North America
Waterfalls of North America
234 destinations across North America, ordered by significance. Filter by activity to find the ones that run what you want to do.
North America's waterfalls range from Niagara, the continent's most visited, to the snowmelt giants of Yosemite and the Pacific Northwest, the glacier-fed falls of the Canadian Rockies, and Montmorency beside Quebec City, which is taller than Niagara. The Columbia River Gorge alone lines up more than a dozen falls along one historic highway.
Most falls here are easy to reach by car, with good trails and park infrastructure — and, at the busiest, timed-entry permits in peak season. Snowmelt drives the season in the west, where many falls peak in May and June and fade by late summer; winter freezes the northern falls into ice.
Full guide Yosemite Falls
Tallest waterfall in Yosemite, and among the tallest in North America
UNESCO Takakkaw Falls
One of Canada's tallest waterfalls
UNESCO Bridalveil Fall
Yosemite's most reliably year-round waterfall
UNESCO Nevada Fall
Upper anchor of Yosemite's famous Mist Trail
UNESCO Vernal Fall
One of Yosemite's most-hiked destinations
UNESCO Virginia Falls
One of Canada's most remote major waterfalls
UNESCO Lower Falls of the Yellowstone
Centerpiece of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Full guide Johnston Canyon Falls
Banff's most popular canyon hike
UNESCO Athabasca Falls
Most powerful waterfall in Jasper National Park
Della Falls
One of Canada's tallest waterfalls, and among its most remote
Basaseachic Falls
Mexico's second-tallest waterfall
Amicalola Falls
Tallest waterfall in Georgia and the southeastern US
Full guide Multnomah Falls
Oregon's most-visited natural landmark
Helmcken Falls
Fourth-largest waterfall in Canada by flow
Akaka Falls
Big Island's most-visited waterfall
Tamul Falls
One of Mexico's tallest and widest waterfalls
Full guide Montmorency Falls
30 metres taller than Niagara Falls
Snoqualmie Falls
Site of one of the oldest operating hydroelectric plants in the US
Full guide La Fortuna Waterfall
Signature waterfall of Costa Rica's Arenal region
Taughannock Falls
Taller than Niagara Falls
Shoshone Falls
Taller than Niagara Falls
Palouse Falls
Washington State's official state waterfall
Tallulah Falls
Anchor of one of the deepest gorges in the eastern US
Horseshoe Falls
Carries about 90% of the Niagara River's total flow
Toccoa Falls
Taller than Niagara Falls, on a college campus
Full guide Niagara Falls
Highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America
Wilberforce Falls
One of the highest waterfalls north of the Arctic Circle
Nauyaca Falls
South Pacific Costa Rica's most popular swimming waterfall
Ruby Falls
Tallest underground waterfall open to the public in the US
Pulhapanzak Falls
Honduras's most-visited natural attraction
Full guide Havasu Falls
Most famous turquoise waterfall in the American Southwest
Agua Azul
One of Mexico's most photographed natural swimming spots
Rio Celeste Falls
Famous for water colored by optical mineral scattering, not dye
Letchworth State Park Falls
Centerpiece of the 'Grand Canyon of the East'
Linville Falls
Gateway to the deepest gorge in the eastern US
McWay Falls
One of the world's few waterfalls that drop onto a beach
Wailua Falls
Kauai's most famous roadside waterfall
Cumberland Falls
One of the few places on Earth with a regular moonbow
Great Falls
The most dramatic stretch of the Potomac River
The rest of the index here
195 more waterfalls, compiled from open data and labelled as such on their pages. Search and filters apply to these too.
