Waterfalls in Kentucky
8
Kentucky has plenty of waterfalls, and is a very scenic state overall, especially in the east. I'm happy to say that as of 2026, I've finally visited some of the state's most scenic waterfalls! The terrain here is quite similar to that of the Cumberland region of Tennessee, much to my delight, and the falls here are sure to awe. Most of the state's greatest waterfalls are in the southeast of the state, with more found up near the Red River Gorge.
Upper Cumberland
This beautiful area in southeastern Kentucky, which I'm referring to as "Upper Cumberland" since it sits above Tennessee's Cumberland Mountains on a map, is home to many beautiful waterfalls and scenic hiking trails. The beating heart of it all is the powerful Cumberland Falls, but there is so much more to see than that. What's more is that this area is far off the tourist radar (save for Cumberland Falls), so serenity is sure to be found here.
Lick Creek Trail 21'/13'/64'
NEW!
Description: Lick Creek Falls is a thundering display and if you hike in from Yamacraw you'll pass two other great waterfalls along the way. The only trouble is that you have to wade Lick Creek four times (one way) and the hike is rather long and tiring. If you come after rain however, you'll find that it's more than worth the trouble, and the scenery is spectacular. This is easily one of the greatest hikes in Kentucky and adventure seekers are sure to love it!
Hiking Description: Park at the Yamacraw Day Use Area here (36.725277, -84.543016). Head out on the signed Sheltowee Trace to Alum Ford (white blazes with a turtle on them), headed northeast. The trail will follow the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River, staying rather high above it. The trail ups and downs before coming to a signed spur trail at 0.1. This trail leads off to the left down towads river level, but you will want to keep STRAIGHT on the Sheltowee Trace. The trail stays more or less flat before coming to the quaint Julia Lynn Falls at 0.7 (36.727660, -84.532985). It will be just off to your right, and an easy bootpath leads up to the base. From here, continue following the Sheltowee Trace, coming to a small tributary at 1.0. Also near the mile mark, the trail begins to head up the Lick Creek Valley. The trail stays flat, coming to another split at 1.2. This split is quite confusing: an unmarked forest road goes right, the white blazed Lick Creek Trail #631 goes straight, and the Sheltowee Trace goes left over a large bridge over Lick Creek. You'll want to take the middle path, following the Lick Creek Trail (maked with signs stating "631"). It will stay flat before dropping you off at the top of Princess Falls at 1.3 (36.727464, -84.523032). Some stairs will take you down to the base. The stairs will deposit you into a large overhang which is a nice place to view the falls. The falls is just 13 feet high, but 80 feet wide, and its appearance can change a lot depending on the flow and time of year. If you're up for a challenge, you can cross the creek below the falls to a large, flat area on the opposite bank. I did this and the views from there are even better in my opinion. If you can pull yourself to leave this fabulous location, there is still much more to see! Head back up to the brink of the falls, where it looks as if the trail ends. It does not, but continues up the hill and into the woods following Lick Creek upstream. It can be easy to miss, but there is a white blaze on one of the trees. The trail crossed a tributary at 1.4 and then comes to the first of four crossings of Lick Creek proper just beyond at 1.43 (look for the markers noting "631" at the creek crossings). There may be ropes tied to help, but don't count on them. After this first crossing, it's literally just a few hundred feet upstream to the 2nd crossing, near 1.45. After the 2nd crossing, you can relax for a while, as the trail is easy and scenic, never straying far from Lick Creek. You'll come to the 3rd crossing at about 1.85. Keep on going through this pristine wilderness, until coming to an abrupt trail split at 2.15. The Lick Creek Trail continues straight, and the signed Lick Creek Falls Trail heads right. Take a right here, immediately crossing over Lick Creek for the 4th and final time. The trail then leaves Lick Creek and begins following this unnamed tributary upstream. The trail begins up a really steep hill, and when you reach the top of that, you'll be at yet another trail split at 2.35. The southern route of the Lick Creek Trail goes left (I believe this would meet up with the trail you departed before the 4th crossing). Just keep going straight. Some towering bluffs will make themselves known on your left, and before long, you will begin to near Lick Creek Falls, finally arriving at 2.75. Coordinates for Lick Creek Falls: (36.719141, -84.511191). We were here after an inch of rain had fallen, and the falls were roaring! It was honestly a feeling of total wonder to finally arrive at this falls; it's such an expedition to get here, and we had MADE IT! We spent quite a lot of time enjoying the towering falls before starting back on the long hike back to the car. We spent so much time here in fact, that much of our hike back was in the dark! The last mile of the hike was in complete darkness, and we had to use flashlights to see. This is one of the longest hikes I've ever done, but it was more than worth it! The hike is actually pretty easy except for the creek crossings and the occasional blow down. ALTERNATIVE HIGH WATER ACCESS: If you get to Princess Falls and the creek looks too high to cross to continue up to Lick Creek Falls, you could simply backtrack to the parking lot and hike into Lick Creek Falls from Whitley City. I believe this route has no creek crossings and is easier, but I have not personally done it. This would bring your total hiking distance up to about 8 miles, but it might be easier and safer.
