Most people have no clue, but there are three natural waterfalls in Florida you can visit not too far off the beaten path: Falling Creek Falls, Falling Waters State Park, and Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park.
UPDATE: Since publishing this article, we have discovered even more off-the-beaten-path natural water features in our home state. You can discover them, too, in our post Chasing Waterfalls in Florida.
Table of Contents
- 1 Natural Waterfalls in Florida
- 2 Science Mini-Lesson
- 3 My Take on Florida Waterfalls
- 4 Falling Creek Falls
- 5 Falling Creek Falls Gallery
- 6 Falling Waters State Park
- 7 Falling Waters Gallery
- 8 Devil’s Millhopper State Park
- 9 Devil’s Millhopper Gallery
- 10 Tips for Visiting Florida’s Natural Waterfalls
- 11 Video
- 12 Chasing Waterfalls in Florida
- 13 Until Next Time . . . .
- 14 Pin This Post!
- 15 Map It!
- 16 Helpful Links
Natural Waterfalls in Florida
I love waterfalls!
They intrigue me, they soothe me, they fill my vision with beauty and my spirit with wonder.
When in travel-planning mode, especially for road trips, I always get giddy when I discover waterfalls near projected waypoints and destinations.
At every opportunity, I chase waterfalls!
So when VISIT FLORIDA approached me about writing a sponsored post, I knew exactly what my topic would be. I don’t think I am alone in my fascination. Backroad Planet readers have made 10 Favorite North Georgia Waterfalls our 2nd-most popular article to date.
As a 5th-generation Native Floridian, I have criss-crossed the Sunshine State from Key West to Pensacola and Jacksonville to Tampa more times than I can remember. Yet I never saw a natural waterfall in my home state of Florida until a couple of years ago.
A man-made waterfall at Rainbow Springs State Park.
I had encountered plenty of fabricated water features in my home state, some of them quite impressive, like the ones at Rainbow Springs State Park, but never a real honest-to-goodness natural waterfall.
Science Mini-Lesson
National Geographic has an excellent encyclopedic entry on waterfalls, if you would like to educate yourself further on the subject.
My Take on Florida Waterfalls
When preparing to visit Florida’s natural waterfalls you need to keep in mind the scope and scale of what you will see. If you go expecting Niagara or Victoria or Yguazú, you will be disappointed. But if you go expecting a rare natural treasure, you will be pleasantly surprised, especially if you visit during the summer rainy season.
While researching this article, I discovered several natural water features across the state that I believe have been mistakenly called waterfalls by other writers. Although National Geographic clearly states, “There is not a standard way to classify waterfalls,” I believe some of these water features would be better classified as river rapids, rocky streams, or minor changes in elevation. To me, the height of a waterfall is more important than volume or width, and even though I can’t put an exact number on it, I think a true waterfall would be at least three or four feet high. My explanation may sound like a disclaimer, but it is by no means an apology. How does one apologize for Mother Nature?
Falling Creek Falls
(Columbia County)
I don’t recall where we first learned about Falling Creek Falls, but on a road trip to the annual reenactment at the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park in North Florida, we decided to scout it out because we had read it was in the vicinity. I also don’t recall where we got the map coordinates for the falls, but I do remember our GPS leading us on a wild goose chase that cold February day. But no worries for you. This joint project between the Suwannee River Water Management District and Columbia County can be easily located by following maps and directions on either of the linked sites or by using our map near the bottom of this post. The park at Falling Creek Falls has restrooms, a playground, three picnic pavilions, a historical building, and an elevated .6 mile loop boardwalk that leads to the falls near the halfway point. Even though we visited the falls during Florida’s dry season, they were lovely in their own right and did not disappoint, a categorical first of its kind in our list of Florida’s natural destinations.
Falling Creek Falls Gallery
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- Hard to believe we had difficulty finding the park.
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- Parking area.
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- Rustic outbuilding.
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- Wide view of the falls.
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- Some strange man keeps getting in my pictures.
Falling Waters State Park
(Washington County)
We did not discover Florida’s first waterfall to attain state park status until months later on the return leg of a spring break road trip across Northwest Florida. Our detour off I-10 to Falling Waters State Park was, as before, not during the rainy season, so once again the water flow was on the light side. Still, it was difficult not to be impressed by the state’s highest waterfall plunging 73 feet into a 20-foot cylindrical sinkhole and disappearing underground.
In addition to its main attraction, Falling Waters State Park has a rich history. During a 2007 archaeological dig conducted by the University of West Florida, the team uncovered Native American artifacts dating back 1,500 years, remains of a former gristmill, a whiskey distillery, and an unsuccessful capped-off oil well from the early 1900s. This state park has full facilities for camping and hiking, and a lake for fishing and swimming. Sorry, no swimming in the falls!
