Hoffman Falls

Worth the drive

Is it plungeworthy?

78feet tall

A plunge on Hoffman Creek.

Scale46/60

Documentation10/20

Character14/20

The details

Type: Plunge
Watercourse: Hoffman Creek
Coordinates: 38.75281, -85.4228

Get directions →

About Hoffman Falls

Hoffman Falls is a 78-foot plunge in Indiana, on Hoffman Creek.

It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.

Plungeworthy rates Hoffman Falls 7/10 — worth the drive. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.

What you'll find

Hoffman Falls is the second-tallest drop at Clifty Falls State Park — 78 feet off the rim into the quieter southern half of the gorge, where the crowds from the north-entrance falls rarely wander.

Hoffman Creek carries less water than Big Clifty, so this one is a ribbon most of the year and a curtain only after storms — catch it right and it's arguably the prettiest fall in the park.

Trails 6 and 7 reach it from the south, or it's the middle act of the six-mile Tunnel-Hoffman-Clifty loop.

Getting there

Trailhead: Clifty Falls State Park south trails, Madison
Parking: South-area lots inside the park
Road: Paved park roads
Hike: 6.2 mi round trip, 997 ft of climb (Moderately challenging as part of the full loop; shorter from the Trail 6/7 side)
Heads up: The southern rim overlook puts the whole 78-foot drop in one frame.

When to go

December through June, and specifically within a day or two of rain — Hoffman Creek is the smallest of the park's four falls streams.

Rules & fees

Fee / pass: $7 per vehicle Indiana plates, $15 out-of-state
Dogs: Leashed, six feet maximum
Camping: In the park campground
Warnings: Above and below all waterfalls: off limits, always.

Researched from Indiana DNR — Clifty Falls State Park · Indiana DNR — state park entrance fees · Wikipedia — Clifty Falls State Park. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Hoffman Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.

Where it is

Planning a visit? We want your photo.

Hoffman Falls doesn't have a photo yet. If you make the trip, send one to hello@plungeworthy.com and we'll publish it here with credit to you.

Before you go

The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.