Total Mileage: 2.6 total to Princess Falls, 5.5 total to see all three falls
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderately Easy) to Princess Falls, 7/10 (Moderately Difficult) to Lick Creek Falls
Date First Visited: February 15, 2026
Date Last Visited: February 15, 2026
Rank: A++
From top to bottom, left to right:
-Jack at Julia Lynn Falls
-Princess Falls
-Lick Creek Falls
-Map
-Key
Yahoo Falls 113'
Description: Yahoo Falls is (maybe) the tallest waterfall in Kentucky. I visited after quite a lot of rain, and it was amazing. It has a very nice trail complex that is fun to hike. It might have the deepest alcove I've ever seen behind a waterfall, which extends a solid 50 feet behind the waterfall. Side trails lead to numerous viewing angles of the falls.
Hiking Description: Park at the small lot at the end of Yahoo Falls Road. Start out on the flat dirt trail. After just over a tenth of a mile, you will come to a trail split. You could go either way, as it makes a loop, but the quickest way to go is left. This will lead you downhill and to a massive metal staircase. Once down this, the trail will level out some, but continue downhill to the falls, which you will come to after just over a quarter mile. There will be two side trails heading off to the left. The first goes down quite a few stone steps to a small wooden bridge that crosses the creek and continues the loop, and the second goes down some stone steps and dead ends at the very base of the falls, almost under the massive thing. The view from down here is incredible, as you can get very, very close to the falls. These side trails can be easy to miss, and I didn't even see the one going to the bridge until I was on my way out. Even if you don't go down the side paths, the main trail will take you to the massive undercut behind the falls, which is pretty amazing in it's own right. Once you're done, you can continue the loop, or go back out the way you came for a shorter hike. The photo is from the main trail, and the video is from the very base.
Total Mileage: 0.6 total
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderately Easy)
Date First Visited: February 25, 2022
Date Last Visited: February 25, 2022
Rank: A+
Cumberland Falls 68'
REVISED!
Description: Cumberland Falls is one of the biggest waterfalls I have ever been to, and should be on the list for everyone. It's easy to get to, and there are plenty of waterfalls nearby. The easy way to get here is to start from the gift shop and walk the short concrete trail (pictured below), but you can also get some views from the Eagle Falls Trail, across the river. My second visit here, in February of 2022, was after quite a lot of rain, and it quite possibly could be the highest volume waterfall I have ever seen after only Niagara.
Hiking Description: Park in the gigantic parking lot outside the gift shop here (36.837415, -84.343525). Head north on the wide concrete trail. You will pass by some buildings and then arrive at the brink of the falls. Just beyond this, the trail goes down a few stairs to the best view of the falls from the base. If you continue down the trail a bit further, there are some more overlooks of the falls and river from a distance.
Total Mileage: ~0.2 total
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date First Visited: August 1, 2021
Date Last Visited: February 16, 2026
Rank: A
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Eagle Falls 36'
NEW!
Description: Eagle Falls is a beautiful waterfall found in Cumberland Falls State Park. The hike is pretty short, but has a lot of stairs. There are nice views of Cumberland Falls and the Cumberland River all throughout, with Eagle Falls serving as a delightful finale!
