The best historic waterfalls in Alaska are Brooks Falls, Fultons Falls, Ebner Falls and 7 more. Falls with a written record: a USGS naming history, a gazetteer description or older recorded names.
See every waterfall on the Alaska waterfalls page or the Alaska waterfall map, or browse by town: Dillingham, Kodiak Station, Juneau, Anchor Point, Knik-Fairview, Haines.
How we picked: We took the 39 publicly accessible Alaska waterfalls that have a written record in the USGS Geographic Names Information System (a naming history, a gazetteer description, or older variant names) and ranked them by how much of that record exists, then by Google review volume.
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1. Brooks Falls
Brooks Falls near Dillingham takes the top spot, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 21 reviews. Visitors come here for bear watching, bears, and walking.
Lake and Peninsula County, AK (GPS 58.5550, -155.7915)
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The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Near the S shore of Iliuk Arm, Naknek Bay, on the outlet of Lake Brooks, in Katmai National Monument, NW on Mount Katmai, Alaska Peninsula, Aleutian Range. Name history: Named in 1919 by R. F. Griggs of the National Geographic Society for Alfred Hulse Brooks, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). See Brooks Range. Older records also call it Salmon Falls and Ketivik Falls. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 21 Google reviews. The nearest town is Dillingham, about 101 miles to the west. The nearest other named waterfall is Wolverine Falls, about 38.4 miles to the east.
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2. Fultons Falls
Fultons Falls is a named waterfall about 91 miles west of Kodiak Station. USGS notes: in Barrier Range, on Alaska Peninsula, in Katmai National Monument, 8 mi. S of Mount Katmai, Aleutian Range
Kodiak Island County, AK (GPS 58.1417, -154.9903)
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The USGS gazetteer describes it as: in Barrier Range, on Alaska Peninsula, in Katmai National Monument, 8 mi. S of Mount Katmai, Aleutian Range. Name history: "Named in 1916 by R. F. Griggs, National Geographic Society, ""for B. B. Fulton, entomologist of the 1915 National Geographic Society Katmai expedition.""" Older records also call it Fultons Fall and Fulton Falls. The nearest town is Kodiak Station, about 91 miles to the east. The nearest other named waterfall is Wolverine Falls, about 29.7 miles to the north.
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3. Ebner Falls
Ebner Falls, near Juneau, is next up, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 6 reviews.
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The USGS gazetteer describes it as: just above Last Chance Basin, 1 mi. W of Juneau, Coast Mts. Name history: Named for William Ebner, 1853-1938, a mining operator from Wisconsin who organized the Ebner Gold Mining Co. with a stamping mill near the falls about 1896. In 1908 he sold the property and left Juneau. Big Falls was the early miners' name for these falls. The present name was not used until about 1900 (DeArmond, 1957, p. 17). Older records also call it Big Falls. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 6 Google reviews. The nearest town is Juneau, about 1.7 miles to the southwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Alaska Chief Falls, about 1.4 miles to the east.
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4. Grindstone Falls
Grindstone Falls is a named waterfall about 8.5 miles southeast of Juneau. USGS notes: on Grindstone Creek, 11 mi. SE of Juneau, Coast Mts.
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The USGS gazetteer describes it as: on Grindstone Creek, 11 mi. SE of Juneau, Coast Mts. Name history: Local name mentioned by DeArmond (1957, p. 23). Older records also call it Granite Falls. The nearest town is Juneau, about 8.5 miles to the northwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Lost Rocker Falls, about 4.2 miles to the northwest.
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5. Petrof Falls
Petrof Falls is a named waterfall about 108 miles west of Anchor Point. USGS notes: N of Iliamna Lake on Newhalen River, 4 mi. NW of Iliamna, Alaska Range
Lake and Peninsula County, AK 99606 (GPS 59.8000, -154.9500)
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The USGS gazetteer describes it as: N of Iliamna Lake on Newhalen River, 4 mi. NW of Iliamna, Alaska Range. Name history: "Named published as ""Petroff Falls"" by Osgood (1904, P. 11-12), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)." Older records also call it Petroff Falls. The nearest town is Anchor Point, about 108 miles to the east.
