These are the Kentucky waterfalls that draw the biggest crowds, measured by Google review volume and led by Cumberland Falls. Popular does not have to mean packed if you time it right.
For every waterfall we track nearby, see the full list of waterfalls in Kentucky, or browse by town: Whitley City, Albany, Williamsburg, Berea. You can also compare our best waterfalls in Kentucky and most beautiful waterfalls in Kentucky.
How we picked: Ranked purely by the number of Google reviews, the best public signal of how many people visit. Together these five account for 93% of all Google reviews of Kentucky waterfalls.
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1. Cumberland Falls
Cumberland Falls near Whitley City takes the top spot, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 1,511 reviews.
McCreary County, KY 42634 (GPS 36.8388, -84.3450)
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1,511 Google reviews make it the most visited waterfall in Kentucky, about 71% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. That is 10.2 times as many as Seventy Six Falls in second place. Visitors have shared 4,816 photos of it. It averages 4.8 stars, with 87% five-star reviews. "Huge waterfall tumbling 69-ft. over a sandstone bed, offering the occasional lunar rainbow sighting." Expect company: arrive early on weekends and holidays, when parking fills first. The nearest town is Whitley City, about 11 miles to the southwest.
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2. Seventy Six Falls
Seventy Six Falls, near Albany, is next up, rated 4.6 out of 5 from 148 reviews.
Clinton County, KY 42602 (GPS 36.7793, -85.1259)
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148 Google reviews make it number 2 in Kentucky, about 7% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. Visitors have shared 367 photos of it. It averages 4.6 stars, with 74% five-star reviews. "Well-known, picturesque waterfall popular for kayaking & swimming, with picnic spots nearby." The nearest town is Albany, about 6.1 miles to the south.
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3. Dog Slaughter Falls
Dog Slaughter Falls, near Williamsburg, is next up, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 121 reviews.
Whitley County, KY 40769 (GPS 36.8585, -84.3118)
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121 Google reviews make it number 3 in Kentucky, about 6% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. Visitors have shared 462 photos of it. It averages 4.8 stars, with 90% five-star reviews. "This waterfall in the Daniel Boone National Forest empties into a swimming hole." The nearest town is Williamsburg, about 12 miles to the southeast.
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4. Anglin Falls
Head to Anglin Falls near Berea, rated 4.5 out of 5 from 93 reviews.
Rockcastle County, KY 40456 (GPS 37.4998, -84.2172)
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93 Google reviews make it number 4 in Kentucky, about 4% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. Visitors have shared 364 photos of it. It averages 4.5 stars, with 74% five-star reviews. "Mile-long hiking trail through a forest preserve, terminating at a 75-ft. waterfall in a gorge." The nearest town is Berea, about 6.4 miles to the northwest.
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5. Yahoo Falls
Yahoo Falls near Whitley City is another strong option, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 91 reviews.
McCreary County, KY 42653 (GPS 36.7716, -84.5121)
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91 Google reviews make it number 5 in Kentucky, about 4% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. Visitors have shared 591 photos of it. It averages 4.7 stars, with 84% five-star reviews. The nearest town is Whitley City, about 4.1 miles to the southeast.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most visited waterfall in Kentucky?
Cumberland Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.8-star rating from 1,511 Google reviews. It is near Whitley City in McCreary County.
How was this list made?
Ranked purely by the number of Google reviews, the best public signal of how many people visit. Together these five account for 93% of all Google reviews of Kentucky waterfalls.
How many waterfalls are in Kentucky?
Our directory lists 18 waterfalls in Kentucky. See every one, with filters and a map, on the Kentucky waterfalls page.
Why are most Kentucky waterfalls in the south-central part of the state?
That area lies on the Cumberland Plateau, where resistant sandstone sits above softer shale. Rivers cutting into the plateau form ledges and gorges, which creates far more waterfalls than the gentler limestone country to the west.
Summary
Cumberland Falls near Whitley City is our top pick for most visited waterfalls in Kentucky, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 1,511 reviews. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access, water levels and road conditions vary through the year, so confirm current conditions before you drive out.
Kentucky's falls depend on rainfall, and the wettest, most reliable period generally runs from late winter through spring. From about February into May, most falls on the Cumberland Plateau and in the Red River Gorge flow well, and wildflowers fill the ravines in April. By late summer and early autumn many smaller falls shrink to a trickle, though Cumberland Falls on a large river runs year-round. Autumn color, usually peaking in late October, makes for good scenery even when flows are modest. Hard freezes in January occasionally create ice formations. For the Cumberland Falls moonbow, clear nights around the full moon are required, and those dates draw crowds.
For more options, see every waterfall on the Kentucky waterfalls page, read 11 Best Waterfalls in Kentucky, or check our waterfall safety tips before you go.