12 Best Waterfall Hikes in US National Parks

Maya Lin

Maya Lin

Maya Lin is a travel journalist and outdoor enthusiast who believes the best trips combine rugged adventures with urban comforts. After spending six years backpacking across four continents, she founded Trail & Town Guide to help fellow travelers navigate both hidden mountain passes and bustling city neighborhoods with confidence.

Some hikes are about the summit. Waterfall hikes are about the soundtrack. That steady rush of water you can hear before you can see it, the cool mist on a hot day, the way everyone on the trail suddenly becomes a wide-eyed kid again.

This list is built for real trip planning: a mix of quick, family-friendly walks and moderate adventures that feel big without requiring mountaineering skills. For each hike, I included the basics you actually need in the field: distance, difficulty, best season, and the nearest town where you can find a strong coffee and a warm bed.

Quick planning note: A few of these places now use timed-entry systems, parking reservations, or seasonal road permits. Always check the official park or forest site before you drive.

A real photograph of hikers walking up the stone steps of the Mist Trail with Vernal Fall thundering in the background, mist hanging in the sunlit air, Yosemite Valley landscape, natural colors

Before you go

  • Expect spray and slick rock. Waterfall viewpoints are often wet even on sunny days. Wear shoes with solid tread.
  • Go early for the best photos and parking. Many of these are famous for a reason, which also means crowded by late morning.
  • Know the seasonal flow. In much of the West, late spring and early summer bring peak snowmelt. By late summer, some falls shrink to a ribbon.
  • Stay on trail. Several parks see preventable accidents near cliff edges and swift water. The best view is never worth a rescue.
  • Check current conditions. Trail closures, wildlife activity, and road access change quickly. Verify on the official site before you go.

The 12 best waterfall hikes

1) Laurel Falls Trail (Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN)

If you want a big payoff for minimal effort, Laurel Falls is Smokies magic: a paved walk through dense hardwood forest to a two-tier waterfall that feels like it belongs on a postcard.

  • Distance: 2.6 miles round trip
  • Difficulty: Easy to moderate (paved, but steady incline)
  • Best season: Spring for flow and wildflowers, fall for color
  • Nearest town (food and lodging): Gatlinburg, TN
A real photograph of Laurel Falls cascading over dark rock into a forested gorge, with a few hikers standing on the viewing area, lush green trees framing the waterfall

2) Grotto Falls (Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN)

This is the Smokies classic where you can actually walk behind the falling water. It feels playful and a little wild, especially after rain when the forest is dripping in every direction.

  • Distance: 2.6 miles round trip
  • Difficulty: Moderate (rocky footing, some roots)
  • Best season: Late spring through early fall
  • Nearest town (food and lodging): Gatlinburg, TN
A real photograph of hikers passing behind a curtain of water at Grotto Falls, with mossy rocks, wet trail, and dense forest surrounding the waterfall

3) Mist Trail to Vernal Fall (Yosemite National Park, CA)

If you only do one waterfall hike in Yosemite, make it this one. The climb is a heart-thumper, but the reward is pure Yosemite theater: granite walls, booming water, and that cool mist that earns the trail its name.

  • Distance: 1.6 miles round trip to the Vernal Fall Footbridge (easier) or 2.4 miles round trip to the top of Vernal Fall
  • Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous (steep steps, often wet)
  • Best season: April through June for peak flow (expect maximum spray)
  • Nearest town (food and lodging): Yosemite Valley (limited) or El Portal, CA
  • Good to know: Many people think of the “full” Mist Trail as continuing on to Nevada Fall. That is a longer, more strenuous day, and distances vary by route (Mist Trail vs John Muir Trail return).
A real photograph of Vernal Fall in Yosemite pouring over a granite cliff, with mist rising and hikers visible on the stone steps of the Mist Trail, bright daylight

4) Lower Yosemite Fall Trail (Yosemite National Park, CA)

Families and travelers short on time, this one is for you. It is short, accessible, and when the falls are pumping in spring, the roar is shockingly loud for such a quick walk.

