The best Adirondack waterfalls
The Adirondacks hold hundreds of waterfalls, from roadside stops you can see in five minutes (Split Rock, Bog River, Buttermilk) to backcountry cascades that earn a real hike (OK Slip, Rainbow, Wanika). They run highest in spring snowmelt and after rain. Below, the ones worth planning around — by how far you have to walk. Browse the trail map →
Roadside & short-walk waterfalls
Five minutes or less from the car — the picks when you want the payoff without the effort.
- Split Rock Falls(Route 9, near Elizabethtown) — a series of chutes and a deep green plunge pool right beside the road. One of the Park's most popular (unguarded) swimming falls; the rock is slick, so scramble carefully.
- Bog River Falls (Tupper Lake) — a wide, two-tier falls where the Bog River enters Tupper Lake, feet from the pull-off. Picnic spot, wading pool, and a classic Adirondack view.
- Buttermilk Falls (Long Lake) — a broad, photogenic cascade on the Raquette River at the end of North Point Road. Flat, family-easy, and a short detour off Route 30.
- Roaring Brook Falls (Route 73, St. Huberts) — the base of this multi-hundred-foot cascade below Giant Mountain is a five-minute walk; a steeper trail climbs to the upper tier.
Worth-the-hike waterfalls
Bigger drops that ask for a real walk — pack the hiking basics and check conditions first.
- OK Slip Falls(near Indian Lake) — at roughly 250 feet, the most-cited "highest" waterfall in the Adirondacks. A 3-mile hike each way through the Hudson Gorge Wilderness ends at an overlook across the chasm.
- Rainbow Falls (Adirondack Mountain Reserve) — a ~150-foot ribbon near Lower Ausable Lake, often paired with the Indian Head overlook. Reached through the AMR, which needs a free parking reservation May–October.
- Wanika Falls(Northville–Placid Trail, near Lake Placid) — a backcountry cascade on the NPT, a long day or an overnight; the reward is solitude most roadside falls can't offer.
- High Falls Gorge(Wilmington) — not a hike but a privately-run attraction: a network of boardwalks and bridges over the Ausable River's waterfalls, with an admission fee. The all-weather, all-ages option near Whiteface.
When to go — and a word on safety
Waterfalls peak in spring snowmelt(April into May) and after heavy rain; by late summer the smaller ones slow to a trickle. Fall brings high water and foliage together. Every year people are injured on wet waterfall rock — it is far more slippery than it looks, currents at the lip are stronger than they appear, and plunge pools hide submerged rock and debris. Stay back from the brink, never wade above a drop, and don't jump into water you haven't checked. For safer swimming, our beaches & swimming holes guide and best swimming holes cover the spots with real pools and easier access.
Frequently asked
What is the highest waterfall in the Adirondacks?+
OK Slip Falls, near Indian Lake, is the most-cited — a roughly 250-foot cascade reached by a 3-mile (each way) hike. Rainbow Falls in the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (about 150 feet) and the multi-tier Roaring Brook Falls on Route 73 are the other frequently-named big drops.
What are the best roadside waterfalls in the Adirondacks?+
Split Rock Falls (Route 9 near Elizabethtown), Bog River Falls (Tupper Lake), Buttermilk Falls (Long Lake), and the base of Roaring Brook Falls (Route 73 at St. Huberts) are all a short walk or less from parking — the best picks if you want the view without the hike.
Can you swim at Adirondack waterfalls?+
At some, yes — Split Rock Falls and Bog River Falls have popular (unguarded) pools, and many smaller falls have swimmable plunge pools. The water is cold and the rock is slick; never jump into water you haven't checked for depth and debris. See our beaches and swimming holes guide for the safer options.
When is the best time to see Adirondack waterfalls?+
Spring snowmelt (April into May) and after heavy rain, when the falls run at full volume. Late summer can slow smaller falls to a trickle. Fall pairs high-water potential with foliage. In winter many freeze into ice-climbing routes.
Do you need a permit to visit Adirondack waterfalls?+
Most are on state land and free. The exception is Rainbow Falls, reached through the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR), which requires a free parking reservation from May 1 to October 31 at hikeamr.org. High Falls Gorge in Wilmington is a privately-run attraction with an admission fee.