Photo: Aaron Vowels · CC BY 2.0Cumberland Falls
Worth the drive
Is it plungeworthy?
A waterfall on Cumberland River.
The details
- Watercourse
- Cumberland River
- Coordinates
- 36.83881, -84.3449
About Cumberland Falls
Cumberland Falls is a 68-foot waterfall in Kentucky, on Cumberland River.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates Cumberland Falls 7.3/10 — worth the drive. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
The Niagara of the South: 68 feet tall, 125 feet wide, and home to the Western Hemisphere's only regularly visible moonbow — a lunar rainbow that appears in the mist on clear full-moon nights. The park stays open around the clock for it.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Main overlook by DuPont Lodge, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, off KY-90
- Parking
- Free lots at the lodge and along KY-90
- Road
- Paved
- Hike
- 0.2 mi round trip (easy — short paved walk)
- Heads up
- Moonbow nights are posted on the park calendar; arrive early, the lots fill.
When to go
Clear full-moon nights for the moonbow; spring and after rain for daytime thunder. Year-round park.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- None — free
- Dogs
- Leashed in most of the park; banned on nature-preserve trails
- Hours
- Grounds open around the clock (the moonbow requires it)
- Camping
- Park campground ~April–October, plus DuPont Lodge year-round
- Warnings
- Entering the water above the falls is illegal and lethal; icy overlook rails in winter.
Researched from KY State Parks — Cumberland Falls · Wikipedia — Cumberland Falls. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Cumberland Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
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
How tall is Cumberland Falls?
Cumberland Falls drops about 68 feet, in Kentucky.
Where is Cumberland Falls?
Cumberland Falls is a waterfall in Kentucky, at 36.83881, -84.3449.
Is Cumberland Falls worth visiting?
Worth the drive — Plungeworthy rates it 7.3/10.
Gear for the trip
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