  • Distance: 1.0 mile loop
  • Difficulty: Easy (mostly flat)
  • Best season: March through May (often dries to a trickle late summer)
  • Nearest town (food and lodging): Yosemite Valley or El Portal, CA
  • Accessibility note: This area includes paved, wheelchair-accessible paths to viewpoints when conditions allow. Check current NPS accessibility updates and seasonal closures.
A real photograph of Lower Yosemite Fall dropping in a white ribbon against granite cliffs, with a paved path and pine trees in the foreground, clear blue sky

5) Sol Duc Falls (Olympic National Park, WA)

Olympic National Park does “mossy and mysterious” like nowhere else. Sol Duc Falls is the perfect quick hit: a gentle forest walk to a wide, fan-shaped waterfall splitting around rocks like braided silk.

  • Distance: 1.6 miles round trip
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Best season: Late spring through fall (summer has easiest road access)
  • Nearest town (food and lodging): Forks, WA (or Port Angeles, WA for more options)
A real photograph of Sol Duc Falls pouring into a rocky channel, surrounded by lush green moss and ferns in an old-growth forest, soft overcast light

6) Marymere Falls (Olympic National Park, WA)

This is one of my favorite “city-break-friendly” hikes in a national park: you can pair it with Lake Crescent’s shoreline and still be back in town for a good dinner.

  • Distance: 1.8 miles round trip
  • Difficulty: Easy to moderate (some stairs near the end)
  • Best season: Spring through fall
  • Nearest town (food and lodging): Port Angeles, WA
A real photograph of Marymere Falls framed by tall evergreen trees, water dropping into a shaded gorge, with a wooden viewing platform partially visible

7) Multnomah Falls to Benson Bridge (Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, OR)

Not a national park, but this is the waterfall hike people daydream about from their desks, and it is managed by the US Forest Service within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The paved climb to Benson Bridge is short, sweet, and wildly scenic.

  • Distance: 0.4 to 0.6 miles round trip (varies by starting point)
  • Difficulty: Easy (paved, some uphill)
  • Best season: Late fall through spring for the fullest flow, summer for reliable access
  • Nearest town (food and lodging): Hood River, OR (or Troutdale, OR)
  • Access note: Timed-use permits, parking reservations, or shuttle plans may apply in some seasons. Check the USFS Columbia River Gorge updates before you go.
A real photograph of Multnomah Falls with the stone Benson Bridge crossing in front of the upper cascade, mist drifting across the bridge, green cliff walls

8) Latourell Falls Loop (Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, OR)

If you want a less chaotic alternative to Multnomah with equally gorgeous vibes, Latourell delivers. The main fall drops in a clean column over dark basalt, and the loop adds a second waterfall for bonus points.

  • Distance: 2.4 miles loop
  • Difficulty: Moderate (some steep grades)
  • Best season: Winter through late spring (waterfall season in the Gorge)
  • Nearest town (food and lodging): Troutdale, OR
A real photograph of Latourell Falls plunging in a single vertical stream over a basalt cliff, with bright green moss on the rock face and a dirt trail in the foreground

9) Fairy Falls (Yellowstone National Park, WY)

Yellowstone gets the headlines for geysers, but Fairy Falls is a quiet stunner. The trail is mellow through lodgepole pine, and the waterfall is tall and elegant. Add the Grand Prismatic Overlook spur for a two-for-one day.

