Waterfall list

Waterfalls you can walk behind

By The Waterfall Guide editorial teamLast verified November 3, 2026

At each waterfall below, a trail or path runs behind or under the falling water, and you can walk it. The effort ranges from a few steps off US-64 at Bridal Veil Falls in North Carolina to about 14 miles round trip at Tunnel Falls in Oregon.

6 waterfallsA path goes behind or under the falling water4 states

Bridal Veil Falls spilling over a rock overhang beside US-64 west of Highlands, NC — Bridal Veil Falls · Washuotaku, CC BY-SA 4.0

Grotto Falls · Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0

Waterfalls you can walk behind: 6 in this guide

Each card links to a full guide with the official source, fees, parking and current status. Rules change, so check the falls page before you go.

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Compare them

Waterfalls you can walk behind: status checked October 17, 2026 to November 3, 2026
Waterfall	State	Status	How you get behind it	Height	Trail	Fee / permit
Yahoo Falls	KY	Open	The 1-mi NPS loop passes behind the falls under a large rock shelter; some metal steps are very steep.	113 ft	1 mi loop (NPS)	Free
Bridal Veil Falls	NC	Open	A few steps along the old US-64 roadbed, now walkers only; USFS warns the path can be wet or icy.	45 ft	Roadside	No fee listed
Dry Falls	NC	Open	The Forest Service says a built path passes behind the 75-ft curtain; expect spray at high water.	75 ft	0.2 mi	$3 / vehicle
South Falls (Silver Falls)	OR	Open	The Canyon Trail runs behind 177-ft South Falls on a 1.0-mi round trip. No dogs; not wheelchair accessible.	177 ft	1.0 mi / 7.2 mi loop	$10-12 parking
Tunnel Falls	OR	Open	Trail passes behind it about 7 mi up; USFS doesn't recommend it for children or anyone afraid of heights.	Not listed	About 14 mi round trip	$5 per vehicle or a pass
Grotto Falls	TN	Open	The Trillium Gap Trail passes behind the falls on a 2.6-mi round trip; stay on the trail, rocks are slippery.	25 ft	2.6 mi	$5 parking tag

How we checked each walk-behind

A falls earned a spot only when two things matched. Its guide on this site marks it as walk-behind, and the page itself states that the path goes behind or under the water. We did not add any falls on the strength of photos or hiking forums.

No agency bans the walk-behind paths, but several warn about wet rock, ice and cliffs, and the notes below repeat those warnings.

A falls that is closed for the season right now stays off this page until it reopens. The status on each card comes from the falls page's latest check.

From a few steps to a full day

Steps from the car. Bridal Veil Falls sits beside US-64 near Highlands. You park at the pull-offs and walk the old roadbed that once carried cars behind the water. Today it is open to walkers only.

Under half a mile. Dry Falls is about 0.2 mile from its lot on a paved path with several flights of stairs. Day use costs $3 per vehicle.

About a mile. The Canyon Trail behind South Falls is a 1.0-mile round trip, per Oregon State Parks. Yahoo Falls in Kentucky is on a free 1-mile NPS loop, and some of its metal steps are very steep.

A real hike. Grotto Falls is a 2.6-mile round trip on the Trillium Gap Trail in the Smokies. Parking there for more than 15 minutes needs a $5 tag. Tunnel Falls is about 7 miles up Eagle Creek Trail #440, so plan on about 14 miles round trip.

Walk-behind falls in Oregon and North Carolina

Oregon has two entries. Oregon State Parks says four falls in Silver Falls State Park let you walk behind the water. Of those, 177-foot South Falls is the one with its own guide here. Parking needs a state park day-use permit, $10 for residents or $12 for non-residents.

Tunnel Falls is the harder Oregon option, in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. A free, self-issued wilderness permit applies from Memorial Day weekend through October 31. Parking at the trailhead costs $5 per vehicle, or you can use a valid recreation pass. See our Oregon waterfalls guide and waterfalls near Portland for more.

North Carolina's two both sit on US-64, about 2 to 3 miles west of Highlands. The Forest Service lists Dry Falls at 75 feet. Wikipedia puts Bridal Veil Falls at about 45 feet and says it was once the only falls in the state you could drive under. Our North Carolina waterfalls guide covers both.

How wet you will get

Expect some spray. Local tradition says Dry Falls got its name because you can walk behind it and stay dry. Its guide notes that only holds in low water. Wikipedia says the same about Bridal Veil Falls: dry at low flow, wet at moderate or high flow.

Flow at Dry Falls is usually highest from January through April, based on USGS monthly averages, and after heavy rain. More water means more mist on the path. A rain shell and a sealed bag for your phone are worth packing.

Safety behind the curtain

Wet rock is the common hazard at every falls here. The Forest Service warns that the path behind Bridal Veil Falls can be wet or icy and very slippery. At Grotto Falls, stay on the trail behind the water and don't climb the rocks around it.

Tunnel Falls carries more risk than the rest. Parts of Eagle Creek Trail have sheer cliffs with no handrails. The Hatfield Wilderness page adds that these hikes pass steep cliffs and drop-offs, and USFS asks hikers not to leave the trail. USFS does not recommend the hike for children or anyone afraid of heights.

Behind any falls, keep children close and stay off wet ledges. Before a winter visit, read up on slick rock and ice in our waterfall safety guide.

Seasons and access

Several of these paths are open all year, but conditions change with the weather. Recreation.gov lists Dry Falls open year-round. In winter, wet stairs and rock near any of these falls can ice over, so hold the rails.

Grotto Falls depends on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, the road to the trailhead, which is open through November 29, 2026. NPS also posted a bear warning for the Trillium Gap Trail on October 27, 2026.

At Tunnel Falls, the 2026 wilderness permit season ended on October 31. USFS requires the free, self-issued permit again from Memorial Day weekend, so check its page for the 2027 start before a spring or summer trip.

FAQ

Which waterfalls in Oregon can you walk behind?

Two on this list: South Falls in Silver Falls State Park, on a 1.0-mile round trip, and Tunnel Falls, about 7 miles up Eagle Creek Trail #440. Oregon State Parks says four Silver Falls park waterfalls let you walk behind the water.

Is there a waterfall you can walk behind in North Carolina?

Yes, two near Highlands on US-64. Dry Falls has a short paved path with stairs and a $3 per-vehicle fee. Bridal Veil Falls is roadside, with a walkers-only path on the old roadbed behind the water.

Can you walk behind a waterfall in the Smokies?

Yes, at Grotto Falls. The Trillium Gap Trail curves under the overhang and behind the water on a 2.6-mile round trip. Its guide calls it the only waterfall in the park where you can do that. NPS describes occasional roots, rocks and inclines, so wear shoes with grip.

Do you get wet walking behind a waterfall?

Usually a little, and more at high flow. Dry Falls and Bridal Veil Falls stay fairly dry only in low water, per their guides. After rain, expect mist and spray on the path.

Can you bring a dog behind the falls?

It depends on the falls. Oregon State Parks bans pets on the Canyon Trail, so no dogs behind South Falls. Dogs are not allowed at Grotto Falls. At Dry Falls and Yahoo Falls, dogs are allowed on a 6-foot leash.

Sources

Each falls has its own guide, where every source behind its listing is cited. The sources below cover this page.

More waterfall lists · Waterfall finder

Photos: Washuotaku, CC BY-SA 4.0; Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0; Zhans33, CC BY-SA 3.0. Photo credits