10 Largest Waterfalls in the US by State: Height and Volume

When people ask for the largest waterfalls in the United States, they usually mean one of two things: the tallest, or the ones that carry the most water. Those two lists hardly overlap. The tallest falls in the country are mostly thin ribbons of water sliding down sea cliffs in Hawaii or glacier-carved walls in Washington, and several of them are seldom seen by anyone. The largest by volume is Niagara Falls, which is under 200 feet tall. This guide ranks the 10 tallest waterfalls in the US and the state each one is in, gives a short list of the largest by flow, and summarizes the tallest well-documented waterfall in several states. All heights are approximate. Where reliable sources disagree, we give a range and explain why.

How Waterfall Height Is Measured

Total height vs. tallest single drop. Most rankings, including the World Waterfall Database, use total height: the vertical distance from where a stream first goes over the edge to where it stops falling. A waterfall that drops in several steps gets credit for all of them. Yosemite Falls is a good example. The National Park Service lists it at 2,425 feet in total, made up of Upper Yosemite Fall (1,430 feet), a series of middle cascades (675 feet) and Lower Yosemite Fall (320 feet). If you count only the tallest single drop, Upper Yosemite Fall is the figure that matters.

Tiered and cascading falls. Several of the tallest falls on this list are long chains of drops and steep cascades. Deciding where one waterfall ends and the next begins is a judgment call, and different surveyors make different calls. Kahiwa Falls on Molokai is often listed at about 2,165 feet in total, but some sources count only about 1,749 feet as the main fall. Our guide to types of waterfalls explains these forms.

Seasonal and ephemeral falls. Many very tall waterfalls run only during rainy periods or snowmelt. The NPS says Yosemite Falls flows roughly from November through July and peaks in May, and nearby Ribbon Fall and Sentinel Fall usually run only from about March through June. Some Molokai falls can thin out to almost nothing in dry weather. Our guide to the best time to visit waterfalls covers seasonal flow in more detail.

Why sources disagree. Very few of the country's tallest falls have been surveyed on the ground. Most heights come from reading topographic maps, which means estimating where the top and bottom of the fall sit on contour lines. Some figures are marked "unconfirmed" even in specialist databases. Treat every number below as a well-supported approximation, not a precise measurement.

Why Hawaii and the West Dominate

Every waterfall on the top 10 list is in Hawaii, Washington or California, and the reason is geology combined with abundant water.

Molokai and the Big Island (Hawaii). Hawaiian islands are built by shield volcanoes, and over time huge sections of those volcanoes collapse into the sea. Roughly 1.5 million years ago, the northern part of East Molokai volcano broke away and slid onto the ocean floor. That left the sea cliffs on Molokai's north shore, which are usually described as the tallest in the world at roughly 3,200 to 3,300 feet. Steady trade-wind rain feeds short streams that pour straight over those cliffs. On the Big Island, the windward side of the old Kohala volcano is cut by deep, steep-walled valleys such as Waipiʻo and Waimanu, and their heads and sides are lined with tall falls.

Yosemite Valley (California). In Yosemite, repeated glaciers deepened and widened a river canyon into a U-shaped valley. Side streams were left in "hanging valleys" high above the new valley floor, and today they plunge over its granite walls. Yosemite Falls, Ribbon Fall, Sentinel Fall and Bridalveil Fall all formed this way.

The North Cascades (Washington). North Cascades National Park has more than 300 glaciers, making it the most heavily glaciated area in the US outside Alaska. Meltwater from small glaciers high on peaks such as Colonial Peak, Johannesburg Mountain and Mount Shuksan runs down cliffs that ice carved into steep walls thousands of feet high. Most of the resulting falls are very tall but carry little water.

The 10 Tallest Waterfalls in the US

Rankings follow total height as listed by the World Waterfall Database, checked against other sources. Some lists also include little-known falls with unconfirmed heights, such as Isella Falls in Washington's Glacier Peak Wilderness, listed at an unconfirmed 2,500 feet. We have left those out.

1. Oloʻupena Falls, Hawaii

Oloʻupena Falls is usually cited as the tallest waterfall in the United States at about 2,953 feet (900 meters). It falls from a short, seasonal stream down the sea cliffs of northeastern Molokai, between Pelekunu and Wailau valleys, and it lands almost at the ocean. The height has never been formally surveyed, and in dry or windy weather the flow can fade partway down. There is no trail or road to it. Visitors see it from scenic flights or boats, best after heavy rain.

