
Ohio • 15 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrainBefore you go
The trail ends at an overlook above the falls; direct access to the falls is prohibited and visitors must stay on the trail. The preserve is open year-round from dawn to dusk.
Photo Credits (5)
Difficulty
Moderate
Trail Length
3.0 miles
Trail Type
Out And Back
About Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls is a 15-foot cascade over limestone ledges on Cedar Run in The Nature Conservancy's John and Marion Becker Cedar Falls Preserve, part of the Edge of Appalachia Preserve System in Adams County, Ohio. A three-mile round-trip trail starts in a grove of eastern red cedar, crosses rocky streams and a boulder field in the Cedar Run gorge, and ends at an overlook on a cliff above the falls. This is not the Cedar Falls in Hocking Hills State Park, about 60 miles to the northeast.
The Setting
Cedar Falls sits at 699 feet within Cedar Falls Fee, in the foothills of Ohio. The falls drop 15 feet.
Height: 15 feet
Trail & Hike Details
Trail Description
The trail is a three-mile out-and-back that The Nature Conservancy rates as moderately difficult and strenuous in some areas. It begins among eastern red cedars, crosses rocky streams and a boulder field, and follows the Cedar Run gorge, where cliffs reach 70 feet, to a cliff-top overlook above the falls.
What to Expect
The falls drop a gentle 15 feet.
Accessibility
The trail is not wheelchair accessible. Uneven terrain and elevation changes require steady footing.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Cedar Falls?
❌ Dogs are not allowed
Pets of any kind are not permitted at the preserve; service animals are allowed.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Cedar Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Spring is the best time to visit Cedar Falls, as the waterfall is typically at its fullest due to seasonal rainfall. However, it is a beautiful destination year-round.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Safety Information
The gorge cliffs reach up to 70 feet and are hazardous, so stay on the trail at all times and do not try to reach the falls.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Ohio Brush Creek, 3.4 miles away, not on Cedar Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
59 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 95 years of record
2.44 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year.
About This Gauge
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge Ohio Brush Creek near West Union OH (5 km away).
Today
Low
59 cfs
6/10Tomorrow
Low
59 cfs
6/10Thu
Moderate
84 cfs
5/10Fri
Moderate
73 cfs
5/10Sat
Low
78 cfs
6/10Sun
Low
95 cfs
6/10Mon
Low
82 cfs
6/10Best window: Today — low flow, sunny (trip score 6/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from early February to mid April, peaking in March.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Peebles hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Cedar Falls Frozen?
Updated about 8 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately
Cedar Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 63°F to 38°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 62 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in Ohio.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
1-meter lidar measures about 43 feet of drop in the ground within a few hundred feet of Cedar Falls. That is more than the listed 15 feet because the gorge keeps dropping below the falls themselves. The brink sits at about 699 feet above sea level.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 699 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 43 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
The trailhead is on Cedar Mills Road in Adams County, near West Union. From State Route 32, take Steam Furnace Road south, White Oak Road east, then Cedar Mills Road southeast for about 3 miles; the parking area is on the left.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
Park in the preserve's trailhead lot on Cedar Mills Road. There are no facilities on the trail.
Elevation
699 feet above sea level
Coordinates
38.836739° N, -83.375466° W
Land Management
Managed by NGO
Visitor Tips & Gear
Bring water, since there are no facilities. Biking, camping, fires, hunting, rock climbing and picking flowers, berries, nuts or mushrooms are prohibited.
Where to Stay
Ohio Starlight Glamping Cabins - A Peaceful Woodland Retreat
Country Nights Inn
Days Inn by Wyndham Maysville Kentucky
Holiday Inn Portsmouth Downtown by IHG
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Additional Information
Nearby Attractions
Other preserves in the Edge of Appalachia Preserve System in Adams County.
Wildlife
Visitors may encounter deer, squirrels, birds, and other small wildlife along the trail. The area is rich in biodiversity.
Cities near Cedar Falls
Other waterfalls named Cedar Falls
8 other waterfalls share this name across the U.S.
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