Falling Waters Gallery
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- Always on the lookout for site markers.
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- A birdseye view reveals the depth of the waterfall.
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- The water flow varies with seasonal rainfall.
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- Water disappears at the bottom of the sinkhole into the Floridan Aquifer.
Devil’s Millhopper State Park
(Alachua County)
We visited our third natural waterfall in Florida a few weeks ago on a weekend road trip targeting several state parks in the North Central region of the state. Also recognized as a U.S National Natural Landmark, Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park features a 120-foot deep sinkhole that measures 500 feet across with numerous small waterfalls cascading continuously down the walls of the giant bowl. The pool formed at the bottom of the sink is fed conversely by twelve springs and contains fossils of extinct land and marine animals.
This time, our visit was during the rainy season, and the multiple waterfalls were flowing well, so well that we were not able to descend all of the 232 steps to the bottom of the sink. Just beyond the observation deck, the next level of stairs had been cordoned off due to heavy flooding. Our disappointment was minimal, though, because we had become witnesses to a rare dramatic otherworld created by the elements. Minimally developed, Devil’s Millhopper has a visitor center with restroom facilities and allows hiking and picnicking on site.
Devil’s Millhopper Gallery
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- 232 steps descend into the sinkhole
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- Microclimates in Florida’s sinkholes promote growth of unique plant species.
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- Many of the cascades are camouflaged by the lush foliage.
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- An upper observation deck.
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- End of the line this time.
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- High water prevented descent to the bottom of the sink.
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- Water levels rise during the rainy season.
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- Flooding at Devil’s Millhopper in panorama.
Tips for Visiting Florida’s Natural Waterfalls
- Don’t expect Niagara. Plan rather to see rare geological water features.
- Visit during the rainy season for greater water flow.
- In Florida, summer is the rainy season. In fact, you can count on a rain shower every afternoon around 4:00.
- Check state park web sites or call in advance to inquire about water flow volume.
Video
Chasing Waterfalls in Florida
To discover more Sunshine State natural water features, navigate to our newer post Chasing Waterfalls in Florida.
Until Next Time . . . .
Jerry and I enjoy dialogue with our readers, especially when they share little-known locations or off-the-beaten-path destinations. While writing this article, we discovered yet another natural waterfall in Florida, but we cannot share it with you until we visit it ourselves. If you are a chaser-of-waterfalls, we would love to hear your stories, especially if they involve our home state of Florida. We invite you to leave your comments and questions below, and we always respond!
Pin This Post!
Map It!
Helpful Links
National Geographic Encyclopedic Entry: Waterfalls
Falling Creek Falls: SRWMD Site
Falling Creek Falls: Columbia County Site
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park
Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park
10 Favorite North Georgia Waterfalls
Thank you for sharing Howard. Coming from Canada, (where I love chasing waterfalls) I never envisioned Florida with waterfalls. Amazed that the photos were not from the rainy season. I imagine during the rainy season there would be much greater volume!
Hi Carl! Florida waterfalls are definitely rare “creatures.” Since publishing this article we have discovered even more off-the-beaten-path water features in our home state, and we wrote about them in our post Chasing Waterfalls in Florida. Unlike the first post, we scouted these sites during a rainy season, and it was a much different experience . . . .
Hiya Howard,
I never considered how Florida was not likely to have waterfalls because of its topography. Great lesson. I have always enjoyed the state’s wondrous rivers and springs, though. A great and informative read. Thanks much and happy travels!
JR
Hey John! Thanks for stopping by. Florida is truly an amazing state with stunning natural beauty, but waterfalls are rare features indeed. Happy travels to you!
I lived in central Florida for a long time and had no idea there were any waterfalls in the state, especially with it being so flat
Virtually all of the Florida waterfalls are in the northern part of the state. Rare water features for sure!
These natural waterfalls look beautiful. We’d love to visit them someday soon
They truly are rare beauties in Florida, Mary! We are scouting two previously unknown (to us) Florida waterfalls this weekend, so check back in a few weeks in case you want to visit these, as well.
I miss that area I ran our family’s Campground at ichetucknee springs in the late 1970’s such a wonderful area too many places to mention!!! Jenny springs white springs the Santa fe the suwannee!!! Could go on&on!!!?! Miss the places and the awesome and sweet people!!!! Lived in the Daytona area and there & south Western NY 59 years on & off don’t get no better love all the area’s! From Letchworth st.park to tomoka state park!!! God’s blessings!!!!!!!!
Wow! Sounds like you got around, Brad! Glad our post sparked some wonderful memories for you. I have to say Ichetucknee is still probably my favorite, but we will definitely have to check out some of the other wonderful places you mentioned. Blessings to you!