2. Puʻukaʻōkū Falls, Hawaii

Puʻukaʻōkū Falls drops about 2,756 feet (840 meters) down the same stretch of Molokai sea cliffs. It is generally ranked the second-tallest waterfall in the country. There is no public access to the base. It can only be seen from the air or the water.

3. Waihilau Falls, Hawaii

On the Big Island, Waihilau Falls drops about 2,600 feet into Waimanu Valley on the windward side of the Kohala Mountains. It comes down as several slender strands through dense green vegetation. Waimanu Valley is reached by the strenuous Muliwai Trail from the Waipiʻo Valley area, a rough backpacking route with many stream crossings that is dangerous after heavy rain. Most people who see Waihilau Falls do so from a helicopter.

4. Colonial Creek Falls, Washington

Colonial Creek Falls in North Cascades National Park is listed at about 2,568 feet. The World Waterfall Database ranks it as the tallest waterfall in the contiguous United States. Fed by meltwater from Colonial Glacier, the creek drops in 13 distinct steps over a horizontal distance of more than 4,200 feet, so it is a tiered cascade, not a single leap. Drivers can get a distant view from State Route 20. Reaching it on foot means a steep, difficult off-trail climb.

5. Johannesburg Falls, Washington

Johannesburg Falls pours off small glaciers on Johannesburg Mountain near Cascade Pass in North Cascades National Park. The World Waterfall Database lists it at about 2,465 feet. Estimates based on USGS topographic maps put the total at just over 2,400 feet, ending in a sheer drop of about 800 feet. The name is unofficial, and the volume is modest. On a clear summer day you can see ribbons of water falling down the mountain's north face from the Cascade Pass trailhead at the end of the seasonal Cascade River Road.

6. Yosemite Falls, California

Yosemite Falls is 2,425 feet tall according to the National Park Service, and it is the tallest waterfall on this list that is easy to see. It is a three-tier fall, with Upper Yosemite Fall alone dropping 1,430 feet. A short, accessible loop leads to the base of the lower fall, and the strenuous Yosemite Falls Trail climbs to the top. It flows strongest in May and is often dry by late summer.

7. Cloudcap Falls, Washington

Cloudcap Falls is a long cascade of about 2,400 feet, running some 5,000 feet off Jagged Ridge on the southeast side of 9,127-foot Mount Shuksan in North Cascades National Park. It lies in the basin of a short tributary of Sulphide Creek, along with Seahpo Peak Falls, and the two streams meet before dropping over a lower falls. This is remote, trailless country, and few people ever see Cloudcap Falls up close.

8. Haloku Falls, Hawaii

Haloku Falls drops down the Haloku sea cliffs on Molokai's northeastern shore and falls straight into the Pacific. The World Waterfall Database lists it at about 2,297 feet but marks the figure unconfirmed, and other sources give about 2,100 feet. It is seasonal, running mainly after rain. It is seen only by boat or flight.

9. Seahpo Peak Falls, Washington

Seahpo Peak Falls is about 2,200 feet tall and drops in six tiers. The largest is a sheer drop of about 500 feet. It shares a basin with Cloudcap Falls on the flank of Mount Shuksan in North Cascades National Park. With no maintained trail to a viewpoint, it is one of the least-seen falls on this list.

10. Kahiwa Falls, Hawaii

Kahiwa Falls is a tiered waterfall on Molokai's north shore, between Wailau and Papalaua valleys. Its total height is often given as about 2,165 feet, though some sources count only about 1,749 feet of the main fall. It drops in six tiers, the tallest about 600 feet. In strong winds, the water can be blown back upward. Like the other Molokai falls, it can only be seen from the sea or the air.

