Waterfalls in Louisiana Where to Go Snorkeling in Florida Waterfalls of Florida

by Kurt Schrader The topography of Florida is rather flat, and most of the state is near sea level; in fact, the highest point in Florida is only 345 feet. Thus, waterfalls, beyond the man-made ones at Florida theme parks, are not a regular sight in the Sunshine State. However, Florida has a handful natural waterfalls, all of which are in the hillier northern half of the state. Florida charges a daily fee for admission to its state parks, based per vehicle.

Falling Waters Sink at Falling Waters State Park

With a total plunge of 73 feet, the waterfall at Falling Waters Sink is Florida’s largest natural waterfall. The falls originate in a hilltop stream that falls into a 100-foot deep, 20-foot-wide sinkhole. The water from Falling Waters drops into the sinkhole and into a underground cavern where it disappears in the darkness. The outlet of the falls is entirely below ground, and the final destination of the water coming over the falls has yet to be discovered. Falling Waters State Park is just outside Chipley, Florida, in the state’s panhandle region, about 85 miles west of Tallahassee. To visit the waterfall upon arrival to the park, follow the fern-covered Sinkhole Trail to a boardwalk that leads directly to the Falls. In addition to the waterfall, Falling Waters State Park also features a white sand beach with lake swimming, a full-service campground, including facilities for RVs and public showers.

Devil’s Millhopper

Like Falling Waters, the falls at Devil’s Millhopper are the product of a sinkhole. The bowl-shaped sinkhole, which is 120 feet deep and 500 feet wide, is covered with lush vegetation and has numerous cascading streams falling down its sides. A 1.5 mile-nature trail surrounds the top of the sinkhole, and a 232-step boardwalk stairway goes down to the bottom of the sink. Sometimes, when descending the stairway, you can actually sense a change in the climate. With lush vegetation, cascading falls and its own micro-climate, many call the Millhopper a “mini rain forest.” Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park is in Gainesville, Florida, in the north-central part of the state, about two hours north of Orlando on I-75. The Park does not offer overnight camping, but picnic facilities are available and pets on a leash are allowed in the picnic area and on the nature trail.

Falling Creek Falls

With a plunge of just 5 to 10 feet, Falling Creek Falls is hardly the most impressive waterfall you may see. However, Falling Creek is notable in that it is the only “official” waterfall in Florida, according to the United States Geological Survey, which does not flow directly into a sinkhole or underground cavern. Falling Creek Falls are often a brownish hue, due to the black-water nature of Falling Creek, a common natural feature of northern Florida rivers. Falling Creek Falls is about a mile north of Lake City and an hour west of Jacksonville. The Falls are accessible via a short, boardwalk trail; also, an additional loop trail traveling beyond the falls offers views of the rapids slightly farther up the creek.

Look and Tremble Falls

The United States Geological Survey lists Look and Tremble Falls as one of the three “official” waterfalls in Florida, but you would have a hard time finding anything that resembles a waterfall here. Instead, it is more of a shoal with light rapids. The “waterfall” is on the Chipola River in Calhoun County, Florida, about an hour west of Tallahassee. While Look and Tremble may not be the best example of a waterfall, it is one of the few spots in Florida to find whitewater rapids. Moreover, the Chipola River is excellent for rafting, canoeing and tubing. Chipola River Outfitters (chipolariveroutfitters.com) offers full- and partial-day trips on the Chipola River, including several trips that include a visit to Look and Tremble Falls.
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