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6. Thunder Bird Falls
Thunder Bird Falls near Knik-Fairview is another strong option, rated 4.6 out of 5 from 26 reviews. Visitors come here for gorge view, scenery, and restrooms.
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The USGS gazetteer describes it as: on Thunder Bird Creek, 0.4 mi. S of its junction with Eklutna River, 4.7 mi. NE of Birchwood and 24 mi. NE of Anchorage, Cooke Inlet Low. Name history: Local name reported in 1942 by Army Map Service (AMS). Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 26 Google reviews. The nearest town is Knik-Fairview, about 9.4 miles to the northwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Rotary Falls, about 19.4 miles to the north.
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7. Reid Falls
Reid Falls near Haines is worth the drive, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 25 reviews. Visitors come here for short walk, rocks, and peaceful place.
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The USGS gazetteer describes it as: 1.9 mi. W of Twin Sewey Peaks and 1.5 mi. NE of Slagway, Coast Mts. Name history: Local name obtained by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) field personnel and published on Federal maps since 1950. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 25 Google reviews. The nearest town is Haines, about 18 miles to the south. The nearest other named waterfall is Pitchfork Falls, about 5.1 miles to the northeast.
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8. Liberty Falls
Liberty Falls near Valdez is another strong option, rated 5.0 out of 5 from 18 reviews. Visitors come here for zombies, waterfall, and camping.
Copper River County, AK 99566 (GPS 61.6207, -144.5481)
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The USGS gazetteer describes it as: on Liberty Creek 1.2 mi. S of its mouth, on Copper River, 66 mi. NE. of Valdez, Copper River Basin. Name history: Local name published in the 1950's by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 18 Google reviews. The nearest town is Valdez, about 69 miles to the southwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Cheshnina Falls, about 21.6 miles to the northeast.
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9. Suicide Falls
Suicide Falls near Juneau rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 3 reviews.
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The USGS gazetteer describes it as: on Cross Bay Creek near its mouth on Gastineau Channel, 2.8 mi. SE of Juneau, Coast Mts. Name history: Local name published in 1962 by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 3 Google reviews. The nearest town is Juneau, about 3.0 miles to the northwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Lost Rocker Falls, about 1.5 miles to the southeast.
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10. Hidden Falls
Hidden Falls near Sitka rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 5.0 out of 5 from 1 review.
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The USGS gazetteer describes it as: between Hidden Falls Lake and Kasnyku Bay, on NE coast of Baranof I.,. Name history: "Descriptive name given in 1923 byU.S. Forest Service (USFS)""so called because they are not seen until the upper end of the small lagoon at the head of Kasnyku Bay is reached.""" Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 1 Google review. The nearest town is Sitka, about 21 miles to the southwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Kasnyku Falls, about 2.3 miles to the southeast.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best historic waterfall in Alaska?
Brooks Falls tops our 2026 list. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Near the S shore of Iliuk Arm, Naknek Bay, on the outlet of Lake Brooks, in Katmai National Monument, NW on Mount Katmai, Alaska Peninsula, Aleutian Range. It is near Dillingham in Lake and Peninsula County.
How many historic waterfalls are in Alaska?
39 of the 48 waterfalls we track in Alaska qualify. This page ranks the top 10; every waterfall in the state is on the Alaska waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We took the 39 publicly accessible Alaska waterfalls that have a written record in the USGS Geographic Names Information System (a naming history, a gazetteer description, or older variant names) and ranked them by how much of that record exists, then by Google review volume.
Which counties are they in?
The 10 on this list are in Lake and Peninsula County, Kodiak Island County, Juneau County, Anchorage County, Skagway County, and Copper River County and others.
More Alaska Waterfalls by Type
- 8 Best Hidden Gem Waterfalls in Alaska 2026
- 5 Best Waterfall Hiking Locations in Alaska
- 5 Most Visited Waterfalls in Alaska
- 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Alaska
Or browse every type on the historic waterfalls by state page and the waterfall types hub.