SMITH FALLS - Smith Falls S.P. Valentine, Nebraska

Smith Falls State Park was established in 1992. Smith Falls is located on the Niobrara River. Of the 180 falls on the 20-mile stretch of the Niobrara River Valley, Smith Falls is the tallest waterfall in Nebraska. The spring-fed fall drops 70 feet then flows into the Niobrara River.

Smith Falls State Park is 4 miles down a gravel road off of Highway 12. You'll wind through corn fields, see wildlife like, turkeys, deer, squirrels, rabbits, and buffalo. You'll cross a couple of cattle guards, and wonder to yourself, "Where in God's country are we going to again?"

DIRECTIONS:  Driving directions for Smith Falls SP from Valentine you go 15 miles east on Highway 12 to the Smith Falls State Park sign, then turn right. Travel 4 miles south on a gravel road to park.
A state park permit is required. Stop in the office to obtain one, then drive through the campground to the walkway that leads over walk bridges and across a historic truss bridge that spans the river. Once across the bridge, a short walk to a boardwalk leads to the falls.

The park is open April 1 - November 30.

ACCESSIBILITY: A walkway leads over walk bridges and across a historic truss bridge that spans the river. Once across the bridge, a short walk to a boardwalk leads to the falls.

 TYPE OF FALL:  Fan

BRIGGS WOODS COUNTY PARK - Webster City, Iowa

Briggs Woods Park is located at 2490 Briggs Woods Trail in Hamilton County, Iowa, two and one-half miles south of Webster City off of Highway 17. The park is 550 acres and is easily accessible by wheelchair, strollers, or bikes.  However, the path to the falls is a grassy steep path. I made it to the falls only by the strength of my husband. If you have a motorized wheelchair, you'll be good to go by yourself, otherwise, waterfall access is difficult. Highway 20 offers clear access to the east and west, while Interstate 35 is located about 12 miles east of highway 17.

FALL TYPE:  Briggs Woods Falls has three tiers cascading over rock formations.

SILVER FALLS STATE PARK : OREGON

Silver Falls State Park  is situated within the foothills of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains located 25 miles east of Salem.


"As the largest state park within Oregon, Silver Falls offers diverse opportunities for recreation with plenty of room for all visitors. For the equestrians, dog owners, mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts, more than 25 miles of multi-use back-country trails spread over the 9,000 acres offer a great escape."

The South Falls Day Use Area has spacious lawns, BBQ stands, picnic shelters, tables, playground, horse shoe pits, doggie off leash area, and charming creek. A viewing area of the famous 177-foot South Falls is a short stroll on a paved walkway.

 South Falls viewpoint (above and below)

The Kalapuya and Molalla, whose ancestors came to the Willamette Valley about 14,000 years ago, were the native people in the Silver Falls area when whites arrived as early as 1812. 

The 10 waterfall trail is a little more than 8-miles; however, only two are accessible by wheels (wheelchair, strollers, or bikes). In addition to the South viewing area, the upper North Falls path is narrow, but doable and is well worth the .2 mile stroll. Small trickles of water seep from the dirt walls of the path which allows for a peaceful meander to the fall.

 Cheyanne, our service dog, leading the way.

 Upper North Falls

WHITEHORSE FALLS, OREGON

Whitehorse Falls is a Punchbowl Fall located at milepost 65.9 on Highway 138. A gorgeous sturdy decking leads to an overlook. Wheelchair access is easy. The 15-foot falls is located on the Clearwater River in the Umpqua National Forest.

Waterfall Type:  Punchbowl - descends from a constricted width of a stream, empties into a pool below.

Directions:  Turn north at Whitehorse Falls Campground entrance on Hwy 138 at milepost 65.9.

SUSAN CREEK FALLS, OREGON

Susan Creek Falls can be found on North Umpqua River in Umpqua National Forest in Douglas County, Oregon. The waterfall is a Fan type fall that drops 50 feet over moss-covered rocks.  The falls can be accessed by an easy path that is well-maintained by the Bureau of Land Management. The 3/4 mile trail to the waterfall is evenly graded and is accessible by wheelchair; however, manual help may be needed for endurance to make the distance.

Directions: The trailhead is directly off of the parking lot located at milepost 28.2 on Highway 138. A Susan Creek Day-Use Area is across the highway. Picnic tables and restrooms are available at the day-use area, trailhead, and below the waterfalls.

Waterfall Type: Fan - descends vertically while maintaining some contact with the rock surface with an increasing width of spray.

