Right now
Right now as of Oct 27, 2026
- Status Partly open (lodge closed).
- Permit None needed.
Status note (Oct 27, 2026): Partly open (lodge closed). The park and falls are open. DuPont Lodge and Riverview Restaurant closed November 1, 2025 for renovation; Kentucky State Parks says the lodge stays closed through spring/summer 2027. Cabins and cottages remain available. What the status labels mean
Cumberland Falls is a 68-foot curtain of water about 125 feet wide on the Cumberland River, in Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin, Kentucky. The main overlooks are a short walk from the parking lots, and entry is free. The falls are known for a moonbow, and the remaining 2026 windows are November 22-26 and December 21-25. DuPont Lodge is closed for renovation into 2027, but cabins and cottages can still be booked.
About Cumberland Falls
Cumberland Falls is about 68 feet high and 125 feet wide on the Cumberland River, per Wikipedia. Other sources put the height closer to 70 feet. It's often called the Niagara of the South, much as Shoshone Falls is called the Niagara of the West.
What sets it apart is the moonbow, a rainbow made by moonlight shining through the falls' mist. It forms on clear nights near a full moon. According to Wikipedia, Cumberland Falls is the only place in the Western Hemisphere where moonbows appear regularly.
The falls are in Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, run by Kentucky State Parks. According to Wikipedia, the du Pont family donated 539 acres to the state in 1930, and the park opened on September 7, 1931.
Things to do in the park
Kentucky State Parks offers guided horseback rides here from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Call 606-528-4121 for the schedule and pricing.
The park also has a swimming pool, the only place in the park where you can swim.
Getting there and parking
The park straddles the Whitley and McCreary county line, and Corbin is the nearest town. Park in the lots around the falls and gift shop. On moonbow nights, arrive early to find a space.
Want a taller falls on the same trip? Yahoo Falls is nearby in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The NPS calls it Kentucky's tallest waterfall, at 113 feet.
Entry is free. The Kentucky State Parks FAQ says the parks charge no general admission fee. Lodging, camping, the pool and horseback rides cost extra.
Pets are welcome in most outdoor areas but must be leashed, per the same FAQ.
Camping, cabins and the lodge at Cumberland Falls
Cabins and cottages can still be booked at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, and the park has a campground. DuPont Lodge is closed for renovation through spring or summer 2027, per Kentucky State Parks.
DuPont Lodge closure
Lodge rooms aren't available right now. DuPont Lodge and the Riverview Restaurant closed on November 1, 2025 for a $10 million renovation. Kentucky State Parks says the lodge stays closed through spring or summer 2027.
Cabins and cottages
Kentucky State Parks says cabin and cottage rentals are still available while the lodge is closed. Book them through the park's website.
Campground
Kentucky State Parks and booking listings we saw only in search results describe 50 sites with electric and water hookups. They're split between the Ridgeline (sites 1-39) and Clifty (sites 40-50) areas.
A booking listing showed the 2026 camping season ending October 31. Sources disagree on the season and hookups, so confirm with the park before you book.
Map and nearby falls
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OpenPartly open / seasonalUnconfirmedClosedLarger map
Overlooks and trails
No long hike is needed to see Cumberland Falls. The main overlooks are near the gift shop and visitor area, a short walk from the parking lots.
Longer walks
Kentucky Tourism (2023) lists 17 miles of trails in the park. We couldn't find an official list with trail lengths, so ask park staff which suits you.
For a short Kentucky loop past a waterfall and a natural arch, see our Creation Falls guide in the Red River Gorge.
If you come for the moonbow, bring a flashlight or headlamp for the walk back to your car, and keep an eye on your footing near the river.
When to visit
Kentucky State Parks' 2026 moonbow schedule, as reported by WTVF, runs into late December; call the park at 606-528-4121 for campground and facility seasons. To see the moonbow, plan for a clear night near a full moon; the remaining 2026 windows are November 22-26 and December 21-25.
2026 moonbow dates
The moonbow needs clear skies near a full moon, so every date is weather permitting. The park's 2026 schedule, as reported by WTVF NewsChannel 5, lists these remaining windows (approximate, Eastern Time):
-
November 22-26: Nov 22 6-8pm, Nov 23 6:30-8:30pm, Nov 24 7-9pm, Nov 25 8-10pm, Nov 26 9:30-11:30pm
-
December 21-25: Dec 21 5-7pm, Dec 22 6-8pm, Dec 23 7-9pm, Dec 24 8-10pm, Dec 25 9:30-11:30pm
Seasons
Horseback rides run only from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
A daytime rainbow can also form in the mist below the falls.
When is the water highest?
At a USGS stream gauge right by the falls, the flow averages highest in February and lowest in October, based on 30 complete years of records between 1977 and 2023.