Definitely check out Robinson Creek Falls, its right outside White Springs, FL. on the Bell Springs Trail. Its not too far from Falling Creek Falls! Its a litte bit shorter in height than Falling Creek Falls, but it is definitely alot more powerful.
Thanks for the info, Chad! Robinson Creek Falls is the one I heard about and mentioned in the post, but we have not visited there yet. We will definitely check it out next time we head to North Florida.
Waterfalls are my favorite features to find while traveling and hiking, so I was excited to stumble upon this post! It’s great you featured natural sites like these since people only think of Florida’s beaches. It’s fantastic to discover there’s more to this state than people realize! The photos of Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park are beautiful and that one would be at the top of my list to visit.
Nice to meet another waterfall-lover, Brooke! I’m glad you appreciate Devil’s Millopper GSP. Even though it’s cascades are not dramatic, they are lovely in their own right. Hope you get to visit very soon!
I would love to visit these beautiful waterfalls! They look so inviting! Thanks for sharing this.
My pleasure! Here’s hoping your dream comes true . . . .
Didn’t know about any of these, thanks for the info. Not surprising that they are all in the north part of Florida, there’s just no place for water to fall down south.
Haha! You got that right! At least in North Florida there are a few minor changes in elevation.
On one of my Florida explorations I stumbled upon Devil’s Millhopper and I took a picture with the sign. I had no idea that there was a massive waterfall there. 😀
Not sure if you would call the waterfall at Devil’s Millhopper massive, Charles, although it does cover a wide area and falls many feet. It is difficult to see the cascades in places because of the thick foliage, but then the foliage is natural, too.
Would love to go for a swim at Falling Creek Falls! It looks so inviting! I’m surprised though that it seems like no one is there (at least in the photos)?
We were the only people there the day we visited. It was during winter, so swimming did not cross our minds. Not sure if people swim there during the summer, or not.
Interesting, never thought that to have waterfalls you actually need hills and mountains but how obvious! Well even if there wasn’t a huge amount of water flowering they still looked pretty
Yeah, it is difficult to have a waterfall if there is no change in elevation, Mar. Even though the water flow was not heavy on the days we visited, the falls were definitely lovely all the same.
Not so big but very pretty and lush – and I imagine there’s plenty of birdsong as well. I never think of Florida and waterfalls in the same sentence so thank you for the intro.
Yes, definitely pretty and lush, Leigh. The sounds of water and birdsong = relaxation!
Lot’s of good information in this post. I like the idea of being able to travel down into the sinkhole of Devil’s Millhopper. Never really thought about Florida being flat and lacking waterfalls though!
Thanks, Carly! It was cool going down into the sinkhole, but because it was flooded we did not get to the bottom. We plan to visit again in the dry season to see how deep it really is.
Great list….I feel the same way about the zen that comes from a waterfall. (Some of our favorite Virginia hikes are to waterfalls). And yes, I never would have expected waterfalls in Florida – will have to make a point of exploring Falling Waters for sure.
I have hiked many, many waterfalls in North Georgia and North Carolina, Elena. I would love to explore Virginia’s waterfalls, as well!
Great post Howard! I’ve been to Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park and absolutely loved it there – Florida has some pretty amazing natural wonders that’s for sure!!
Thanks, Meg! As a Native Floridian, I have never really seen my home state as a place of natural wonders, but it truly is. I am currently researching multiple locations in Florida where rivers suddenly flow underground and rise later at a distant location.
One of the best ways to get kids to get more into hiking is to hike to a waterfall! My 5 year old has managed some amazing hikes all for the fun of making it to the end to swim in the waterfall!! Great list of some cool waterfalls!
Everyone wants to swim in a waterfall, it seems, including kids. Unfortunately, none of the Florida waterfalls are swimmable. Thanks for sharing a great family travel tip, Karilyn!
I have lived in Florida for 10 years and had no idea about any of these places! I guess I have some more exploring to do.
Very cool! Makes me wonder how many rare and remote Florida destinations I have yet to discover.
Oh fun! One of my items on my 30 by 30 list for this year is to go swimming in a waterfall. Some more great inspiration. Thanks for sharing!
Swimming in waterfalls is so fun! My favorite was Dunns River Falls in Jamaica. If you happen to be in North Georgia, you might want to check out our post 10 Favorite North Georgia Waterfalls. I have been swimming in Helton Creek Falls (although I think it is probably discouraged), and I know you can swim at Dicks Creek Falls north of Dahlonega.
