What’s the tallest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains? It sounds like a simple question. Measure the altitude at the top of the falls, the bottom, and subtract the latter from the former. Easy peasy, right? It’s a little more complicated than it sounds.
Niagara Falls
One of the most famous waterfalls in the world, let alone the eastern US, Niagara Falls consists of three separate falls along the US-Canadian border. They mark the point where the Niagara River, which empties Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, plunges over the escarpment created by retreating glaciers from the last ice age. American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls lie completely within the US and are shorter than the border straddling Horseshoe Falls. Measured by the volume of its water flow, Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America. However, with a height of 187 feet (57m) it is not the tallest waterfall in the eastern US.
Other Contenders
Amicalola Falls in the Georgia state park of the same name lists a total drop of 729 feet (222m). That’s more than 3 times higher than Niagara Falls. Sounds like the winner right? Well, not exactly. While 729 feet is an accurate measure from the top to the bottom of the falls, it includes less than vertical sections. The name of the falls is derived from Cherokee and means ‘tumbling waters.’ It aptly describes the multiple cascades of water that combine for the impressive drop figure. However, there’s no single vertical free fall taller than Niagara’s.
Several other cascading waterfalls also claim to be the highest falls east of the Rockies. Upper Whitewater Falls in North Carolina and its sibling Lower Whitewater Falls in South Carolina drop as much as 411 (125m) and 400 feet (122m) respectively. There is some dispute about the actual heights. Nonetheless, neither of them contains a single freefall greater than Niagara’s. Despite even higher total drops, the same analysis applies to Crabtree Falls in Virginia and Glassmine Falls in North Carolina.
Finalist
Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee is sometimes listed as the tallest free-falling waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. The total drop is listed at 256 feet (78m). According to the World Waterfall Database, this is overstated. The actual drop is 203 feet (62m). That would make it taller than Niagara, except it consists of two separate drops. The first is 25 feet (7.6m) over a domed rock, and the second is a vertical drop of 178 feet (54m). While close that’s still shorter than Niagara’s vertical plunge.
Tallest
So, if it’s none of these, what is the tallest? Here’s a hint. Niagara isn’t the tallest waterfall in New York state. Clue number two, it’s not in the Adirondack mountains. Still stumped? With a vertical drop of 215 feet (66m), Taughannock Falls in Thompkins County NY has the tallest single vertical drop east of the Rocky Mountains. The falls are part of the Taughannock State Park. Hikers can follow several trails through the gorge or along the rim to reach the falls. In addition to the falls, the park includes a boat launch, picnic tables, restrooms, and even a snack bar. During the winter, the park features ice skating, sledding, and cross-country skiing. After a day in the park it’s only a short ride (~10 miles) to downtown Ithaca, NY.
To the left is a picture I took on a recent visit to Tuaghannock Falls. The flow of water varies depending on the season and recent rain. To get a sense of the scale, you can just make out a few people on a viewing platform in the lower right corner of the picture.
Our featured map covers the trails and facilites of Taughannock Falls State Park.
For those interested in visiting any of these waterfalls, I’ve included links for each of them in the text above. As always thanks for reading.
Armen
Note to pay the bills: If you’re interested in a James Bond-like thriller in a fantasy setting, then, check out a summary of the series here or find links to purchase books here. There are even a few waterfalls in the series.
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