Geary Lake Falls
One for the list
Is it plungeworthy?
A dam.
The details
- Type
- Dam
- Coordinates
- 38.90481, -96.86721
About Geary Lake Falls
Geary Lake Falls is a dam in Kansas.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates Geary Lake Falls 3.6/10 — one for the list. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
Kansas's tallest waterfall — 35 feet of Geary State Fishing Lake spillway tumbling over a natural rock face south of Junction City, and one of the most photographed falls in the state. (Our database carried no height at all; multiple independent sources agree on 35.)
The main view is an easy 0.7-mile out-and-back across the dam. A steeper, muddier scramble continues to the base through dense vegetation and uneven ground — treat that part as a real descent, not a stroll.
Like every spillway falls in Kansas, it's rain-fed: full-throated March through June, thin to dry without recent heavy rain.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Geary State Fishing Lake — from I-70 at Junction City, 6 miles south on US-77, then west on State Lake Road
- Parking
- Northeast end of the lake
- Road
- Paved highway, short park road
- Hike
- 0.7 mi round trip (Easy across the dam with irregular footing and occasional steep spots; the descent to the base is moderate and muddy)
When to go
March through June for full flow.
The falls dries up without recent heavy rain — it's spillway-fed.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- Free — KDWP state fishing lake
- Hours
- Day use — no posted gate hours found
- Warnings
- Swimming is officially prohibited at Kansas state fishing lakes (KAR 115) unless posted otherwise.
Researched from Only In Your State — Kansas's tallest waterfall · Islands — Trail to Kansas's tallest waterfall · KansasTravel.org — Geary Lake Falls · AllTrails — Geary Falls Trail. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Geary Lake Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Planning a visit? We want your photo.
Geary Lake 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.
Common questions
Where is Geary Lake Falls?
Geary Lake Falls is a waterfall in Kansas, at 38.90481, -96.86721.
Is Geary Lake Falls worth visiting?
One for the list — Plungeworthy rates it 3.6/10.
Gear for the trip
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