Oloʻupena FallsUnited States · Maui County · 900 m
James Bruce FallsCanada · British Columbia · 840 m
Puʻukaʻoku FallsUnited States · Maui County · 840 m
Waihilau FallsUnited States · Hawaii County · 792 m
Colonial Creek FallsUnited States · Whatcom County · 788 m
Sulphide Creek FallsUnited States · Washington · 671 m
Sunwapta FallsCanada · Alberta · 600 m
Hog's Back FallsCanada · Ottawa · 600 m
Blum Basin FallsUnited States · Washington · 512 m
Thousand Foot FallsBelize · Cayo District · 488 m
Piedra VoladaMexico · Chihuahua · 453 m
Hiʻilawe WaterfallUnited States · Hawaii · 442 m
Hunlen FallsCanada · British Columbia · 396 m
Crabtree Falls (Nelson County)United States · Nelson County · 366 m
Pissing Mare FallsCanada · Newfoundland and Labrador · 343 m
Wapama FallsUnited States · Tuolumne County · 335 m
Depot Creek FallsUnited States · Whatcom County · 295 m
Tueeulala FallsUnited States · California · 268 m
Berdeen FallsUnited States · Whatcom County · 259 m
Chilnualna FallsUnited States · Mariposa County · 212 m
Crypt FallsCanada · Improvement District No. 4 · 175 m
Bird Woman FallsUnited States · Flathead County · 150 m
Upper Whitewater FallsUnited States · Jackson County · 125 m
Bonita FallsUnited States · California · 122 m
Dry Falls (Grant County)United States · Grant County · 121 m
Kautz Creek FallsUnited States · Pierce County · 120 m
Comet FallsUnited States · Pierce County · 116 m
Salt Creek FallsUnited States · Lane County · 87 m
Fish Creek FallsUnited States · Colorado · 86 m
Kaaterskill FallsUnited States · Greene County · 79 m
Union FallsUnited States · Wyoming · 76 m
Churchill FallsCanada · Newfoundland and Labrador · 75 m
Saint Anne FallsCanada · Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges · 74 m
Great Divide waterfallCanada · Edmonton · 64 m
Makahiku FallsUnited States · Maui County · 61 m
Sydney FallsUnited States · Pierce County · 61 m
Narada FallsUnited States · Lewis County · 57 m
Dunn's River FallsJamaica · Saint Ann Parish · 55 m
Arethusa FallsUnited States · New Hampshire · 54 m
Van Trump FallsUnited States · Pierce County · 52 m
Basaltic Prisms of Santa María ReglaMexico · Hidalgo · 50 m
Eyipantla FallsMexico · San Andrés Tuxtla · 50 m
Coulonge ChutesCanada · Mansfield-et-Pontefract · 48 m
Tangle FallsCanada · Alberta · 48 m
Anna Ruby FallsUnited States · Georgia · 47 m
Kepler CascadesUnited States · Teton County · 46 m
Mānoa FallsUnited States · Honolulu · 46 m
Ithaca FallsUnited States · Ithaca · 46 m
Big Rock FallsBelize · Cayo · 46 m
Twister FallsUnited States · Hood River County · 43 m
Alexander FallsCanada · British Columbia · 43 m
Franklin FallsUnited States · Washington · 41 m
Burgess FallsUnited States · Putnam County · 41 m
Tower FallUnited States · Park County · 40 m
Kakabeka FallsCanada · Thunder Bay District · 40 m
Terraced FallsUnited States · Teton County · 40 m
Panther Creek FallsUnited States · Skamania County · 40 m
Rockhouse FallsUnited States · Tennessee · 38 m
High Falls (North Carolina)United States · North Carolina · 38 m
La Paz WaterfallCosta Rica · Sarapiquí · 37 m
Devil's Punch BowlCanada · Ontario · 37 m
Salmon Creek FallsUnited States · California · 37 m
Upper Mesa FallsUnited States · Fremont County · 35 m
Misol HáMexico · Chiapas · 35 m
Chaudière Falls (Lévis)Canada · Lévis · 35 m
Alexandra FallsCanada · Northwest Territories · 32 m
Sunset FallsUnited States · Snohomish County · 32 m
Issaqueena FallsUnited States · South Carolina · 30 m