  • Distance: 5.0 miles round trip to Fairy Falls (add about 1.6 miles round trip for Grand Prismatic Overlook spur)
  • Difficulty: Moderate (mostly flat, sun-exposed)
  • Best season: Late spring through early fall (after snow melt)
  • Nearest town (food and lodging): West Yellowstone, MT
  • Access note: Parking near Grand Prismatic and the Fairy Falls trailhead can be very limited, and traffic patterns can change seasonally. Check current Yellowstone access and parking advisories before you commit.
A real photograph of Fairy Falls dropping into a rocky pool, surrounded by a pine forest, bright summer daylight with blue sky

10) Tower Fall View (Yellowstone National Park, WY)

Sometimes the best waterfall moment is the one you do not have to earn with a huge climb. Tower Fall is a Yellowstone icon: a clean drop framed by volcanic spires, with a short, steep walk to the main viewpoint. It is an ideal pick if you are building a day around Lamar Valley wildlife watching.

  • Distance: About 0.8 miles round trip to the main viewpoint (varies slightly by path)
  • Difficulty: Easy to moderate (short but steep, can be slick)
  • Best season: Late spring through fall
  • Nearest town (food and lodging): Gardiner, MT
  • Access note: As of March 2026, Biscuit Basin has had major closures and access changes following the July 2024 hydrothermal explosion. Since conditions can change fast in Yellowstone, confirm the latest status on the official NPS closures page if you were hoping to pair this day with nearby thermal-area hikes.
A real photograph of Tower Fall in Yellowstone dropping between rugged rock spires, with a green forested canyon below and bright daylight

11) Avalanche Lake via Trail of the Cedars (Glacier National Park, MT)

This is the rare hike where the destination is a whole amphitheater of waterfalls. At Avalanche Lake, multiple cascades ribbon down steep mountainsides straight into turquoise water. It is a crowd favorite because it is that good.

  • Distance: 5.9 miles round trip
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Best season: Summer to early fall (depends on Going-to-the-Sun Road access)
  • Nearest town (food and lodging): West Glacier, MT
  • Access note: Glacier may require vehicle reservations for Going-to-the-Sun Road in peak season. Check current rules before you go.
A real photograph of Avalanche Lake with a tall waterfall cascading down a mountainside into a clear lake, hikers resting on the rocky shoreline, evergreen forest around

12) Dark Hollow Falls (Shenandoah National Park, VA)

Shenandoah is a gift for waterfall lovers because you can stack a big view and a solid hike into one day. Dark Hollow Falls is a classic: a forested descent to a tumbling cascade that feels surprisingly wild for how close it is to Skyline Drive.

  • Distance: 1.4 miles round trip
  • Difficulty: Moderate (downhill on the way in, uphill on the way out, rocky footing)
  • Best season: Spring for the strongest flow, summer for shade, fall for color
  • Nearest town (food and lodging): Luray, VA (or Front Royal, VA)
A real photograph of Dark Hollow Falls in Shenandoah National Park, a multi-tier cascade flowing over rocks in a shaded forest with ferns and moss

Quick picks

  • Easiest, biggest payoff: Lower Yosemite Fall (Yosemite), Sol Duc Falls (Olympic), Multnomah Falls to Benson Bridge (Columbia River Gorge)
  • Best moderate day hikes: Mist Trail to Vernal Fall (Yosemite), Avalanche Lake (Glacier), Fairy Falls (Yellowstone)
  • Best for shoulder seasons: Columbia River Gorge waterfalls, Dark Hollow Falls (Shenandoah) in spring and fall

What I pack (carry-on friendly)

  • Light rain shell or windbreaker even on sunny days, because mist happens
  • Grippy trail runners for wet stone steps and muddy viewpoints
  • Small microfiber towel for drying hands and camera lens
  • Water and snacks, especially for Yosemite and Yellowstone where “nearby” can still mean a long drive
  • Bear spray where recommended and legal (notably around Glacier and parts of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem). Flight note: bear spray is not allowed in carry-on luggage, and airline rules vary for checked bags. If you are flying, plan to buy it near the park and follow local guidance.

If you are building a trip around one of these parks, bookmark the nearest town listed in each section. My favorite travel rhythm is a waterfall hike in the morning, a local lunch in town, then a slow afternoon wandering a bookstore or coffee shop like you actually have time.