The 7 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Ohio

Waterfalls in Ohio are gorgeous, usually run at full strength in the spring, and are magical enough to draw people from far away to visit.

Ohio has more waterfalls than you might realize. Though most of the state’s cities are relatively flat, southern Ohio is at the foothills of the Appalachians and, as a result, is filled with forests and streams. Many of the best waterfalls in Ohio are in the southern and eastern part of the state, which contain rugged and hilly terrain.

The Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Ohio

Here’s our list of the 7 most beautiful waterfalls in Ohio. This list considers not only the waterfall, but also the experience of hiking to it and enjoying it.

We are confident you will love them all.

1. Upper and Lower Falls at Old Man’s Cave

Tucked into an ancient gorge in Hocking Hills State Park, you’ll find a pair of the most remarkable waterfalls in Ohio: the Upper Falls and Lower Falls at Old Man’s Cave. (The name is a bit confusing because “Old Man’s Cave” refers to a 1-mile section of the park—not just the cave—but the stunning beauty is crystal clear.)

You can visit both waterfalls on the same hike. You’ll reach Upper Falls first, which is one of the most popular spots in Hocking Hills. And it’s easy to see why as you pass through the scenic gorge.

As you continue your hike toward Lower Falls, you’ll pass some of Hocking Hills’ most famous features including the Devil’s Bathtub and the Sphinx Head. Eventually, you’ll wind up at the 25-foot Lower Falls and the pool of water that forms beneath it.

The falls are incredible, and the hike is one of the most scenic in the entire state. Plan for a full day (or three) if you visit Old Man’s Cave. While the hike itself only takes about an hour, you’ll be in the middle of Hocking Hills and there’s plenty more to explore, including some of the other waterfalls on this list. 

In terms of timing, the waterfalls are best during the spring, early summer, or after a good period of rain. During the dry season, the waterfalls are still beautiful, but not quite as powerful.

2. Cedar Falls

You’ll find Cedar Falls just minutes from the waterfalls at Old Man’s Cave. It’s one of the main attractions in Hocking Hills State Park, and for good reason. Cedar Falls is the most powerful waterfall in the park, and it’s great to visit year-round.

The hike to Cedar Falls is a 0.9-mile loop. It’ll take you between 30 minutes to an hour to complete if you’re in a hurry, but most people spend time relaxing at the falls.

If you visit Cedar Falls, don’t miss Hidden Falls, just off the trail. To get to Hidden Falls: When you come down the stairs towards Cedar Falls and get to the junction with the Gorge Overlook Trail (there’s clear signage at the junction) head left on the dirt footpath next to the large tree stump. This will take you 50 yards to Hidden Falls.

Because Cedar Falls is located in Hocking Hills, there’s plenty to do in the area. You could extend your hike by taking the Grandma Gatewood trail north to Old Man’s Cave, or south to Ash Cave. Or, you could simply drive to those places and do the short hikes to the falls from the parking lot.

Wherever else you choose to go, make sure Cedar Falls is on your itinerary. 

3. Brandywine Falls

Brandywine Falls measures 60 feet from top to bottom, and it’s one of the most popular waterfalls in Ohio. It’s located in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, north of Akron and south of Cleveland. If you’re coming from either of those metro areas, Brandywine Falls is just a short drive away.

But the falls are worth the drive, even if you’re not from Cleveland or Akron–Brandywine Falls is a beautiful spot. Unlike most of the other waterfalls in Ohio, you won’t have to do much hiking to reach the falls. It’s accessible from a short, well-maintained boardwalk.

To extend your hike from the falls, take the Brandywine Gorge Trail for a peaceful loop through the woods. You’ll be in Cuyahoga Valley National Park: The opportunities for further exploration are almost endless.

4. Ash Cave Falls

Carved out over millions of years, Ash Cave is the largest recess cave in the entire state of Ohio. And rolling off the lip of that recess cave is one of the state’s most beautiful waterfalls: Ash Cave Falls.

This waterfall is 90-feet high and it is one of the most stunning sights in the entire state when running at full force. And if you want to see something really unique, visit during the coldest period of winter when the water forms an iconic ice pillar. It’s a spectacle worth visiting for–the pillar can reach dozens of feet high.

Ash Cave Falls would probably top this list except for one fact: it tends to be a seasonal waterfall. You’ll need to visit in the winter or the spring to see the waterfall at its best. By summer, the water has mostly dried up–though you might be able to see some water if you visit after a rainy spell.

Ash Cave Falls is located in Hocking Hills State Park. The hike to the cave is a well-maintained, half-mile loop, one of the easiest in the park. Plus, it’s just minutes away from two other waterfalls on this list: Lower Falls at Old Man’s Cave and Cedar Falls. You can easily see all three in one day.

5. Paine Falls

Paine Falls is in an unlikely place. It’s not in the middle of a big state or national park, and it’s not in the center of the metro area. It is, instead, a well-kept secret on Paine Creek, just about 40 miles to the northeast of Cleveland.

The falls themselves are gentle. They aren’t tall, but they’re unique and beautiful and make Paine Falls Park well worth a day trip. When you arrive at the park, it’s easy to find the waterfall: Just follow the signs and take a few short steps down from the parking lot. They’ll be right in front of you.

You can walk around the park to explore more, and there’s a picnic shelter on the grounds as well. Although you’re just off the road, it feels—other than the occasional sound of a car driving by—like the middle of the Ohio wilderness. 

If you can, time your visit to Paine Falls during autumn, when the waterfall is framed in shades of bright orange and red.

6. Buttermilk Falls

Located near Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Buttermilk Falls is a beautiful waterfall just minutes from Cleveland and Akron. If you poured a larger-than-life jug of buttermilk over an angled slab of rock, you’d get a pretty accurate depiction of Buttermilk Falls.

There’s no official trail to the falls, as it’s not located within the boundaries of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. But, a worn footpath on the Blue Hen Falls Trail (after the sign that says “end of trail”) will get you there.

Buttermilk Falls is more off the beaten path than most spots, but remains one of the most scenic waterfalls in all of Cuyahoga Valley–and Ohio.

7. Big Lyons Falls

People travel from all over Ohio to spend time in Mohican State Park. It’s one of the most beautiful parks in the state, and Big Lyon Falls is one of the main attractions in Mohican.

The waterfall evokes images of Ash Cave Falls: It’s a small creek that rolls off the top of a recess cave. A 2-mile loop will take you to Big Lyons Falls, and you’ll pass Little Lyons Falls (a smaller, but still beautiful waterfall) along the way.

If you want to make sure you see the waterfall, visit during the winter or spring. And if you can, try to time your visit after some heavy rain. The creek that forms the falls isn’t very powerful, and it reduces to a trickle in the warmer months.

Regardless of the water levels, the entire area is still gorgeous in the summer and fall. 

Visiting the Waterfalls in Ohio

The seven waterfalls on this list are just a few of the hundreds in Ohio. Odds are, no matter where you live, there’s something worth exploring nearby.

But some of Ohio’s best waterfalls are located in clusters. On this list, three of the waterfalls are in Hocking Hills State Park. You can visit these–and plenty more that aren’t on this list–in the span of a couple days. As a result, Hocking Hills is probably the best spot if you want to see amazing waterfalls in Ohio.

If you’re looking to book a trip to Hocking Hills, here are some of the best cabins in the area…

Browse cabins by style:

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Waterfalls in Ohio: The Bottom Line

There are lots of beautiful waterfalls in Ohio. To visit lots of waterfalls at once, make a trip out to Hocking Hills or Cuyahoga Valley. Both areas are filled with beautiful waterfalls and plenty of trails to hike.