Cool post! When I first read the post title I was wondering “Are there many waterfalls in Florida?” Turns out there are some! Neat to know of spots like this in Florida exist 🙂 It’s not all just sandy beaches 🙂
I like Florida’s beaches, Alli, especially at sunrise and sunset. But I love Florida’s freshwater springs for swimming, rivers for tubing, and waterfalls for viewing! 😉
Who doesn’t love a good waterfall? Great seeing these and never thought I would be putting waterfalls and Florida in the same sentence. Guess it’s another thing to do when I visit.
Cheers guys!
Yes, hidden treasures are always great to discover, Hugo, especially in your own back yard. Cheers to you!
It’s an interesting article, because you really don’t associate waterfalls with Florida. I think your advice about setting expectations is a good one. I know that I would probably be disappointed if I didn’t know beforehand that the waterfalls were a bit smaller. The hike itself also looks beautiful!
Yes, Natalie, like everything else it is all about expectations and perception, and I did feel the need to address the size issue. However, I can guarantee that all three waterfalls would be gratifying destinations in their own right even without a disclaimer. 🙂
These waterfalls are pretty and also not what I imagine when I think of Florida. Falling Waters State Park and its waterfall look like good spots to hike and explore.
Yes, Falling Waters State Park definitely has the best facilities if you plan to hike, picnic, camp, swim, or stay a while.
You are right. I wouldn’t necessarily think of Florida when looking for waterfalls, but it comes to show that waterfalls can be found anywhere, really. I especially like the photos from the Falling Waters. Thanks for highlighting these little known areas of Florida!
Falling Waters definitely has the longest drop of the three featured waterfalls, Jolanta. I really want to see it during the rainy season!
It’s nice to see another side of Florida, not just the theme parks!
Falling Creek Falls looks cute!
Yes, we like to share the alternatives to commercial Florida, Tara. I think “cute” is a great adjective for Falling Creek Falls!
Thanks for sharing this! I haven’t been to Florida yet, but when I go there, for sure I’ll visit at least on of the places you showed here!
Glad to help! Falling Creek Falls is my favorite of the three.
I actually enjoyed your science lesson as I didn’t know about the geography of Florida and the fact that is its basically flat. It does make these waterfalls special in this context.
So funny, Paula! You are now the second person to tell me they enjoyed the mini-lesson. I felt the need to put it in there because it does put Florida’s waterfalls in perspective, but figured most readers would skip over that part. I am a retired school teacher, you know, and the passion to educate dies hard . . . . 🙂
We loved the 2 winters that us northwesterners spent in Florida! The weather was gorgeous, the people friendly, and there was so much natural beauty to see! Our favorite place was Big Cypress National Preserve! Adding these beautiful waterfalls to our list for our next visit! <3 Thanks!!!
We have driven through Grand Cypress, Dana, but we did not have opportunity to explore in depth. We basically stopped at the visitor center to collect our National Parks Passport stamp. Glad to hear you loved it! I know your family will enjoy Florida’s waterfalls next time you visit.
Wow cool, I had never heard of any of these places! Apparently there is a lot more to Florida than Disneyworld and Miami 😛 Good to know!
You’ve got that right, Francesca! I will take backroad Florida over commercial Florida any day. Love making discoveries off the beaten path and sharing them with everyone!
So we don’t have to travel to Georgia or NC for waterfalls! Love this info since we travel these roads often and now know to take side trips to check these out. Falling Waters looks so mysterious and a bit scary! Thanks for such an informative post.
Our Florida waterfalls are not the cold, crashing wonders of GA and NC, Susan, but they are definitely rare and lovely in their own way. Nothing like a side trip off a monotonous interstate to visit a backroad waterfall. Falling Waters does have a 100-foot drop into a deep sinkhole, making it a bit unnerving for acrophobics like me. I was gripping my camera so hard, praying I would not drop it in the abyss. Haha!
Absolutely fascinating! The waterfalls are very different than what we have found here in the West. Perhaps not as grand in size but rich in beauty. So lush and green, I can imagine sitting in these places and hearing the water falling down onto the rocks and leaves like music. My first impression while reading about these waterfalls and seeing the pictures is peacefulness. Florida is such a beautiful state!
WOW! What a compliment from someone who lives in Wyoming and knows what epic scenery is all about. You truly know how to appreciate nature in all its diverse scenic glory.
There is so much to Florida beyond the beach! One of my favorite places to visit is Hillsborough State Park, the crystal clear springs are just perfect for canoeing.
Hillsborough State Park is just a few miles north of my home, Brianna! Years ago we had access to a nearby privately-owned park called Crystal Springs. It was a great place to swim, snorkle, hang a hammock, play volleyball, and picnic. When the water shortage started, they closed the park to the public, and now it is used for educational purposes. I miss it!
I love your writing style, engaging insight and amazing photos!
And that from a completely unbiased source, right?