United States · Stevens County
Kettle Falls
Kettle Falls was an ancient and important salmon fishing site on the upper reaches of the Columbia River, in what is today the U.S. state of Washington, near the Canada–US border.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Kettle Falls drops 15 metres (49 ft) on the Columbia River. It is a cataract-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Stevens County, United States. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a cataract waterfall, a large, powerful waterfall or series of rapids on a big river.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Kettle Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Stevens County are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotographyWildlife & safari
When to go
Snowmelt-driven: April to June is the big-water window, and some falls almost disappear by late summer.
Getting there
- Base town Stevens County, United States
- Country United States
- Region Stevens County, United States, North America
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Kettle Falls
United States
Height15 mWidth—
Most similar
Great Falls
United States
Height20 mWidth—
Also a cataract waterfall and in the United States too
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
Angel Falls is 65× taller than Kettle Falls. Victoria Falls is 7.2× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Kettle Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
48.6393, -118.109
Quick answers
Where is Kettle Falls?
Kettle Falls is in United States (Stevens County). The nearest base is Stevens County, United States. Its coordinates are 48.6393, -118.1090.
How tall is Kettle Falls?
Kettle Falls drops 15 metres (49 feet). It is a cataract-type waterfall on the Columbia River.
When is the best time to visit Kettle Falls?
Peak flow is April to June. Snowmelt-driven: April to June is the big-water window, and some falls almost disappear by late summer.
What can you do at Kettle Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking, photography and wildlife & safari. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Kettle Falls?
The usual base is Stevens County, United States. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
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