Walking guide
Walking the Wicklow Way
Paddy Dillon · 2021
Guide to the Wicklow Way, which skirts the Powerscourt estate and valley above Ireland's highest waterfall.
Ireland · County Wicklow
Powerscourt Waterfall
Ireland's tallest waterfall drops through a wooded deer park on the grounds of the Powerscourt Estate, framed by the Sugar Loaf mountain in the distance. A short walk from the car park makes it one of the most accessible major falls in Ireland.
Ireland's tallest waterfall Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Powerscourt Waterfall drops 121 metres (397 ft) on the Dargle, inside Powerscourt Estate. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Enniskerry, with DUB the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
Powerscourt Waterfall is the second-tallest of the 5 we cover in Ireland. As a plunge waterfall, water leaves the rock entirely and falls free through the air.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Powerscourt Waterfall itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Enniskerry are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Spring and autumn rains give the fullest flow on the Dargle River.
Entry: Estate entry fee ~8 EUR
Getting there
- Base town Enniskerry
- Airport DUB
- Country Ireland
- Region County Wicklow, British Isles, Europe
- Access Easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
How it compares
This waterfall
Powerscourt Waterfall
Ireland
Height121 mWidth—
Most similar
Cascata del Toce
Italy
Height143 mWidth—
Also a plunge waterfall, of similar height and in Italy
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
108 m
121 m
143 m
330 m
979 m
Victoria FallsPowerscourt WaterfallCascata del ToceEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 8.1× taller than Powerscourt Waterfall. It is about the same height as Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Powerscourt Waterfall yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Powerscourt Waterfall
3:41
3:21
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
The Rough Guide to IrelandRough Guides
Guidebook
The Rough Guide to Ireland
Rough Guides · 2025
Current Rough Guide with Wicklow and Kerry chapters for Powerscourt and Torc.
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Ireland
Lonely Planet · 2024
Current Lonely Planet covering Wicklow and Killarney National Park, home of Powerscourt and Torc waterfalls.
On the map
53.146, -6.2115
Quick answers
Where is Powerscourt Waterfall?
Powerscourt Waterfall is in Ireland (County Wicklow), inside Powerscourt Estate. The nearest base is Enniskerry and the closest airport is DUB. Its coordinates are 53.1460, -6.2115.
How tall is Powerscourt Waterfall?
Powerscourt Waterfall drops 121 metres (397 feet). It is a plunge-type waterfall on the Dargle.
When is the best time to visit Powerscourt Waterfall?
Peak flow is March to May and September to October. Spring and autumn rains give the fullest flow on the Dargle River.
What can you do at Powerscourt Waterfall?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Powerscourt Waterfall?
The usual base is Enniskerry, and the closest airport is DUB. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. Estate entry fee ~8 EUR.
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