Nugget FallsUnited States · Alaska · 30 m
Keyhole FallsCanada · British Columbia · 30 m
Bushkill FallsUnited States · Pennsylvania · 30 m
Laughing Whitefish Falls State ParkUnited States · Michigan · 30 m
Cohoes FallsUnited States · Cohoes · 28 m
Marymere FallsUnited States · Washington · 28 m
Crescent FallsCanada · Alberta · 27 m
Williamsport FallsUnited States · Warren County · 27 m
Gibbon FallsUnited States · Wyoming · 26 m
Cane Creek FallsUnited States · Tennessee · 26 m
Cola de CaballoMexico · Santiago · 25 m
Tufton Hall WaterfallGrenada · 25 m
Canim FallsCanada · British Columbia · 25 m
Paulina Creek FallsUnited States · Deschutes County · 24 m
Sable FallsUnited States · Michigan · 23 m
Turner FallsUnited States · Oklahoma · 23 m
Dry Falls (North Carolina)United States · North Carolina · 23 m
Webster's FallsCanada · Ontario · 22 m
Christine FallsUnited States · Pierce County · 21 m
Mystic FallsUnited States · Idaho · 21 m
Sault FallsSaint Lucia · Dennery · 20 m
Albion FallsCanada · Ontario · 19 m
Blackwater Falls State ParkUnited States · West Virginia · 19 m
Smith FallsUnited States · Nebraska · 19 m
Wapta FallsCanada · British Columbia · 18 m
Eastatoe FallsUnited States · North Carolina · 18 m
Dick's Creek FallsUnited States · Georgia · 18 m
Inglis FallsCanada · Georgian Bluffs · 18 m
Tahquamenon FallsUnited States · Michigan · 15 m
Hamilton Pool PreserveUnited States · Texas · 15 m
Kettle FallsUnited States · Stevens County · 15 m
Borer's FallsCanada · Hamilton · 15 m
Bond FallsUnited States · Michigan · 15 m
Key FallsUnited States · North Carolina · 15 m
Munising FallsUnited States · Michigan · 15 m
Cataract FallsUnited States · Owen County · 14 m
Walker FallsUnited States · North Carolina · 14 m
Firehole FallsUnited States · Wyoming · 12 m
Ki-a-Kuts FallsUnited States · Washington County · 12 m
Agate Falls Scenic SiteUnited States · Michigan · 12 m
Miners FallsUnited States · Michigan · 12 m
Tannery FallsUnited States · Michigan · 12 m
Bassin BleuHaiti · South-East · 10 m
Chaudière Falls (Ontario)Canada · Ontario · 10 m
Eternal Flame FallsUnited States · Orchard Park · 9 m
Bow FallsCanada · Alberta · 9 m
Alamere FallsUnited States · Marin County · 9 m
Lewis FallsUnited States · Teton County · 9 m
Chasm FallsUnited States · Larimer County · 9 m
Zapata FallsUnited States · Colorado · 9 m
Mitchell FallsUnited States · North Carolina · 8 m
Manido FallsUnited States · Michigan · 5 m
Hooker FallsUnited States · Transylvania County · 4 m
Reversing FallsCanada · Saint John · 4 m
Darnley CascadeCanada · Ontario · 4 m
Saint Anthony FallsUnited States · Minneapolis · 3 m
Scott FallsUnited States · Michigan · 3 m
Mayfield FallsJamaica · Westmoreland Parish · 3 m
Brooks FallsUnited States · Alaska · 2 m
Sliding RockUnited States · North Carolina · 2 m
Churchill RiverCanada · Newfoundland and Labrador
Smallwood ReservoirCanada · Newfoundland and Labrador
Hierve el AguaMexico · San Lorenzo Albarradas Municipality
Celilo FallsUnited States · Oregon
Elakala FallsUnited States · Tucker County
QorlortorsuaqGreenland · Kujalleq
Chatterbox FallsCanada · British Columbia
Ozone FallsUnited States · Cumberland County
Hickory Nut FallsUnited States · North Carolina
Overlander FallsCanada · British Columbia
Emperor FallsCanada · British Columbia
Waterwheel FallsUnited States · Tuolumne County
Snow Creek FallsUnited States · California
Virginia CascadesUnited States · Idaho
Latourell FallsUnited States · Oregon
