Meg Archer

We wanted to build you an Ultimate Indiana Waterfalls Road Trip that covered all of the most beautiful waterfalls in the state…but there are just too many to choose!

Meg Archer

We couldn’t bear to leave out any of our favorites (or send you on a single 22-hour drive), so we decided to split the list and give you TWO epic Waterfall Road Trips to take to make sure you see the best of both the Northern AND Southern regions of the Hoosier State!

PART 1 of our Ultimate Waterfalls Adventure featured six of our favorite ‘falls in the Northern half of the state, but here is PART 2… with seven awesome Southern Indiana waterfalls!

To make it easy-as-pie (Sugar Cream Pie, that is), we built you a Road Map through Google Maps! Let’s get this waterfall road trip in Southern Indiana started!

  1. Cataract Falls

rsteup/Flickr Cataract Falls in Lieber State Recreation Area is the largest waterfall in Indiana by volume and consists of two falls, roughly a half-mile apart on Mill Creek. The Upper Falls drops 20 feet and the Lower Falls drops about 18 feet.

Paul/Flickr There is a lovely short trail between the two, but you can also drive to either one. As it is a State Recreation Area, there is an entrance fee to the park, but it is well worth it to see these picturesque falls. The fall foliage is beautiful, but Mill Creek is fullest after snowmelt (or a particularly excellent thunderstorm), which bulks up the falls significantly.

wplynn/Flickr In the winter months, Cataract Falls can freeze over entirely, which is also pretty amazing to see. See this stunning waterfall frozen in time in this quick video:

Cataract Falls, 1317 W Lieber Rd, Cloverdale, IN 46120

  1. McCormick’s Creek Falls

Joey Lax-Salinas/Flickr Although not large, the McCormick’s Creek Falls are worth checking out—McCormick’s Creek State Park is the oldest state park in Indiana and was founded in 1916 in celebration of the 100th year of statehood!

Anna Hesser/Flickr There is a campground on-site, as well as The Canyon Inn—a former sanitarium where brave guests can spend the night! Much of the limestone used to build the State Capitol building comes from McCormick’s Creek State Park.

Nyttend via WikiMedia Many of the buildings and structures in the park were built in the New Deal era, which landed the limestone arch bridge over the creek a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

Kat Rowland/Flickr McCormick’s Creek Falls, 250 McCormick Creek Park Rd, Spencer, IN 47460

  1. Spring Mills State Park & Cave River Valley Nature Preserve

Rosebud3606 via WikiMedia Pioneers in the 1800’s settled in this area to take advantage of this flowing cave springs to power gristmills, a sawmill, a wool mill, and even a distillery!

Spring Mill State Park/Facebook The village has been restored and offers interpretive tours, and the small falls created by the dam is worth a quick stop to see, but the coolest part of this park is the spring, which flows right out of River Cave.

Eric Bartholomew/Flickr The many caves are a major draw to the area, especially since the Donaldson/Bronson Cave and others had been closed for several years to protect the bat population from an outbreak of White-nosed Syndrome.

The caves have since been reopened to the public, but require permission from the Department of Natural Resources through the Indiana Karst Conservancy to enter (which is totally worth the extra step, if you have time to prepare before embarking upon this epic road trip).

bob/Flickr Find out why Spring Mills might be the most beautiful park in Indiana. Be sure to watch this review of the Spring Mills State Park by the Hoosier Campers. Then, hop in a car and head out to explore it in person:

Spring Mill State Park, 3333 IN-60 E, Mitchell, IN 47446, USA

  1. Hemlock Cliffs

Ulrich Burkhalter/Flickr The Hemlock Cliffs Trail is a 1.5 mile loop that leads you down into a narrow box canyon and offers lush green views, vertical sandstone cliffs, and hides some of the most beautiful seasonal waterfalls in the state.

Ulrich Burkhalter/Flickr There are spots to stop and see Hemlock Cliffs Falls from both the top and from the plunge pool below.

Ulrich Burkhalter/Flickr Messmore Falls drops an impressive 70 feet during high water flow times.

