From the oddly named Dog Slaughter Falls and the Flat Lick Falls to the “Niagara of the South,” Cumberland Falls is home to some breathtaking landscapes, featuring rolling hills, forested woodlands and glassy lakes Kentucky also boasts some spectacular waterfalls that offer excellent hiking trails, fantastic spring-time swimming, lovely picnicking spots, and great bird and wildlife watching.
Anglin Falls
Located in the John B. Stephenson Memorial Forest State Nature Preserve in Rockcastle County, near Berea, Anglin Falls is a pretty 75-foot cascade fed by Anglin Creek that is best experienced after a good rainfall.
Surrounded by beautiful landscapes filled with wildflowers, Anglin Falls can be reached on an easy 0.7-mile trail with a slight incline that is located just a few miles from Berea.
The path boasts spectacular views of Anglin Falls along the way, and once at the falls, there are beautiful cliff lines and natural scenery to enjoy.
Anglin Falls is open year round, however, tend to dry up in the summer months so are best viewed in the spring after the winter snow melts.
John B. Stephenson Memorial Forest State Nature Preserve: 842 Anglin Falls Rd, McKee, KY 40447
Bad Branch Falls
Bad Branch Falls is set within the Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve in Letcher County, Kentucky. The 2,639-acre nature preserve is home to the 60-foot Bad Branch Falls, which is nestled in a stunning forested gorge on the south face of Pine Mountain in the heart of the preserve and cascades over sandstone cliffs to create a beautiful natural scene. The falls can be reached by hiking on a trail that follows the stream until the falls, surrounded by verdant forests and woods filled with mountain laurel and hemlocks. The hiking trail is of average difficulty with several strenuous elevations and rocks to scramble over and takes about 2 hours in total.
Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve: KY-932, Eolia, KY 40826, Phone: 606-633-0362
Broke Leg Falls
Located in the Daniel Boone National Forest between Wellington and Ezel in Menifee County, Broke Leg Falls features several waterfalls running through a scenic canyon that can be reached by a 0.3-mile moderately trafficked out and back trail. The 60-foot cascade is set in a canyon with clear tornado evidence, such as the debris of several small trees from the destruction caused by the 2012 F-3 tornado that hit the area. Despite this, however, the hike to the waterfalls and the falls themselves are worth a visit, offering a beautiful off-the-beaten-path adventure to enjoy on a sunny day. Broke Leg Falls tend to dry up in the summer months, so are best visited after a good rainfall or post-spring melts.
Wellington, KY 40387, Phone: 606-768-9000
Cumberland Falls
Known as the “Niagara of the South,” Cumberland Falls, also known as Little Niagara or the Great Falls, is a beautiful 125-foot-wide curtain of water on the Cumberland River in southeastern Kentucky. Forming the central feature of Cumberland Falls State Resort Park and offering dramatic views both day and night, Cumberland Falls spans the Cumberland River at the border of the McCreary and Whitley counties and is the only place in the Western Hemisphere where a moonbow is regularly visible. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park also offers comfortable overnight lodging, a campground with 50 campsites with utilities, a restaurant with beautiful river views, a modern visitors center, and an array of activities, including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and whitewater rafting on the Cumberland River.
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, McCreary County & Whitley County, Kentucky
Dog Slaughter Falls
Located near Cumberland Falls in Whitley County’s Daniel Boone National Forest,Dog Slaughter Falls is a lovely 20-foot waterfall set near the mouth of Dog Slaughter Creek that empties into the Cumberland River. Situated in the London Ranger District of the Daniel Boone National Forest, the falls are thought to be named for the loss of hunting dogs to predatory wildlife. Dog Slaughter Falls rests about 4.5 miles east of Cumberland Falls and can be reached by a 2.9-mile hike along the Sheltowee Trace, which runs from Cumberland Falls to Dog Slaughter Falls.
Daniel Boone National Forest, 1700 Bypass Rd, KY, Phone: 859-745-3100
Eagle Falls, Kentucky
Eagle Falls is a 44-foot waterfall fed by Eagle Creek in Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. The short, lightly flowing waterfall is set downstream of Cumberland Falls and flows into the Cumberland River. The cascade is located within a beautiful gorge and can be reached on a 3-mile round trip (1.5 miles each way) on Trail 9, which features several hills and inclines, overhanging rocks and boulders to scramble, and beautiful scenery along the way, including spectacular views of Cumberland Falls. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park also offers comfortable overnight lodging, a campground with 50 campsites with utilities, a restaurant with beautiful river views, a modern visitors center and an array of activities, including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and whitewater rafting on the Cumberland River.
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, McCreary County & Whitley County, Kentucky
Flat Lick Falls
Located in the Flat Lick Falls Recreational Scenic Area in Gray Hawk, Jackson County, Kentucky, Flat Lick Falls is 30-foot perennial cascade and the main attraction of the Recreational Scenic Area, which attracts visitors to see the falls as well as explore the several surrounding caves and overhangs nearby. Flat Lick Falls can be reached by the Flat Lick Falls Trail, which is a 0.4-mile loop trail located near Mildred that is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding. Jackson County is home to the 56,000-acre Daniel Boone National Forest and a place of spectacular natural beauty, featuring Flat Lick Falls, Turkey Foot Campground, S-Tree Campground, and the Flat Lick Falls Trail.