McARTHUR-BURNEY FALLS STATE PARK - Burney, California

Over a million years ago, volcanic activity created Burney Falls and its landscape. 100 million gallons of water flow through Burney Falls everyday.

The 129-foot Burney Falls was named after Samuel Burney. McArthurs settled in the area in the late 1800s. Then descendants of the McArthur's saved the waterfalls and area from development and donated it to California state in 1920.

Address: McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, 24898 State Highway89, Burney, CA 96013 * (530) 335-2777

The upper falls overlook is directly off of the parking area. A short paved path leads to a stone wall that overlooks the massive waterfall.  There are two options to get to the bottom of the waterfall.  Option one is to take a paved curvy path that consists of steps and smooth walkways.  Option two is a 1.2 round trip smooth dirt hiking path that starts at Lake Britton.  It follows the lake and stream that leads from the falls. A wheelchair, stroller, or challenged walker can easily take this path to the lower falls.

MCCLOUD RIVER FALLS - McCloud, California

Indian tribes came to McCloud River Falls to fish for Rainbow Trout, hunt Elk, eat acorns, pine nuts, wild onions, wild plums, mushrooms, elderberries, make baskets from Native plant materials, and use plants for medicine, tools, clothes, and temporary houses

ACCESSIBILITY: McCloud River Falls consists of three impressive waterfalls: Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls. The Upper and Lower Falls are easily accessible by a paved walking path directly off of the parking area. The Lower Falls are within an earshot of the parking area. The Middle Falls are hard to find and are found along a rough trail. The overlook for the Upper Falls is only a few steps from the parking lot - just past the bathrooms and picnic area.


















DIRECTIONS: Use Highway 89 for 15 miles east of the I-5/89 junction and 5 miles east of McCloud and turn south on Road 40N44. (Look for a Fowlers Camp/McCloud Falls sign.) Go right at .6 mile (a left here takes you to overlooks of Middle Falls and Upper Falls) Continue another .7 mile past the campground and park at the picnic area at the Lower Falls. Follow your ears toward Lower Falls and the beginning of the trail.

Roads are not plowed during winter. For road and waterfall accessibility, call McCloud Ranger Station, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, P.O. Box 1620, McCloud, CA 96057; (530) 964-2184.

CRYSTAL CREEK, WHISKEYTOWN CALIFORNIA NATIONAL PARK

Whiskeytown California was a gold-rush town. Crystal Creek Falls is one of four in Whiskeytown National Park.  The short walkway from the parking area to the falls is paved. It makes for an easy stroll by wheelchair, stroller, or bike. Restrooms are available at the trail head.

YOSEMITE,NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA

Yosemite is not home to one waterfall or two or three, but many.  Several waterfalls ranging from 300 feet to nearly 2500 feet plummet from gigantic rock formations. Other waterfalls consist of cascading falls ranging from 50 feet to 500 feet.

The falls can be viewed from roadside pull-offs, hiking trails, and wheelchair accessible walkways.  Peak flow for the waterfalls is late spring, usually May and June.  Water flow slows to a trickle by August; however, late fall rains regenerate the waterfalls.

Grand Falls - Navajo Nation Arizona

Grand Falls in the Painted Desert on the Navajo Indian Reservation near Flagstaff Arizona is taller than Niagara Falls when it actually flows.

Snow melt or monsoon rain dumps into the Little Colorado River , then, a grand waterfall view is produced at Lower Colorado River.  It is said that the waterfalls are similar to flowing chocolate depending on the amount of water present. The falls are inactive for several months of the year or reduces to a trickle or non-existent.

The waterfall is remote and no major paved roads access it. Just when you think you've gone far enough into nowhere, go a little farther.  The 10 miles of dirt road, Indian Road 6910 (pic 1) was extremely bumpy; similar to a washboard.  A 4 x 4 vehicle would be ideal, however, a well-maintained car driven slowly will get you to the destination. Grand Falls Road (Indian Road 70) crosses the floor of the Little Colorado River.  The Little Colorado River was not flowing the day we found the waterfall, but, we got to drive on the river's bed (pic 3). Here is a site that has a picture of the falls in full spectacular. http://arizonatourism.com/articles/grand-falls/ This is another fall we will be returning to in late winter/early spring.

pic 1

pic 3

Picnic benches are provided at the overlook.

The site and the roads leading to the falls are located in the Navajo Nation, so wandering off the roads or trails is against Navajo Law.