Ulrich Burkhalter/Flickr The trail is moderately difficult, steep, and can be slippery in some areas, but if you are looking for a peaceful escape, Hemlock Cliffs are one of the most beautiful areas in the state. Hemlock Cliffs, Union Township, IN 47118, USA

  1. Clifty Falls State Park

Clifty Falls State Park/Facebook

Clifty Falls State Park/Facebook Clifty Falls State Park is a truly unique place. The park has four waterfalls; the largest, Tunnel Falls, drops 83 feet, however the other three– Big Clifty Falls, Little Clifty Falls, and Hoffman Falls—aren’t much smaller (60 feet, 60 feet, and 78 feet, respectively).

teamsnardy/TripAdvisor Clifty Creek Canyon, which stretches the entire length of the park and empties into the Ohio River, has over 12 miles of walking and hiking trails (some of which are quite rugged) and has many other smaller falls to explore as well.

Shannon Tompkins/Flickr Clifty Falls State Park, 1501 Green Road, Madison, IN 47250

  1. Muscatatuck Park

Muscatatuck Park/Facebook The Muscatatuck River flows along the southern end of this park and there are several waterfalls to see along the River Trail, which begins at the Vinegar Mill, where you can see Canyon Creek Falls.

Muscatatuck Park/Facebook

Muscatatuck Park/Facebook The River Trail follows the river for roughly two miles. The small Muscatatuck Falls are fed by a limestone spring.

Muscatatuck Park/Facebook Learn more about the Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge and all of the wonderful things you can see and do in its 8,000 acres of beauty. Muscatatuck Park, 325 N State Highway 3, North Vernon, Indiana 47265

  1. Anderson Falls

John Hiker/AllTrails Anderson Falls may not have the epic free-fall of other waterfalls, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful! While only 12” tall, the spillway is more than 100” wide and drops off of a rock ledge that creates a cave space behind the falls.

Jennifer Harter/Flickr Anderson Falls is easy to get to - it’s right along the road on CR 1140 and there are signs and a small parking area to guide you. The far side of the falls is part of the Anderson Falls Park State Nature Preserve, and you can find further hiking trails there if you cross Clifty Creek above the falls. Let’s go for a little hike to Anderson Falls in this quick video:

Anderson Falls, 3699 North 1140 County Rd E, Hartsville, IN 47244

There are SO many waterfalls throughout Southern Indiana, it was hard to choose which ones to include on this list!

rsteup/Flickr

Cataract Falls in Lieber State Recreation Area is the largest waterfall in Indiana by volume and consists of two falls, roughly a half-mile apart on Mill Creek. The Upper Falls drops 20 feet and the Lower Falls drops about 18 feet.

Paul/Flickr

There is a lovely short trail between the two, but you can also drive to either one. As it is a State Recreation Area, there is an entrance fee to the park, but it is well worth it to see these picturesque falls. The fall foliage is beautiful, but Mill Creek is fullest after snowmelt (or a particularly excellent thunderstorm), which bulks up the falls significantly.

wplynn/Flickr

In the winter months, Cataract Falls can freeze over entirely, which is also pretty amazing to see. See this stunning waterfall frozen in time in this quick video:

Cataract Falls, 1317 W Lieber Rd, Cloverdale, IN 46120

Joey Lax-Salinas/Flickr

Although not large, the McCormick’s Creek Falls are worth checking out—McCormick’s Creek State Park is the oldest state park in Indiana and was founded in 1916 in celebration of the 100th year of statehood!

Anna Hesser/Flickr

There is a campground on-site, as well as The Canyon Inn—a former sanitarium where brave guests can spend the night! Much of the limestone used to build the State Capitol building comes from McCormick’s Creek State Park.

Nyttend via WikiMedia

Many of the buildings and structures in the park were built in the New Deal era, which landed the limestone arch bridge over the creek a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

Kat Rowland/Flickr

McCormick’s Creek Falls, 250 McCormick Creek Park Rd, Spencer, IN 47460

Rosebud3606 via WikiMedia

Pioneers in the 1800’s settled in this area to take advantage of this flowing cave springs to power gristmills, a sawmill, a wool mill, and even a distillery!

