John Cox

Blogs · @wyome

Tagged waterfalls · everything

www.islands.com

Between Chattanooga And Mammoth Cave Is Tennessee's Fall Creek Falls State Park Gateway With Small Town Charm

Spencer, Tennessee makes the case for itself as a low-key basecamp for exploring Fall Creek Falls and a cluster of lesser-known state parks — Rock Island, Bone Cave, and Scott's Gulf/Virgin Falls — all within a 20-to-45-minute drive of town. It lays out which trails and swimming holes to hit at each park, noting Bone Cave requires a guided tour, and rounds out the practical details with where to eat (Mel's Old Times Cafe, The Ugly Mug) and a small history museum for downtime between hikes.

Permalink hikingtravelwaterfallsstate parks

www.backpacker.com

The 37 Best Waterfall Hikes in America

This is a roundup piece that compiles four previous waterfall-hike lists into one reference: a 20-fall national ticklist (top pick Alamere Falls, CA), a personal-favorites list highlighting spots like Ricketts Glen, PA, a Colorado-specific list of 12 falls curated by a local guidebook writer, and a bonus list of frozen winter waterfalls like the Apostle Islands ice caves. It closes with practical safety tips—checking flow conditions, wearing proper footwear, and avoiding common accident scenarios near ledges and swift water—making it useful as a season-spanning planning resource rather than a single curated list.

Permalink hikingtravelnational parkswaterfalls

www.outsideonline.com

The Best Trails Around Asheville, According to a Local Hiker

Sandra Aguirre founded Latinos Aventureros, a 7,000-member bilingual hiking group in western North Carolina, after discovering that mountain hiking helped her recover from depression following her divorce. What began as personal hikes with her three children evolved into weekly group outings focused on introducing the BIPOC community to outdoor recreation across the Blue Ridge Mountains region. The piece includes Aguirre's personalized guide to Asheville, featuring her favorite spots for coffee, swimming holes, sunsets, restaurants, and breweries.

Permalink hikingnorth carolinatravelwaterfalls

www.planetware.com

Georgia's Beautiful State Park Full Of Waterfalls And Viewpoints Is Truly A Natural Wonder

Tallulah Gorge State Park near Tallulah Falls, Georgia offers five waterfalls, a nearly 2-mile-long gorge, and 20 miles of trails suitable for various skill levels, with camping and rock climbing also available. The park's history includes a famous 1970 tightrope walk by acrobat Karl Wallenda, and visitors can learn about the area's ecology and protected species at the on-site interpretive center. For easier access, the North and South Rim trails provide scenic overlooks of multiple waterfalls, while more ambitious hikers can tackle the permit-required Gorge Floor Trail or nearby Panther Creek Falls.

Permalink hikingcampingwildlifenature

www.independent.co.uk

12 state parks that are just as beautiful as national parks — and they’re free

State parks across the US offer spectacular geological features and outdoor recreation at little or no cost, often with far fewer crowds than national parks. This guide highlights 12 free-to-enter state parks featuring dramatic waterfalls, natural bridges, canyons, and river landscapes across regions from Ohio to Missouri, including Ohio's Hocking Hills gorge system, Pennsylvania's Ricketts Glen with 22 waterfalls, and Arkansas's Mount Magazine perched atop the state's highest peak. Most parks offer affordable camping and cabin accommodations for overnight stays.

Permalink hikingcampingwildlifetravel

www.afar.com

17 Scenic Waterfalls to Visit on Kentucky's Wildlands Trail

Kentucky Wildlands tourism office launched a curated 553-mile trail linking 17 standout waterfalls across the 14,000-square-mile Wildlands region, whittled down from over 800 candidates based on accessibility and uniqueness—including record-holders like Yahoo Falls (Kentucky's tallest) and Cumberland Falls (the "Niagara of the South," famous for its rare moonbow). The piece is especially useful for noting which falls have ADA-accessible or paved routes, such as Cumberland Falls' Moonbow Trail and Flat Lick Falls' one-mile loop, making it a practical guide for travelers with mobility considerations who want to combine waterfall-chasing with a Kentucky road trip.

Permalink hikingaccessibilitytravelroad trips

www.islands.com

Nestled Along The Columbia River Gorge Is A Popular Oregon Hiking Trail Full Of Waterfalls And Mountain Views

Piece profiles Eagle Creek Trail in Oregon's Columbia River Gorge as the standout hike in an area already known for waterfalls, describing highlights like Punch Bowl Falls and the cliff-tunnel behind 170-foot Tunnel Falls, plus practical logistics (permit costs, 12-14 hour hiking time, campsite options for splitting the trek). It also flags real safety concerns—over 150 rescues in a year, narrow cliffside sections requiring one-at-a-time passing, and advice to carry overnight supplies even on day hikes—making it as much a caution-and-prep guide as a scenic showcase.

Permalink hikingsafetytravelwaterfalls