Trifter

Most people probably do not associate Ohio with waterfalls but the Buckeye State has some beautiful and quite unique waterfalls. The eastern half of the state where most of these waterfalls are located has many gorges, glaciated plateaus and rock formations that lend themselves to waterfalls and much of Ohio’s northern border is Lake Erie. There are tons of waterfalls in and around the Great Lakes area including mighty Niagara Falls. Ohio has no waterfall to match that but has its share of unique and pretty waterfalls.

Cedar Falls

Source

Probably the best known and most photographed waterfall in Ohio is Cedar Falls located in the Hocking Hills Stats Park area in south central Ohio. Cedar Falls is 50 feet high and noted for the way it splits into two around a big jutting piece of sandstone halfway down and then comes together again for the final tumble into the pool below.

Source

Ash Cave Falls

Source

Also located in Hocking Hills State Park is the 90 to 100 foot high Ash Cave Falls. Except in the spring or after heavy rain this waterfall does not have heavy flow but is quite pretty given the magnificent Ash Cave background. In the winter this waterfall forms an ice cone or tower on the ground below and reportedly during very cold winters the ice tower extends all the way to the top creating a unique site.

Source

Hayden Run Falls

Source

Located along Hayden Run in Griggs Nature Preserve not far from Columbus, Ohio is the 25 foot high Hayden Run Falls. Though a large shopping mall is located just miles from this waterfall the Hayden Run Gorge protects this waterfall and preserves its natural appeal.

Source

Blue Hen Falls

Source

Located along Spring Creek in Cuyahoga Valley National Park just south of Cleveland is the 15 foot high Blue Hen Falls. Though not the tallest of waterfalls by any means this one is very pretty and has a ghost story too. A young woman was raped and left on a bench at Blue Hen Falls some years ago and she froze to death before help arrived. Reportedly the ghost of this young woman keeps the area around these falls cool even in the summer and some claim to have seen her spirit wandering the trail at the falls. Blue Hen Falls can be reached along Boston Mills Rd.

Brandywine Falls

Source

Not to be confused with the much taller Brandywine Falls in British Columbia, this Brandywine Falls is located along Brandywine Creek in Cuyahoga Valley National Park just south of Cleveland and can be reached along Brandywine Road. At 60 feet in height this is one the tallest and most impressive waterfalls in Ohio.

Source

Minnehaha Falls

Source

Not to be confused with the Minnehaha Falls from Nathanial Hawthorne’s Song of Hiawatha poem located in Minnesota, the Minnehaha Falls in Ohio are located in the Nelson and Kennedy Ledges State Park along State Route 282 in Nelson Township. Though only some 12 feet in height this a pretty waterfall and in my opinion outshines the nearby much taller Cascade Falls (see below). Both falls are located along Crystal Creek.

Source

Clifton Gorge Falls

Source

Located in the Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve just outside of Clifton along the Little Miami River in southwestern Ohio is the Clifton Gorge Falls. The water falls through the 40 foot high Clifton Gorge in beautiful fashion. Located nearby is the Clifton Mill with a man made waterfall and a Christmas Shop.

Source

East and West Falls Black River

Source (East Falls)

Located right in Elyria, Ohio about 25 miles west of Cleveland are the East and West Falls of the Black River. The East Falls are some 25 feet high while the West Falls are 35 feet high and more impressive.

Source (West Falls)

Paine Falls

Source

This pretty multi-tiered waterfall is located near Lake Erie in northeastern Ohio in Painesville. I’ve seen the height listed for this waterfall at 25 feet but that might just be the bottom as it looks much higher in total to me.

Great Falls Tinkers Creek

Source

Located just south of Cleveland in Bedford, Ohio along Tinkers Creek is the Great Falls. Though only some 15 feet high these falls stretch out over 80 feet.

Cuyahoga Falls

Source

Located in the city of Cuyahoga Falls in northeastern Ohio is this roughly 40 foot two-tier falls. Pictured here from the deck of the Sheraton Suites. Not a bad view for the guests of the hotel.

Chagrin Falls

Source

Located right in the town of Chagrin Falls in northeastern Ohio is this 22 foot high waterfall. Bill Watterson who created the popular comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes” is from Chagrin Falls which only has some 4,000 residents.

Image via Wikipedia

There is an easy to access viewing deck located right next to the falls.

Source

For more beautiful waterfalls please see Most Beautiful Waterfall in New York State, Most Beautiful Waterfalls in  Minnesota and Most Beautiful Wisconsin Waterfalls.