Rideau FallsCanada · Ottawa
Mount Shuksan WaterfallsUnited States · Whatcom County
Horsetail FallsUnited States · Multnomah County
Pokiok FallsCanada · New Brunswick
Wahclella FallsUnited States · Multnomah County
Weeks FallsUnited States · King County
Blue Hole FallsUnited States · Georgia
Cullasaja FallsUnited States · Macon County
Bow Glacier FallsCanada · Alberta
High Shoals FallsUnited States · North Carolina
Rainbow Falls (North Carolina)United States · North Carolina
Moravian FallsUnited States · North Carolina
Glassmine FallsUnited States · Buncombe County
Turtleback FallsUnited States · North Carolina
McGalliard FallsUnited States · North Carolina
Bloody FallsCanada · Nunavut
Crabtree Falls (Yancey County)United States · Yancey County
Kīpū FallsUnited States · Kauai County
Similkameen FallsCanada · British Columbia
Dawson FallsCanada · British Columbia
Window FallsUnited States · North Carolina
Cascade FallsUnited States · North Carolina
Still Brook WaterfallCanada · Cape Breton
Benham FallsUnited States · Oregon
Toms Creek FallsUnited States · North Carolina
Corbin Creek FallsUnited States · North Carolina
Upper CascadesUnited States · North Carolina
High Falls (Rochester)United States · Rochester
Setrock Creek FallsUnited States · North Carolina
Ashlu FallsCanada · British Columbia
Lake Trahlyta SpillwayUnited States · Union County
Eagle Falls (Snohomish County)United States · Snohomish County
Little River FallsUnited States · Cherokee County
Rainbow Falls (British Columbia)Canada · British Columbia
Holcomb Creek FallsUnited States · Georgia
Moul FallsCanada · British Columbia
Connestee Falls and Batson Creek FallsUnited States · Transylvania County
Wagner FallsUnited States · Alger County
Volio WaterfallCosta Rica · Bribri
Courthouse FallsUnited States · North Carolina
Cascada de TexoloMexico · Veracruz
Englishman River Falls Provincial ParkCanada · Regional District of Nanaimo
Boundary Falls (British Columbia)Canada · British Columbia
Rapides du Cheval BlancCanada · Laval
Saut-MathurineHaiti · Camp-Perrin
Puddicombe FallsCanada · Hamilton
Dyment FallsCanada · Hamilton
Mountview FallsCanada · Hamilton
Fifty Road CascadeCanada · Ontario
Centennial FallsCanada · Hamilton
Juanacatlán FallsMexico · Jalisco
El SaltoMexico · Nuevo León
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Questions people ask
What is the tallest waterfall in North America?
It depends on the source. Yosemite Falls in California (739 m) is the tallest widely visited waterfall and the one most often quoted; the World Waterfall Database also lists remote, seasonal falls that are taller, such as James Bruce Falls in British Columbia at about 840 m.
What are the most famous waterfalls in North America?
The best known are Niagara Falls (Canada), Havasu Falls (United States), Yosemite Falls (United States), La Fortuna Waterfall (Costa Rica), Multnomah Falls (United States) and Takakkaw Falls (Canada). Our index covers 234 waterfalls in North America; every one has a page with activities, seasons and how to get there.
When is the best time to see waterfalls in North America?
Across the waterfalls we cover, the most are at their best April to June. Most falls here are easy to reach by car, with good trails and park infrastructure — and, at the busiest, timed-entry permits in peak season. Snowmelt drives the season in the west, where many falls peak in May and June and fade by late summer; winter freezes the northern falls into ice.