Waterfalls are one of the most beautiful natural wonders on the planet. There are countless waterfalls to explore in the United States, from tiny cascades to breath-taking, thundering giants.
It is true that the United States is home to some of the world’s most impressive waterfalls. It’s difficult to choose the most beautiful waterfall because they’re all stunning in their own ways. Here are some of the United States’ most stunning and breathtaking waterfalls, ranked by height and total volume (flow rate), several of which have been officially measured.
Tallest waterfalls (by overall height)
The tallest waterfalls are measured by their overall height, including total drops:
1. Oloupena Falls
Oloupena Falls, also known as Olo’upena Falls, is the United States’ tallest and, unofficially, the world’s fourth-largest waterfall. The island of Molokai, which is part of the Hawaiian archipelago’s northeastern region, is where it is located. It’s a multi-tiered waterfall that’s only visible in the rainy season (it appears in the seasonal stream).
Total Height: 2,953 ft (900 m)
Type: Tiered
State: Hawaii
Location on Map:
2. Pu’uka’oku Falls
Puukaoku Falls, located on Molokai, the Hawaiian island, is the second-tallest in the United States and the eighth-tallest in the world. It is 500 metres east of Oloupena Falls and is narrow and heavily cut.
Total Height: 2,756 ft (840 m)
State: Hawaii
Location on Map:
3. Waihilau Falls
Photo by Chris Miles via Flickr
It is the world’s 13th-tallest waterfall in terms of total height and the second-tallest by the longest single drop in the world. It’s a horsetail-style waterfall on the Waihilau River in Hawaii’s Waimanu Valley. It has a single 792-meter-long drop.
Total Height: 2,600 ft (792 m)
State: Hawaii
Location on Map:
4. Colonial Creek Falls
It’s also known as Hiavaty Falls and is located in Washington’s North Cascades National Park. Colonial Creek is the source of the waterfall, which features 14 different drops with an average slope of 65 degrees. Colonial Creek is a small brook with a constant year-round flow.
Total Height: 2,568 ft (783 m)
State: Washington
Location on Map:
5. Johannesburg Falls
Johannesburg Falls is the world’s 18th tallest waterfall, with a total of 5 drops, a pitch of 59 degrees, and a single greatest drop of 800 feet. This comes within the jurisdiction of Washington’s Skagit County. The Johannesburg waterfalls get their water from the glacier. From June through October, it falls heavily, with an average water volume of 25 cubic feet per second.
Total Height: 2,465 ft (751 m)
State: Washington
Location on Map:
6. Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls, California’s tallest waterfall, is located in Mariposa County. It has a total of six drops, each having an average width of 30 meters and an 85-degree pitch. It flows for eight months of the year, with an estimated average water volume of 250 cubic feet per second.
Total Height: 2,425 ft (739 m)
State: California
Location on Map:
Largest waterfalls (by volume)
The largest waterfalls are measured by volume (flow rate in CFS) which includes total drops.
CFS= Cubic Feet Per Second
1. Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a cataract waterfall on the international boundary between Canada (Ontario) and the United States (New York). On the Canadian side, it is called the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. The American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are both located in the United States. The American Falls are 1,060 feet wide, while the Horseshoe Falls are 2,600 feet wide.
Avg. Volume: 85,000 CFS
Water Source: Niagara River
Avg.Height: 50 meters
Location on Map:
2. Willamette Falls
It is the largest waterfall in the Pacific Northwest and the world’s sixth-largest, at 1,500 feet wide and 40 feet tall. It’s halfway between West Linn and Oregon City. Willamette Falls is in a horseshoe shape and has a flow rate of 30,849 cu ft/s.
The Portland General Electric Company was founded in 1888 with the goal of constructing a hydroelectric power plant near the falls; now it is not operational and the original plant’s foundations are still visible. The T.W. Sullivan Plant (new plant, formerly Station B) is still in service and has a capacity of 16,000 kilowatts.
Avg. Volume: 30,849 CFS
Water Source: Willamette River
Location on Map: https://goo.gl/maps/5Rp5T6bWCMEkKmSV9
3. Great Waterfall
This is a well-known waterfall in the United States, located 15 miles from Washington, DC in Montgomery County, Maryland. The big falls of the Potomac River are sometimes known as the “Great Falls of the Potomac.”
Outdoor sports such as kayaking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and hiking are popular in the Great Falls region.
Avg. Volume: 16,750 CFS
Water Source: Potomac River
Location on Map: https://goo.gl/maps/rSyoaQRaQJujmFib7
4. Kootenai Falls
In Montana’s Lincoln Country, you’ll find the Kootenai Falls. With a height of 55 feet (including the biggest single drop of 30 feet) and a width of 1,000 feet, it is one of the largest waterfalls in the United States. Kootenai Falls is also known as ‘Kootenay Falls.’
Avg. Volume: 10,941 CFS
Water Source: Kootenay River
Location on Map: https://goo.gl/maps/w28xeZL7tnx2SdxD8
5. Sandstone Falls
Sandstone Falls, the biggest waterfall on the New River, is 1500 feet wide (one of the widest waterfalls in the USA). The waterfalls vary in height from 10 to 25 feet.
Avg. Volume: 7,847 CFS
Water Source: New River
Location on Map: https://goo.gl/maps/BZUGyv3RViLr2ZgV7
Inundated largest Waterfalls in the US:
These waterfalls formerly existed and have since been flooded beneath the waters impounded behind a dam.
1. Celilo Falls
Avg. Volume: 190,000 CFS
Water Source: Columbia River
State: Oregon
2. Kettle falls
Avg. Volume: 165,340 CFS
Water Source: Columbia River
State: Washington