Show the numbers
| Month | Average flow (cfs) |
|---|---|
| January | 4,782 |
| February | 6,538 |
| March | 6,284 |
| April | 5,233 |
| May | 3,397 |
| June | 2,056 |
| July | 1,432 |
| August | 1,166 |
| September | 1,173 |
| October | 992 |
| November | 2,332 |
| December | 4,816 |
| Height | 68 ftNote: average; sources give 68-70 ft; about 125 ft wide |
|---|---|
| Trail | Overlooks near the gift shop and visitor area |
| Entry fee | No general admission fee (Kentucky State Parks FAQ); lodging, camping, the pool and horseback rides cost extra |
| Permit / reservation | None needed |
| Parking | Lots by the falls and gift shop |
| Hours / season | Moonbow viewing runs into late December in 2026 (WTVF); call the park at 606-528-4121 for overlook, campground and facility hours |
| Dogs | Welcome in most outdoor areas but must be leashed (Kentucky State Parks FAQ) |
| Swimming | No; Kentucky regulation bans swimming in state park waters outside designated areas (use the park pool) |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Best time to visit | Clear nights near the full moon for the moonbow; remaining 2026 windows Nov 22-26, Dec 21-25 |
| Managed by | Kentucky State Parks |
Safety and swimming
Swimming is not allowed at the falls. Kentucky regulation 304 KAR 1:020 bans swimming in state park waters except in designated swimming areas. At this park, the pool is the place to swim.
The current above the falls is dangerous. In September 2022, a 36-year-old woman was swept over the falls while trying to retrieve a phone she had dropped in the river upstream. She survived, WKYT reported (via WAVE). Officials warned visitors to stay behind the gate. If you drop something, let it go.
Stay behind the gates and any railings at the overlooks. Take extra care during night moonbow viewing, when edges and wet surfaces are harder to see.
Conditions change: confirm with Kentucky State Parks before you go. For general tips, read our waterfall safety guide.
Where to stay near Cumberland Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Corbin.
See places to stay nearbyAffiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Partners do not see or change our waterfall facts. Disclosure.
Photos
Cumberland Falls FAQ
When is the Cumberland Falls moonbow in 2026?
The remaining 2026 windows are November 22-26 and December 21-25, mostly in the evening. For example: November 22, 6-8pm; December 21, 5-7pm Eastern. You need clear skies for it to show.
Is there an entrance fee at Cumberland Falls?
No. The Kentucky State Parks FAQ says the parks charge no general admission fee. Lodging, camping, the pool and horseback rides cost extra.
Do you have to hike to see Cumberland Falls?
No. The main overlooks are near the gift shop and visitor area, a short walk from the parking lots.
Is there camping at Cumberland Falls?
Yes. Listings describe a campground with about 50 sites with electric and water hookups, but sources disagree on the season and hookups. Confirm with Kentucky State Parks before you book. Cabins and cottages are also available.
Is DuPont Lodge open?
No. DuPont Lodge and the Riverview Restaurant closed on November 1, 2025 for renovation. Kentucky State Parks says the lodge will stay closed through spring or summer 2027. Cabins and cottages can still be booked.
Can you go horseback riding at Cumberland Falls?
Yes, in season. Kentucky State Parks offers guided rides from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Call 606-528-4121 for the schedule and pricing.
Can you swim at Cumberland Falls?
No. Kentucky regulation 304 KAR 1:020 bans swimming in state park waters except in designated areas, and the current above the falls is dangerous. Stay behind the gates and railings, and use the park pool instead.
What is a moonbow?
A rainbow made by moonlight shining through the falls' mist. It shows on clear nights around the full moon. Cumberland Falls is the only place in the Western Hemisphere where it appears regularly, per Wikipedia.
Nearby waterfalls
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Sources
- Kentucky State Parks: Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
- Kentucky State Parks: FAQs (read Oct 27, 2026)
- Kentucky State Parks: Improvements
- Kentucky State Parks: Horseback riding
- WYMT: Cumberland Falls State Resort Park to undergo renovations (Nov 2024)
- WTVF NewsChannel 5: Cumberland Falls moonbow (2026 schedule)
- 304 KAR 1:020 swimming restrictions
- WAVE (WKYT report): Woman trying to get cellphone goes over Cumberland Falls (Sep 8, 2022)
- NPS Big South Fork: Press kit (Yahoo Falls is Kentucky's tallest waterfall; updated May 21, 2025)
- NPS Big South Fork: Kentucky Trails (Yahoo Falls, 113 ft; updated Oct 14, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Cumberland Falls
- Kentucky Tourism: Camping at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park (2023)
Last verified Oct 27, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with Kentucky State Parks before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.