Spring Mill State Park/Facebook

The village has been restored and offers interpretive tours, and the small falls created by the dam is worth a quick stop to see, but the coolest part of this park is the spring, which flows right out of River Cave.

Eric Bartholomew/Flickr

The many caves are a major draw to the area, especially since the Donaldson/Bronson Cave and others had been closed for several years to protect the bat population from an outbreak of White-nosed Syndrome.

The caves have since been reopened to the public, but require permission from the Department of Natural Resources through the Indiana Karst Conservancy to enter (which is totally worth the extra step, if you have time to prepare before embarking upon this epic road trip).

bob/Flickr

Find out why Spring Mills might be the most beautiful park in Indiana. Be sure to watch this review of the Spring Mills State Park by the Hoosier Campers. Then, hop in a car and head out to explore it in person:

Spring Mill State Park, 3333 IN-60 E, Mitchell, IN 47446, USA

Ulrich Burkhalter/Flickr

The Hemlock Cliffs Trail is a 1.5 mile loop that leads you down into a narrow box canyon and offers lush green views, vertical sandstone cliffs, and hides some of the most beautiful seasonal waterfalls in the state.

There are spots to stop and see Hemlock Cliffs Falls from both the top and from the plunge pool below.

Messmore Falls drops an impressive 70 feet during high water flow times.

The trail is moderately difficult, steep, and can be slippery in some areas, but if you are looking for a peaceful escape, Hemlock Cliffs are one of the most beautiful areas in the state.

Hemlock Cliffs, Union Township, IN 47118, USA

Clifty Falls State Park/Facebook

Clifty Falls State Park is a truly unique place. The park has four waterfalls; the largest, Tunnel Falls, drops 83 feet, however the other three– Big Clifty Falls, Little Clifty Falls, and Hoffman Falls—aren’t much smaller (60 feet, 60 feet, and 78 feet, respectively).

teamsnardy/TripAdvisor

Clifty Creek Canyon, which stretches the entire length of the park and empties into the Ohio River, has over 12 miles of walking and hiking trails (some of which are quite rugged) and has many other smaller falls to explore as well.

Shannon Tompkins/Flickr

Clifty Falls State Park, 1501 Green Road, Madison, IN 47250

Muscatatuck Park/Facebook

The Muscatatuck River flows along the southern end of this park and there are several waterfalls to see along the River Trail, which begins at the Vinegar Mill, where you can see Canyon Creek Falls.

The River Trail follows the river for roughly two miles. The small Muscatatuck Falls are fed by a limestone spring.

Learn more about the Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge and all of the wonderful things you can see and do in its 8,000 acres of beauty.

Muscatatuck Park, 325 N State Highway 3, North Vernon, Indiana 47265

John Hiker/AllTrails

Anderson Falls may not have the epic free-fall of other waterfalls, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful! While only 12” tall, the spillway is more than 100” wide and drops off of a rock ledge that creates a cave space behind the falls.

Jennifer Harter/Flickr

Anderson Falls is easy to get to - it’s right along the road on CR 1140 and there are signs and a small parking area to guide you. The far side of the falls is part of the Anderson Falls Park State Nature Preserve, and you can find further hiking trails there if you cross Clifty Creek above the falls. Let’s go for a little hike to Anderson Falls in this quick video:

Anderson Falls, 3699 North 1140 County Rd E, Hartsville, IN 47244

We left out a few favorites because we think they deserve their OWN special trip and not just a stop on this awesome waterfall loop, which is certainly one of the best road trips in Indiana!

Here are a couple of bonus photos of Turkey Run State Park, just because we think it’s pretty…and because you totally need to visit it (when you have plenty of time to explore)!

Image: Flickr / Michael Rollinger

Image: Flickr / David Wilson

Did you pack the snacks for this Southern Indiana waterfalls road trip? We’re ready to hit the road on one of the most scenic drives in Indiana!

Image: Flickr / Michael Rollinger

Image: Flickr / David Wilson

If you really want to go all out, combine this loop with our Ultimate Waterfall Road Trip Part 1: Northern Indiana for an extended trip to see the best waterfalls in Indiana.

