5 Best Waterfall Hiking Locations in Utah (2026 Updated)
These 5 Utah waterfalls are reached on foot and rated highly by the people who hiked them, led by Bridal Veil Falls, Cascade Falls, and Scout Falls. The list spans the Wasatch Front Canyons and Colorado Plateau and Canyon Country.
How We Picked
We started with the 5 publicly accessible Utah waterfalls whose reviews or listing mention hiking, trails or walks, then ranked them by a weighted Google rating. Difficulty notes quote what reviewers say; always check current trail conditions with the land manager. Every waterfall links to a full page with coordinates, maps and nearby falls.
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1. Bridal Veil Falls
Orem, UT · Utah County · Wasatch Front Canyons
Why hike it
On the trail: "River canyon waterfall close to the highway with a paved trail & picnic area with tables." Reviews are mixed on difficulty, mentioning both "paved trail" and "family friendly" and "steep hike". It is rated 4.8 stars by 670 Google reviewers. 2 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Upper Falls and Stewarts Cascades), so there is more to explore nearby. It is one of 9 named falls in the Wasatch Front Canyons region. The nearest town is Orem, about 5.7 miles to the southwest.
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2. Cascade Falls
Cedar City, UT · Kane County · Colorado Plateau and Canyon Country
Why hike it
Reviewers describe the hike with words like "easy hike", so it suits most hikers. It is rated 4.8 stars by 98 Google reviewers. It is one of 9 named falls in the Colorado Plateau and Canyon Country region. The nearest town is Cedar City, about 21 miles to the northwest.
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3. Scout Falls
Cedar Hills, UT · Utah County · Wasatch Front Canyons
Why hike it
On the trail: "A 3-mi. roundtrip hike reaches this small, scenic waterfall in American Fork Canyon." Reviews are mixed on difficulty, mentioning both "easy hike" and "climbing tree roots" and "steep slope". It is rated 4.8 stars by 28 Google reviewers. 1 more named waterfall is within 5 miles (Stewarts Cascades), so there is more to explore nearby. Roberts Horn, a summit 1.2 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 9 named falls in the Wasatch Front Canyons region. The nearest town is Cedar Hills, about 6.2 miles to the west.
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4. Doughnut Falls
Snyderville, UT · Salt Lake County · Wasatch Front Canyons
Why hike it
On the trail: "Hiking through spruce & aspen forest to a cascade pouring through a rock hole & into a cave." It is rated 4.7 stars by 226 Google reviewers. 1 more named waterfall is within 5 miles (Hidden Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. Kesler Peak, a summit 0.8 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 9 named falls in the Wasatch Front Canyons region. The nearest town is Snyderville, about 7.3 miles to the northeast.
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5. Lisa Falls
Granite, UT · Salt Lake County · Wasatch Front Canyons
Why hike it
On the trail: "Cascading waterfall attainable by a short hiking path with boulders & mild elevation." Reviews are mixed on difficulty, mentioning both "short hike" and "easy hike" and "steep hike" and "climbing". It is rated 4.6 stars by 47 Google reviewers. 1 more named waterfall is within 5 miles (Hidden Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. Twin Peaks, a summit 1.5 mi away, rises above the area. It is one of 9 named falls in the Wasatch Front Canyons region. The nearest town is Granite, about 4.1 miles to the west.
When to Visit Utah's Waterfalls
In the Wasatch and Uintas, waterfalls peak with snowmelt, typically from late May through June, though big snow years can extend high flows into July. Lower-elevation falls such as Bridal Veil in Provo Canyon run earlier, while the Mirror Lake Highway to Provo River Falls usually stays closed by snow into late spring. Late summer flows drop considerably. In southern Utah, spring-fed Calf Creek flows year-round, and spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons to hike there because summer heat is intense. The summer monsoon, generally July through September, brings thunderstorms that can create temporary falls over canyon rims but also dangerous flash floods. Winter freezes many Wasatch falls into ice.
Before You Go
Most of Utah's falls are on public land: the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache, Manti-La Sal and Dixie national forests in the mountains, and Bureau of Land Management land, including Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, in the south. Big and Little Cottonwood canyons are part of the Salt Lake City watershed, where dogs and swimming are prohibited. Canyon trailheads such as Doughnut Falls fill quickly on summer weekends. In the Wasatch, snowmelt streams are cold and fast, and wet rock around Doughnut Falls is slippery. In the canyon country, flash floods are the overriding hazard: check forecasts and avoid narrow canyons when storms threaten anywhere upstream. Carry ample water on desert hikes such as Lower Calf Creek, where sandy trails and summer heat take a toll.
Read our waterfall safety rules and packing list before heading out. Hiking with children? Read waterfall hikes with kids.
Explore More Utah Waterfalls
See all 22 waterfalls in the Utah waterfall guide, or browse by town: Orem, Cedar City, Cedar Hills, Snyderville, Granite.
More Utah Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hiking waterfall in Utah?
Bridal Veil Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.8-star rating from 670 Google reviews. It is near Orem in Utah County.
How was this list made?
We started with the 5 publicly accessible Utah waterfalls whose reviews or listing mention hiking, trails or walks, then ranked them by a weighted Google rating. Difficulty notes quote what reviewers say; always check current trail conditions with the land manager.
How many waterfalls are in Utah?
Our directory lists 22 named waterfalls in Utah. See them all, sorted by town, in the Utah waterfall guide.
Are there waterfalls in southern Utah's desert?
Yes, though they are few. Lower and Upper Calf Creek Falls in Garfield County are spring-fed and flow year-round, and Cascade Falls in Kane County emerges from limestone on the Markagunt Plateau. Many other desert falls are pour-offs that run only after storms.