Hiking Description: Park in a small gravel lot on the side of KY-92 here (36.836575, -84.345123). Walk west along the road for about 50 feet, and pick up the signed Eagle Falls Trail. It will head north, following the Cumberland River downstream. It's flat to start, but shortly you will come to the brink of Cumberland Falls, and the trail will head up a ton of stairs to a high bluff over the river. The trail then follows under this bluff and the scenery is unbeatable. After a brief level section, the trail heads down a bunch more stairs and passes some trail splits. Keep right, following the signs for Eagle Falls. The trail begins following the scenic bluffline again, and this is where you can get an unobstructed view of Cumberland Falls. When the bluffline ends, you'll start switchbacking downhill to a final trail split. A left turn makes a loop back to the earlier split, and a right turn takes you down to Eagle Falls. Turn RIGHT, and head down a bunch more stairs, finally landing at river level. You'll have to cross some boulders, but Eagle Falls should be within sight at this point. Arrive to the falls roughly 0.75 miles from the trailhead. The falls occurs about 100 feet before Eagle Creek empties into the Cumberland River, and large boulders dot the landscape. There are many great vantages of the falls, and I got some fantastic photos. Hopefully you can enjoy this spectacular area as much as I did!
Total Mileage: 1.5 total
Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate)
Date First Visited: February 16, 2026
Date Last Visited: February 16, 2026
Rank: A+
Dog Slaughter Falls 16'
NEW!
Description: The rather violently named Dog Slaughter Falls is a beautiful little waterfall in an idyllic setting. The trail to get down here is mostly flat, but a lack of maintanence has made the going pretty rough with many blowdowns. The falls flow during much of the wet season, so plan a visit if you're up for the challenge.
Hiking Description: Park in a small unsigned lot here (36.859268, -84.299798). This is found about 3 miles down a gravel road that should be fine for all normal cars. Head down the trail, quickly coming to the South Fork of Dog Slaughter Creek. There used to be a bridge here over the creek, and sure enough the supports remain, but there is no bridge. It was destroyed a few years back, and has not been replaced. In any case, you'll have to wade the creek, and once on the other side, you'll find yourself at a trail split. The long trail to the falls (which you passed on the drive in) heads left, and the trail to the falls goes right. Take a RIGHT and head through a rooty area before coming to the point where the North and South forks of Dog Slaughter Creek meet. Continue downstream on the trail, which ups and downs, but stays right along the creek. At about 0.4 miles, you'll come to a really nasty blowdown. If you're lucky, it won't be here by the time you visit the falls, but if it is, you'll have to bushwack around it, because going over it isn't really an option. It's pretty rough, and there is hollowed ground in the area, so please be careful. Once around the blowdown, keep following the trail, which is poorly marked in places, but just keep following the creek downstream and you should find the path. The hiking is quite scenic at least. At about 1.1 miles, you'll come to the top of the falls where the creek drops sharply down. The trail braids and becomes a little hard to follow, but just stay above the bluff until you come to a break in it a few hundred feet downstream of the falls. The trail then continues a sloppy, but short decent to the base of the falls by 1.25. It's harder than it should be to get here, but the falls is gorgeous, and I would certainly consider it worth the trouble. More great views can be found by crossing the creek to the other side if you're up for it. Coordinates for Dog Slaughter Falls: (36.858361, -84.311990).
Total Mileage: 2.5 total
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderately Difficult)
Date First Visited: February 16, 2026
Date Last Visited: February 16, 2026
Rank: A+
Flat Lick Falls 33'
NEW!
Description: Flat Lick Falls is a beautiful plunge waterfall found way out in the middle of nowhere. The hike to it is pretty and easy and short, and McCammon Branch Falls (not documented here) is also nearby. A few years back, Jackson County fixed up a nice park here, making the falls easier and safer to visit.
Hiking Description: Park in a the signed parking lot here (37.372144, -83.938515). Pick up the paved trail past the bathrooms headed for the treeline and sound of falling water. You'll come to the top of the falls at a nice overlook at 0.1 miles. Continue down the trail, which has now turned to dirt, headed downstream atop the bluffline. It is flat for a while, before coming to a clearing near 0.3. It's a bit confusing to find the trail here, but you'll want to hook a sharp left, and follow a break in the bluffline down towards creek level. The path braids and you could take various ways down the short hill; just follow the easiest path! Once down at the bottom, begin heading back upstream, where you'll find the spot where Flat Lick Creek empties into Laurel Fork. There is also a welcomed sign here, pointing the way towards the falls. Follow the now flat trail up the Flat Lick Canyon, coming to a creek wade at 0.4. The crossing should be easy in all but the highest of flows. The trail continues on the other side, easy and flat, before coming to the falls at 0.6. The trail leads right up to the base, but my favorite perspective is from in the creek itself. Explore and have fun, and you could even swim in the pool here in the summertime!
Total Mileage: 1.2 total
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date First Visited: February 17, 2022
Date Last Visited: February 16, 2026
Rank: A+