Top 10 Summary

Rank	Waterfall	State	Approx. height (ft)	Type / notes
1	Oloʻupena Falls	Hawaii	2,950	Seasonal sea-cliff ribbon, Molokai; air or sea only
2	Puʻukaʻōkū Falls	Hawaii	2,756	Sea-cliff fall, Molokai; air or sea only
3	Waihilau Falls	Hawaii	2,600	Multi-strand valley-head fall, Big Island; remote
4	Colonial Creek Falls	Washington	2,568	13-step glacial cascade; distant view from SR 20
5	Johannesburg Falls	Washington	2,400–2,465	Glacier-fed, ends in an 800-ft drop; unofficial name
6	Yosemite Falls	California	2,425	Three-tier fall; easy access, peaks in May
7	Cloudcap Falls	Washington	2,400	Long cascade on Mount Shuksan; remote
8	Haloku Falls	Hawaii	2,100–2,300	Seasonal sea-cliff fall, Molokai; height unconfirmed
9	Seahpo Peak Falls	Washington	2,200	Six tiers; remote
10	Kahiwa Falls	Hawaii	1,750–2,165	Six-tier sea-cliff fall, Molokai; air or sea only

By state, that is five waterfalls in Hawaii, four in Washington and one in California. For more on the falls you can actually walk to in those states, see our ranked guides to the best waterfalls in Hawaii, the best waterfalls in Washington and the best waterfalls in California.

Just outside the top 10, Yosemite has two more giants that are easier to see than most of the falls above. The NPS lists Sentinel Fall at about 2,000 feet and Ribbon Fall at 1,612 feet. Both usually flow only in spring.

The Largest US Waterfalls by Volume

Niagara Falls, New York. Niagara Falls is by far the largest waterfall in the country by volume. It has three falls. The American Falls and the smaller Bridal Veil Falls are entirely in New York. The international border runs through Horseshoe Falls, most of which is in Ontario, Canada. Horseshoe Falls drops about 188 feet, and the American Falls drops roughly 70 to 110 feet onto a pile of fallen boulders at its base. Much of the Niagara River is diverted for hydroelectric power, so the flow over the falls is set by a 1950 treaty between the US and Canada. During daytime hours in the tourist season, at least 100,000 cubic feet per second must go over the falls, and at least 50,000 cubic feet per second at other times. About 90 percent of that water goes over Horseshoe Falls. Our best waterfalls in New York guide covers the rest of the state.

Willamette Falls, Oregon. Willamette Falls, between Oregon City and West Linn, is usually ranked second in the US by volume. It is a horseshoe-shaped block fall about 40 feet high with a crest roughly 1,500 feet long. Its average flow is estimated at about 30,000 to 33,000 cubic feet per second. A hydroelectric plant, industrial buildings and historic locks line its banks. See more in Oregon and our best waterfalls in Oregon guide.

Big-river falls in the West. Two other large western falls combine real volume with impressive height. The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River in Wyoming drops 308 feet (see our best waterfalls in Wyoming guide), and Shoshone Falls on the Snake River in Idaho drops 212 feet over a rim nearly 1,000 feet wide. Our best waterfalls in Idaho guide has more.

Tallest Well-Documented Waterfall in Selected States

Few states have an undisputed tallest waterfall. This table covers states where one is widely cited and well documented, with disputes noted.

State	Waterfall	Approx. height (ft)	Notes
Hawaii	Oloʻupena Falls	2,950	Tallest in the US; never formally surveyed
Washington	Colonial Creek Falls	2,568	Tallest in the lower 48 per the World Waterfall Database
California	Yosemite Falls	2,425	NPS figure; three tiers
Georgia	Amicalola Falls	729	Often called the tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast
Oregon	Multnomah Falls	620	Upper drop of 542 ft and lower drop of 69 ft
North Carolina	Whitewater Falls	411	U.S. Forest Service figure for the upper falls; some argue it is lower
New York	Kaaterskill Falls	230–260	Two tiers; the commonly cited 260 ft has been questioned

For easier-to-reach eastern falls, see our guides to the best waterfalls in Georgia and the best waterfalls in North Carolina.

Seeing the Biggest Falls for Yourself

If you want to stand at the base of a record-setting waterfall, your realistic choices are Yosemite Falls in spring and Niagara Falls year-round. The Molokai falls are best seen by boat or flight after rain, and in the North Cascades a distant view is all most visitors get.

Big falls bring real hazards, from slick overlooks to sudden flooding in Hawaiian valleys. Review our waterfall safety tips before any trip. If record heights matter less to you than a good walk, browse our state pages to find waterfalls near you, from Molokai to the Catskills.