Hays Road off US 421 and Hwy 1071 Junction, Gray Hawk, KY 4044
Seventy Six Falls
Seventy Six Falls is a plunging 90-foot waterfall set on Lake Cumberland in Albany, Clinton County. Believed to either have been named for the nearby community of Seventy Six or the number of breaks, or small falls, on Indian Creek, Seventy Six Falls is surrounded by a park maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A picnic area with tables, benches, and a blue-roofed shelter can be found at the point where Indian Creek drops approximately 40 feet into Lake Cumberland, creating the Seventy Six Falls. Unobstructed side-views of the falls can be enjoyed by following a path from the picnic area, behind a stone wall and down a narrow trail to the lake shore where beautiful views of the cascading waterfall can be seen.
Lake Cumberland in Albany, Clinton County
Star Creek Falls
Star Creek Falls is a 50 to 60-foot-high multi-tiered waterfall located in the beautiful Daniel Boone National Forest in Whitley County. The falls can be reached by hiking for about 2 miles along the Sheltowee Trace via Dog Slaughter Trail #414. The Sheltowee Trace is also known as the Moonbow Trail, which runs parallels to the Cumberland River and features several key attractions and interesting rock formations en route, including Godzilla Rock, which is the size of a mansion and boasts an enormous body and elongated neck that stretches out over the trail, resembling a giant lizard towering overhead. Another unusual rock formation worth seeing along the way is Star Creek Arch, which is formed by a massive boulder wedged precariously between two natural stone abutments that have likely stood for centuries.
Daniel Boone National Forest, 1700 Bypass Rd, KY, Phone: 859-745-3100
Tioga Falls
Located in West Point in Hardin County north of Fort Knox and close to Louisville, Tioga Falls is a 130-foot scenic waterfall fed by Tioga Creek and is best after in the spring or after a good rain. The falls are set on land belonging to the United States Army and are sometimes off-limits due to military exercises. Tioga Falls features several drops separated by short sections of the creek, the highest of which is 30 feet tall, while the uppermost a twin fall and can be reached by following a hiking trail for about a mile.
Louisville Nashville Turnpike, West Point, KY 40177, Phone: 812-225-0149
Torrent Falls
Located the Middle Fork of the Red River next to the Red River Gorge Geologic Area in the magnificent Red River Gorge area, Torrent Falls is a 165-foot waterfall that is one of the tallest in the state along with Yahoo Falls. Set within Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Powell and Wolfe Counties, the falls are surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest and part of the Torrent Falls Resort, which also offers a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, climbing, and birdwatching.
Natural Bridge State Resort Park: 2135 Natural Bridge Rd, Slade, KY 40376, Phone: 606-663-2214
Yahoo Falls
Located in the Big South Fork National Recreation Area in McCreary County, Kentucky, Yahoo Falls is a 113-foot waterfall and the tallest waterfall in the state. Also known as Ywahoo Falls, the seasonal waterfall has a light flow with just a trickle in summer and is best seen after a significant rainfall. Yahoo Falls can be viewed from a scenic trail that winds from the highway along the Red River Gorge to the falls, passing some interesting sights such as the Yahoo Arch, which can be reached by an out and back spur path, adding another 1.6-mile round trip to the existing hike to view Yahoo Falls.
Whitley City, McCreary County, Kentucky
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, 4564 Leatherwood Rd, Oneida, TN 37841, Phone: 423-569-9778
Princess Falls
Largely regarded as Kentucky’s best waterfall hike, Princess Falls is an easy 2-mile hike from the Sheltowee Trace Trailhead in McCreary County. It’s an undeniably popular route that is great for outdoorsy families hiking with young children. The trail will take hikers along the picturesque Lick Creek parallel to the Cumberland River which is dotted with several small waterfalls and eye-catching rock formations. With minute elevation changes and great stops along the way, like bridges and creeks, it’s a fantastic introductory hike to first timers which culminates at Princess Falls. To make your trip easier, try to park in the upper area to avoid trekking through thick mud that sometimes accumulates along the trail.
979 KY-92, Stearns, Kentucky 42647
Shanty Hollow Lake
A sterling example of Kentucky-style serenity, Shanty Hollow Lake is a lovely getaway destination for recreation and lake-side activities. The lake, which is situated in Warren County, is 114 acres large and provides guests with an enjoyable escape to mother nature. Groups visiting Shanty Hollow Lake can enjoy multiple hiking trails, and mountain biking trails, as well as great fishing and boating opportunities. Additionally, adventurous visitors can set off to discover many waterfalls that come to life along the lake’s trails from the tail end of winter up until the early months of spring. Hikers can expect generally easy trails with a few obstacles along the way.
Bowling Green, Kentucky 42104
Honeymoon Falls
There’s no contesting the fact that Kentucky has tons of incredible state parks to visit. From long and strenuous hikes to quick and easy hikes, there’s a ton of variety available to lovers of the outdoors at Kentucky. However, if you’re one of those people looking for shorter and easier trails, but with just as much beauty as all the others, then the Honeymoon Falls Loop Trail could be for you. Situated in the Pine Mountain State Resort Park, this loop is a short 1.5-mile hike with two trailheads. Those looking for a bit more challenge can take the trailhead closest to the park’s lodge, which has greater elevation change. Meanwhile, the second trailhead has a simpler and more graduate change in elevation. Along the way, guests will find remnants of buildings, gorgeous plant life, and stunning views before reaching the largest waterfall in the park, the Honeymoon Falls.
Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Pineville, Kentucky 40977; Phone: 606-337-3066
