The United States is home to dozens of towering waterfalls worth traveling to see, from the Grand Canyon’s difficult-to-reach Havasu Falls to Oregon’s popular Multnomah Falls in the scenic Columbia River Gorge to perhaps the best known of these: the American side of Niagara Falls. But if you’re only hiking up mountains or ferrying past cascades for a glimpse of these natural wonders, you may be overlooking some subterranean marvels. Here, five underground waterfalls to see in the US.
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Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park
Designated a Natural National Landmark, this diabolically dubbed state park contains a bowl-shaped sinkhole that dips down 120 feet to a small rain forest. Visitors can climb down into the crater via the park’s wooden boardwalk, with streaming waterfalls visible on either side. Rather than cascading waterfalls, these are typically gentle streams of water coating the limestone cavity and leading to plentiful greenery. But if you visit during rainy season or after a cyclone has passed through, you may be surprised by the volume of rushing water.
floridastateparks.org
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Eden Falls Cave
About 90 minutes from Fayetteville, Arkansas, near the Buffalo National River, Eden Falls Cave is situated at the end of the popular Lost Valley Trail. Visitors crawl 200 feet before coming upon a sizable cavern complete with an underground waterfall. Be prepared, though: It’s a wild cave without lighting, so the National Park Service recommends bringing at least three light sources and protective gear.
nps.gov
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Ruby Falls
Ruby Falls is one of the most visually striking underground waterfalls in the United States, as well as the tallest open to the public in the country. Measuring 145 feet, the cascades are located deep within the 2,388-foot Lookout Mountain. After descending 260 feet in a glass-fronted elevator, visitors hike along a cavern trail to view ancient rock formations and the colorfully illuminated falls.
rubyfalls.com
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Secret Caverns
New York
The cave at Howe Caverns is a popular tourist destination in Upstate New York, but the nearby Secret Caverns has something its more famous neighbor doesn’t: a 100-foot underground waterfall. During a 45-to-60-minute guided tour, visitors descend 103 steps into a damp passageway to learn about how the caves were discovered, the various rock formations, and even the story behind the unique folk art seen throughout the grounds.
secretcaverns.com
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Squire Boone Caverns
Less than one hour southwest of Louisville, this picturesque cave houses active streams containing more than one million gallons of water. Among the flowing currents lies a rare subterranean waterfall, and the largest rimstone dams accessible to the public in the US. Aboveground, guests can tour a pioneer village and still-active grist mill built in the 1800s.
squireboonecaverns.com
