Waterfalls around Washington at a glance
There are 46 named waterfalls within 100 miles of downtown Washington. The nearest is Little Falls, about 4.7 mi WNW in a straight line. Most of the falls around the city lie to the west: 32 of the 46. The radius reaches into 5 states, led by Virginia (27), Maryland (13) and Pennsylvania (3).
Distances here are straight lines from the city centre. Roads bend around ridges and rivers, so a fall 20 miles out can take an hour to reach. Search your own street or tap Find falls near me above to measure from where you are.
How far you have to drive
| Within | Named waterfalls |
|---|---|
| 10 miles of Washington | 3 |
| 25 miles of Washington | 5 |
| 50 miles of Washington | 11 |
| 100 miles of Washington | 46 |
Well-known falls within reach of Washington
Overall Run Falls (68 miW) and Dark Hollow Falls (79 miWSW) are among the best-known waterfalls within 100 miles. Each is described on its state page: waterfalls in Virginia.
The 15 nearest waterfalls to Washington
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Falls | 4.7 mi WNW | not recorded | District of Columbia County, District of Columbia |
| Stubblefield Falls | 9.5 mi WNW | not recorded | Maryland |
| Scott's Run Falls | 9.8 mi WNW | not recorded | Virginia |
| Great Falls | 13 mi WNW | 46 ft | Maryland |
| Coe Creek | 22 mi SW | not recorded | Virginia |
| Brambleton Sign/Water Decoration | 27 mi W | not recorded | Virginia |
| Cascade Falls | 28 mi NNE | not recorded | Maryland |
| McKeldin Falls | 32 mi NNE | not recorded | Maryland |
| Round Falls | 36 mi NE | not recorded | Maryland |
| Pua Falls | 48 mi WNW | not recorded | Virginia |
| The Cascade | 50 mi NNW | not recorded | Frederick County, Maryland |
| Old Dam Waterfall | 53 mi NW | 3 ft | Maryland |
| Cunningham Falls | 55 mi NNW | 78 ft | Frederick County, Maryland |
| Wiley Falls | 60 mi NNE | not recorded | Harford County, Maryland |
| Lands Run Falls | 62 mi W | not recorded | Virginia |
Tallest recorded waterfalls near Washington
Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap. 17 of the 46 falls have one; the rest are often small ledges and cascades. Why published heights differ.
| Waterfall | Height | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek Falls | 151 ft | 83 mi WSW |
| Overall Run Falls | 93 ft | 68 mi W |
| South River Falls | 89 ft | 87 mi WSW |
| Upper Whiteoak Falls | 85 ft | 75 mi WSW |
| Lewis Spring Falls | 79 ft | 81 mi WSW |
| Cunningham Falls | 78 ft | 55 mi NNW |
| Dark Hollow Falls | 69 ft | 79 mi WSW |
| Rose River Falls | 66 ft | 78 mi WSW |
| Lower Whiteoak Falls | 59 ft | 75 mi WSW |
| Great Falls | 46 ft | 13 mi WNW |
Counties with the most falls near Washington
Madison County, VA (4), Frederick County, MD (2), Harford County, MD (2), Warren County, VA (2) and Cecil County, MD (2). County is from the USGS record, so falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap are not counted here.
Before you go
The map shows where falls are, not whether a trail reaches them or the land is open. Check the land manager for closures, fees and parking, and stay on the trail near the water. See waterfall safety, waterfall hikes near me and the best time to see waterfalls.
Waterfalls near other cities: Baltimore, Richmond, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Roanoke.