13 of The Best Waterfalls in the Midwest

When you think of the best waterfalls in the US, places like Oregon, North Carolina or New York may come to mind. However, the midwest also has so many incredible waterfalls. From the Minnesota North Shore to Ohio’s national park, there are all kinds of striking waterfalls to see across the midwest.

After visiting all of the midwest states and national parks, I’m sharing what I think are the best midwest waterfalls. I’ll continue to add to this list as I visit more waterfalls in the future!

Please make sure to leave no trace when you’re exploring these areas! Pack out your trash, stay on marked trails, follow current rules and regulations and research current conditions before heading out.

The 13 Best Waterfalls in the Midwest

These are listed in no particular order.

Big Clifty Falls, Clifty Falls State Park, Indiana

Clifty Falls State Park, located in Southern Indiana, has a handful of stunning waterfalls! My favorite is Big Clifty Falls, which can be seen after a short walk from the parking lot. The waterfall is 60-feet tall and cascades over rocks that look like stair steps. If you can, I recommend continuing on to hike a loop around the park, and admiring Tunnel Falls and Hoffman Falls along the way.

Read my guide to the best hiking in Indiana

Brandywine Falls, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

Brandywine Falls is 65 feet tall and one of the most iconic features in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. You can see this epic waterfall by following a short boardwalk trail that follows along a cliff face. You can also extend the hike and take the Brandywine Gorge Loop Trail, which has additional viewpoints of the Brandywine Gorge.

Read my guide to visiting Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Great Falls of Tinkers Creek, Bedford Reservation, Ohio

This unassuming Ohio park has a path to an epic waterfall. The Great Falls of Tinkers Creek is 80-feet wide and 20-feet tall, making it one of the widest waterfalls in Ohio. After a short hike, you can stand near the waterfall and feel the powerful mist. It’s a stunning sight. This park is not far from Cuyahoga Valley National Park or Cleveland.

High Falls, Grand Portage State Park, Minnesota

The tallest waterfall in Minnesota certainly deserves a spot on this list! High Falls is 120-feet tall and cascades down into a rocky gorge. It’s also right on the border between the US and Canada.

To reach the waterfall, you’ll walk on a paved path that begins from a rest area. To see the waterfall, you’ll need to climb some steps. This stunning waterfall is easily one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the midwest!

Read my itinerary for the Minnesota North Shore

Saint Louis Canyon Falls, Starved Rock State Park, Illinois

Starved Rock State Park has several waterfalls and is an epic place to hike in Illinois! My personal favorite is Saint Louis Canyon Falls, which can be reached via a 2.1-mile hike. The waterfall is tucked back into a canyon.

Another great waterfall in Starved Rock is the waterfall in LaSalle Canyon, which you can walk behind. Keep in mind that many of the waterfalls in this park are seasonal, so they may not be flowing during your visit. I recommend visiting in the spring!

Gooseberry Falls State Park, Minnesota

Gooseberry Falls is located on the Minnesota North Shore and has some huge waterfalls. The main waterfall in the park is divided between 3 tiers - Upper, Middle and Lower. You can get very close to the Middle and Lower Falls, and they’re quite impressive. And if you’re craving more, you can also hike along the river up to Fifth Falls.

Read my guide to the best hiking on the Minnesota North Shore

Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Michigan

Tahquamenon Falls is a state park in the Michigan UP known for its large waterfalls. There is an upper falls and lower falls, and you can either hike or drive between them. To see the Lower Falls, you can hike a short, boardwalk trail. You can even rent a row boat and explore via the water.

To see the Upper Falls, you’ll need to hike about 1.5 miles round trip. I thought that Upper Falls was more impressive than the Lower Falls. There is even a brewery at the trailhead to Upper Falls! This is a beautiful park to visit on a Michigan UP road trip.

Read my itinerary for the Michigan UP

Bridal Veil Falls, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Bridal Veil Falls is the tallest waterfall in Michigan! Located in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, this waterfall cascades off of a high cliff and can only be seen from the water. I recommend taking a boat tour (the sunset tour is best!) to see it. During your tour, you’ll also get to admire other waterfalls and stunning rock formations along the shore. While this waterfall is nice, Pictured Rocks certainly deserves a spot on your midwest bucket list either way.

There are also additional waterfalls that you can hike to Pictured Rocks, such as Munising Falls, Mosquito Falls and Chapel Falls.

Roughlock Falls, Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota

Spearfish Canyon is a scenic drive in the South Dakota Black Hills that has a few stunning waterfalls. Roughlock Falls was my favorite because the water cascades down among lush greenery. It’s about a half mile walk from the nearest parking lot to reach this waterfall. Also just down the road, it’s worth visiting Spearfish Falls, which is taller than Roughlock. It’s a 0.7-mile hike to reach Spearfish Falls.

Read my Badlands and Black Hills Itinerary

Caribou Falls, Minnesota

Caribou Falls is a short hike with a great reward on the Minnesota North Shore. The waterfall is about 35-feet tall and surrounded by pinkish rocks. It can be seen via a 1-2-mile hike that is mostly flat until you reach the steps at the end. This is a great family-friendly trail to stretch your legs on a Minnesota North Shore road trip.

Devil’s Kettle, Judge C.R. Magney State Park, Minnesota

The Devil’s Kettle is quite a unique waterfall! The river above it divides into two streams, and one of them seemingly disappears into a hole. The view of the waterfall is a bit obstructed by trees (it might be easier to see in the winter) and high water during my visit made it hard to see the disappearing stream. However, I think it’s still a neat waterfall that is worth seeing. The trail is 1.9-miles and involves a fair number of steps.

Cascade Falls, Matthiessen State Park, Illinois

Matthiessen is another Illinois State Park with a few different waterfalls. My favorite was Cascade Falls, which is 45 feet tall and falls from a rock overhang. There is also a bridge high above it. Also in the park, you can see Lake Falls. Like nearby Starved Rock, these waterfalls can be seasonal.

Cedar Falls, Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio

Hocking Hills State Park is one of the most beautiful places to hike in Ohio! There are a few waterfalls in the park, and the most iconic is Cedar Falls. The waterfall falls 40 feet down a cliff and then has a 10-foot drop. It’s a short walk to reach it. However, the flow can be seasonal. Another seasonal waterfall I love in Hocking Hills is the waterfall that falls over Ash Cave.

Read my guide to visiting Hocking Hills

Final Thoughts

I hope this gives you some ideas of where to plan your next midwest hiking trip! From the epic Michigan Upper Peninsula to the beautiful Hocking Hills State Park, the midwest is full of beautiful places to hike and enjoy nature.

Did I miss a midwest waterfall that you love? Send me an email at lydia@lostwithlydia.com and let me know! I’ll continue to update that list as I do more exploring in the future. Happy travels!

For more Midwest Travel Guides, check out these guides:

• How to Spend 3 Days on the Minnesota North Shore
• An Epic Michigan UP Road Trip
• The Best Hikes near Cincinnati
• A Guide to Exploring Hocking Hills
• The Best Things To Do in Cuyahoga Valley
• The Best Hikes in Yellow Springs, Ohio
• The Best Hikes in Indiana

Thanks for Reading!