5 Must-See Waterfalls in Utah (2026)
If you only have time for five Utah waterfalls, make it these: the state's most visited falls, spread out so the list covers the Wasatch Front Canyons, Uinta Mountains, and Colorado Plateau and Canyon Country.
How We Picked
These are the five most visited Utah waterfalls rated 4.2 stars or higher, measured by Google review count, with no two picks within 8 miles of each other so the list covers more of the state. 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 it is a must-see
With 670 Google reviews it is the single most visited waterfall in Utah, and it holds 4.8 stars. In short: "River canyon waterfall close to the highway with a paved trail & picnic area with tables." Expect paved trail, walk to the falls, and steep hike, the topics reviewers bring up most. 3 more named waterfalls lie within 15 miles, including Upper Falls and Stewarts Cascades. 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. Doughnut Falls
Snyderville, UT · Salt Lake County · Wasatch Front Canyons
Why it is a must-see
With 226 Google reviews it is the 2nd most visited waterfall in Utah, and it holds 4.7 stars. In short: "Hiking through spruce & aspen forest to a cascade pouring through a rock hole & into a cave." 3 more named waterfalls lie within 15 miles, including Hidden Falls and Lisa Falls. 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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3. Provo River Falls
Kamas, UT · Summit County · Uinta Mountains
Why it is a must-see
With 112 Google reviews it is the 3rd most visited waterfall in Utah, and it holds 4.9 stars. Older records also call it Upper Provo Falls. 1 more named waterfall lies within 15 miles, including Smooth Rock Falls. It is one of 4 named falls in the Uinta Mountains region. The nearest town is Kamas, about 18 miles to the west.
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4. Cascade Falls
Cedar City, UT · Kane County · Colorado Plateau and Canyon Country
Why it is a must-see
With 98 Google reviews it is the 4th most visited waterfall in Utah, and it holds 4.8 stars. Expect hike to the falls, pretty views, and easy hike, the topics reviewers bring up most. 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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5. Lower Calf Creek Falls
Loa, UT · Garfield County · Colorado Plateau and Canyon Country
Why it is a must-see
With 57 Google reviews it is the 5th most visited waterfall in Utah, and it holds 4.8 stars. Older records also call it Lower Falls. 1 more named waterfall lies within 15 miles, including Upper Calf Creek Falls. It is one of 9 named falls in the Colorado Plateau and Canyon Country region. The nearest town is Loa, about 41 miles to the north.
A Route Linking All Five
Starting from the northernmost pick and always heading to the nearest remaining one, the five cover about 308 straight-line miles. Road distances are longer.
- Provo River Falls (start, near Kamas)
- Doughnut Falls, about 37 mi west
- Bridal Veil Falls, about 20 mi south
- Lower Calf Creek Falls, about 174 mi south
- Cascade Falls, about 77 mi 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.
Explore More Utah Waterfalls
See all 22 waterfalls in the Utah waterfall guide, or browse by town: Orem, Snyderville, Kamas, Cedar City, Loa.
More Utah Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the number one must-see 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?
These are the five most visited Utah waterfalls rated 4.2 stars or higher, measured by Google review count, with no two picks within 8 miles of each other so the list covers more of the state.
Can you see all five in one trip?
The five are about 308 straight-line miles apart in total when visited in the order suggested above. Most people split them across two or more days.
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.