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.

Jemez Mountain Trail, New Mexico

Found on the Jemez Mountain Trail, a national scenic byway in Sandoval County, New Mexico,
underground hot springs called Soda Dam, have flowed for centuries building up mineral deposits to form a natural dam.

The Dam can be viewed from the road.  The rocky pathway does not allow easy access down to the waterfall bottom by wheels; however the thunder of the rolling waters compliments the serene and tranquil setting amongst the boulders.

WITCHITA FALLS, TEXAS

The original Wichita Falls in Wichita Falls, Texas washed away in a flood in the 1800's; however, a 54-foot man-made waterfall was built in 1987 on the south bank of Wichita River. A concrete walkway leads to the falls, which makes the one-mile walk to the falls easily accessible by wheelchair, stroller, or bike.

Palo Duro Canyon, Texas

River Falls is located on Curie Ranch at the northern end of Palo Duro Canyon (Texas Grand Canyon). The Falls lies on privately-owned ground behind a 24-hour security locked gate. A vehicle must be driven through the canyon to view the falls. The lower part of the falls is not wheelchair accessible. The Security Guard served as a guide. He was very knowledgeable on the history of the canyon and falls.

Davis, Oklahoma - Turner Falls

Turner Falls, located in Davis, Oklahoma, is one of the two tallest waterfalls in Oklahoma. The 77-foot waterfall in the Arbukle Mountains; the oldest known formation in the United States. Parking is close to the falls; however, a concrete pathway about two blocks long leads visitors directly in front of the falls, which makes accessibility easy.

An abandoned rock castle built in the 1930's by Dr. Ellsworth Collins, Dean of Education at Oklahoma University sits beside the waterfall. It served as a summer home and the headquarters for "The Bar C Ranch".

Falling Waters State Park, Chipley, Florida

A concrete path pleasantly declines through the tall pines toward a boardwalk that branches into two trails. Choosing the left trail, allows visitors to view several large sinkholes. A sinkhole occurs when the roof of a cavern collapses. The opposing right trail leads to Florida's highest waterfall. Named, Falling Water Sink, the fall plummets 73-feet into a sinkhole, which has an unknown final destination.

www.floridastateparks.org/fallingwaters

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

When my husband and I set out to find and take pictures of wheelchair accessible waterfalls in every U.S. state, we were excited about the challenge.  We gave ourselves no time limit to accomplish our feat; however, we had one mutually agreed upon rule that dictated how long we would stay in any given area.  That rule was to never shiver again.  Needless to say, adhering to this rule presented a new challenge.  The new challenge was to find a waterfall that was actually flowing.  Visiting mid-west and eastern states during months that prevented us from shivering are the same months that are hot enough to dry up streams; hence, little or no water flow for waterfalls.  The natural scenery and picturesque landscapes warrant a second visit in the early spring right after the snow melts.

Sioux Falls in South Dakota had enough water flow in August to "wow" my interest to continue searching for waterfalls dry or trickling. The paved walkways allowed easy access to many different views of the falls. Food and snacks were available for purchasing, and a tower equipped with an elevator took visitors to the top which overlooked the falls and nearby city.