Where should we go next? Tell us in the comments section!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Waterfall Road Trip In Southern Indiana March 12, 2021 Melissa Mahoney Does Indiana have any natural wonders? Indiana is filled with natural wonders, from beautiful lakes to underground caverns, and of course amazing national and state parks. Here are a few natural wonders in Indiana:

Yellowwood State Forest The Indiana Dunes Hoosier National Forest Caves Marengo Cave Cataract Falls Brown County State Park

  Head to Lake Michigan and you will find the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore with its expanse of sand dunes, a truly stunning place. Another astonishing sight is the Seven Pillars of Peru, also known as The Cliffs. Over time, the river and wind have carved pillars into the 25-foot limestone rock. It looks otherworldly! What is the largest waterfall in Indiana? In terms of height, the largest waterfall in Hoosier State is Williamsport Falls at 90 feet. This is found in the northern part of the state and is included in Part 1 of our Indiana Waterfalls Road Trip. In terms of volume, Cataract Falls at Lieber State Park in Southern Indiana is the largest waterfall. It is made of two different falls that are separated by a half-mile or so. Are there any underground waterfalls in Indiana? Yes, there is a pretty spectacular underground waterfall located at Squire Boone Caverns in Maukport in Southern Indiana. You will have to take a cavern tour to see it but that is something you would want to do anyways as they are an impressive sight on their own! Once you walk about a third of a mile through the caverns, that’s when you will see the jaw-dropping underground waterfall.   

The OIYS Visitor Center

Waterfall Road Trip In Southern Indiana

March 12, 2021

Melissa Mahoney

Does Indiana have any natural wonders? Indiana is filled with natural wonders, from beautiful lakes to underground caverns, and of course amazing national and state parks. Here are a few natural wonders in Indiana:

Yellowwood State Forest The Indiana Dunes Hoosier National Forest Caves Marengo Cave Cataract Falls Brown County State Park

  Head to Lake Michigan and you will find the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore with its expanse of sand dunes, a truly stunning place. Another astonishing sight is the Seven Pillars of Peru, also known as The Cliffs. Over time, the river and wind have carved pillars into the 25-foot limestone rock. It looks otherworldly! What is the largest waterfall in Indiana? In terms of height, the largest waterfall in Hoosier State is Williamsport Falls at 90 feet. This is found in the northern part of the state and is included in Part 1 of our Indiana Waterfalls Road Trip. In terms of volume, Cataract Falls at Lieber State Park in Southern Indiana is the largest waterfall. It is made of two different falls that are separated by a half-mile or so. Are there any underground waterfalls in Indiana? Yes, there is a pretty spectacular underground waterfall located at Squire Boone Caverns in Maukport in Southern Indiana. You will have to take a cavern tour to see it but that is something you would want to do anyways as they are an impressive sight on their own! Once you walk about a third of a mile through the caverns, that’s when you will see the jaw-dropping underground waterfall.   

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Indiana is filled with natural wonders, from beautiful lakes to underground caverns, and of course amazing national and state parks. Here are a few natural wonders in Indiana:

  • Yellowwood State Forest
  • The Indiana Dunes
  • Hoosier National Forest Caves
  • Marengo Cave
  • Cataract Falls
  • Brown County State Park

 

Head to Lake Michigan and you will find the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore with its expanse of sand dunes, a truly stunning place. Another astonishing sight is the Seven Pillars of Peru, also known as The Cliffs. Over time, the river and wind have carved pillars into the 25-foot limestone rock. It looks otherworldly!

What is the largest waterfall in Indiana?

In terms of height, the largest waterfall in Hoosier State is Williamsport Falls at 90 feet. This is found in the northern part of the state and is included in Part 1 of our Indiana Waterfalls Road Trip. In terms of volume, Cataract Falls at Lieber State Park in Southern Indiana is the largest waterfall. It is made of two different falls that are separated by a half-mile or so.

Are there any underground waterfalls in Indiana?

Yes, there is a pretty spectacular underground waterfall located at Squire Boone Caverns in Maukport in Southern Indiana. You will have to take a cavern tour to see it but that is something you would want to do anyways as they are an impressive sight on their own! Once you walk about a third of a mile through the caverns, that’s when you will see the jaw-dropping underground waterfall.