If you’re going to go hiking in Kentucky, you might as well choose a scenic spot that also offers the payoff of a waterfall. There are many waterfall trails in the Bluegrass; some of them are easy to reach, while others are hidden deep in the woods and off-trail. Most of the cascades in our state are beautiful, but not very big. But we do have some falls that crash down from 60, 80, and even over 100 feet. If you’d like to see some of the tallest waterfalls in Kentucky, you’re in luck. Join us on a fun and adventurous waterfall road trip in Kentucky, this six-stop trek leads to some of the most scenic and beautiful places in the Bluegrass!

This road trip can begin wherever you live in Kentucky, but keep in mind just the driving portion takes about 4 hours.
GoogleMaps
You can access the map here and adjust it according to your needs. Most of these waterfalls require hiking, so keep that in mind as you plan your trip.
Starting furthest to the north, the first stop on this trip is Broke Leg Falls in Menifee County.
Broke Leg Falls, Wellington, KY 40387, USA
Cris Ritchie Photo/ iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
If you want the payoff of a beautiful waterfall without a real hike, Broke Leg Falls is a great spot. Best viewed after rainfall, the falls drop 60 feet and the area around it is just gorgeous. It can be muddy, so come prepared.

Broke Leg Falls sounds a bit ominous, but this beautiful hike has an awesome reward. Take a closer look at this amazing waterfall in this video from Brook and Holler:
Next up, Anglin Falls can be found near Berea along a fairly easy 1.7-mile out-and-back trail.
Anglin Falls, Kentucky 40456, USA
Flickr/Karen Roussel
Anglin Falls measure about 75 feet and when they are flowing well, it's quite the sight to see. The entire hike is interesting with beautiful rock formations and other streams that tend to flow down the rocks.

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The next stop on this road trip is one of the most recognizable destinations in Kentucky - Cumberland Falls.
Cumberland Falls, Kentucky, USA
DWalker44/ iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
While Cumberland Falls is the largest waterfall in Kentucky, it is not the tallest. It does, however, still measure 68 feet in height, which makes for an impressive scene. It's also a very easy walk from the parking lot to reach the overlook, but you'll probably want to combine it with a walk to the next stop on our list. Find out more about Cumberland Falls on the park's website.

Explore Cumberland Falls in Corbin, KY in this short video from John Wegner:
The next waterfall is the shortest on our list at 44 feet, but since it's so close to Cumberland Falls, you should include it on your adventure.
Eagle Falls, Kentucky 42634, USA
Wildnerdpix/ iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Eagle Falls is along a 1.5-mile trail within Cumberland Falls State Resort Park and the trail also offers stunning views of Cumberland Falls. Find the specifics on Eagle Falls Trail and see more beautiful photos of this lovely waterfall.
Not too far south from this stop is what is considered to be the tallest waterfall in Kentucky - Yahoo Falls.
Yahoo Falls, Kentucky 42653, USA
Alexa Buccieri/Alltrails
Yahoo Falls stands at 113 feet and is also best viewed in the right conditions after rainfall. But even if this massive waterfall is reduced to a trickle, it's still a beautiful natural landmark in our state and the nearby Yahoo Arch is also worth a visit. Plan a visit to this trail in the Danial Boone National Forest.
Last up is the beautiful Lick Creek Falls near Whitley City, not far from Yahoo Falls.
Lick Creek Falls, Davis, OK 73030, USA
Deba Jyoti Khawas/Alltrails
This crashing waterfall is 64 feet tall and is located on the longest hike of the trip. You'll get an added bonus on this hike with the lovely Princess Falls and an abundance of natural beauty.

Lets's take a hike to Lick Creek Falls right after a rain - the best time to see this cool waterfall in Kentucky:

This road trip to some of the tallest waterfalls in Kentucky is a great way to spend a day or even a weekend. Some of these spots require a hiking adventure, so to truly enjoy it and take your time, two or three days with some camping in between would be ideal. Or if that’s not what you’re looking for, just check these scenic spots out one at a time! Have you taken a waterfall road trip in Kentucky before? What is your favorite Kentucky waterfall? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Be sure to check out this impressive resource that maps all of the waterfalls in Kentucky, thanks to KY Waterfalls.

If you’re ready to tackle another one of the best waterfall road trips in Kentucky, check out this ultimate getaway that takes you to eight scenic waterfalls in the Bluegrass.

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Waterfall road trips in Kentucky

Sarah | July 10, 2021

What's the tallest waterfall in Kentucky?

The tallest waterfall in Kentucky is Yahoo Falls standing at an impressive and commanding 113 feet. Here are a few other tall waterfalls in Kentucky:

 

In terms of notoriety, Cumberland Falls is the most famous. Known as the "Niagara of the South," Cumberland Falls is an impressive waterfall that's actually wider than it is tall. With 3,600 cubic feet of water flowing over the sandstone edge every second, this waterfall is astonishingly loud and commanding. For a truly magical experience, visit at night during a full moon, and you'll be treated to the rare sight of a moon bow, which is formed as the water spray hits the air.

What are some other waterfall road trips I can take in Kentucky?

For waterfall chasers, there's no better place than Kentucky! Our state is full of absolutely amazing waterfalls, including the superlative showstoppers listed above! But that's just one of many waterfall road trips you can take in Kentucky; another of our favorites is this six-stop road trip, a perfect little loop that takes just under five hours to complete and is a great weekend adventure. For a totally wondrous, only-in-Kentucky kind of experience, this cave and waterfall road trip is an absolute must, and visits places like Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, the Eagle Falls Trail, Princess Falls, Horse Cave, and Hidden River Cave!

Does Kentucky have many waterfalls?

In a word: yes! The Bluegrass State is home to hundreds of waterfalls, probably many more than people expect. You'll encounter many of these fabulous falls while on Kentucky's many hiking trails and aquatic expeditions. If you want to see several Kentucky waterfalls at once (and who could blame you?), this eight-stop road trip is a perfect tour de force of some of the state's most well-known and iconic cascades.

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