The Most Incredible Hidden Waterfalls in Northeast Ohio
If you know me at all, you know my favorite thing to photograph is waterfalls. Luckily for me (and you!) there are so many great waterfalls in Ohio. Most of them are well known and easy to get to. However, those are not my favorites.
I love the waterfalls you stumble upon. The ones you can’t even believe exist. The ones that are so breathtaking and peaceful you have a hard time describing your experience to another person. I’m sharing with you my five favorite falls within driving distant from my house.
1.) West Falls of Black River, Cascade Park
Why I love it: So technically, this waterfall is not hidden. However, every time I’ve visited there has hardly been anyone there. I also love how many vantage points of the falls there are. Plus, there’s an amazing little cave!
2.) Contour Falls, Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Why I love it: This waterfall is nearby several others in Brecksville Reservation, including the more well-known Twin Sister Falls. Contour Falls is a little trickier to find and harder to get to. The last time I went I had to take off my shoes and trek through a pretty deep portion of a creek. This waterfall is isolated, and is truly contoured. It is one of the most unique ones I’ve seen.
3.) Crown Hill Falls, Crown Hill Cemetary
Why I love it: This waterfall is located in a cemetery. Call me crazy, but this alone was enough of a reason for me to go see it. I was so intrigued! The area is very quiet and the waterfall is unexpected. There’s minimal climbing involved and you are almost guaranteed to spend at this waterfall alone.
4.) No Name Waterfall, Hell Hollow Wilderness
Why I love it: First off, it’s in the wilderness. You’ll come to learn that I love areas where there are no trails. This area is unique because it’s public land you can just wander around on your own. What I love about this waterfall is that it appears out of nowhere. One minute you’re walking along the creek and all of the sudden you hear raging water.. then you peak around a canopy of trees and tucked away is this beautiful, two-tiered waterfall. You’ll want to bring a hammock and set up camp here for a while to just relax and listen. It really is surreal.
5.) No Name Waterfall, Euclid Creek Reservation
Why I love it: I don’t know if this is truly classified as a “waterfall” but this area is one of my favorite places to visit. You have to descend down a semi-steep hill to see the waterfall pictured above. There’s an isolated rock right in front of the falls where I lay a blanket down and just sit and relax. In addition to the lovely area by the waterfall, I’m a huge fan of the overlook in the second picture (as long as you’re not afraid of heights).
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, there are a ton of hidden waterfalls in Northeast Ohio alone! I will be sharing other hidden waterfalls outside of NEO that I love in a later post.
What’s your favorite hidden area?
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I'm here to help inspire people to explore our beautiful state of Ohio
Meet the blogger
Whether you're interested in finding a day hike near you or a weekend getaway, I hope to be a helpful resource for you to find something fun to do. I've been living in Ohio for over a decade and have been able to spend time in almost every region. I think there is something for everyone here! And while we travel a ton within the state, we also love traveling to other states via road trips and sometimes bigger adventures that require a plane ride. I hope you find what you're looking for, and happy adventuring!
I'm Mady!
Gorgeous photos! You came up suggested for my others I follow in nature… I didn’t know Ohio had such beauty like this! I want to visit! 😉 I have to show my husband these pictures 🙂 Looking forward to all the pics you’ll be sharing 🙂
Thank you so much for the kind words! That’s what I love about Ohio.. it’s full of surprises most people don’t even know about. 🙂
[…] for me because it includes three of my favorite spots, Twin Sister Falls, Greenwood Falls and Contour Falls. If you don’t appreciate some dirt trails, and possibly getting a little muddy/wet along the […]
[…] you’re down on level ground though, the place is really yours to explore on your own. One of my favorite little waterfalls can be found here. I’d recommend taking sandals with you, as you are bound to get your feet […]
There are a lot of incredible hidden waterfalls in northeast Ohio.
One of my favorites is Swift Hollow Waterfall at
latitude 41.3578º, longitude -82.3337º
But I also love Tip Top Falls — I call it “A wonderfully intricate double waterfall and canyon.”
latitude: 41.1580º, longitude: 81.4404º
But now that I think of it Welton’s Gully is really spectacular. This one is a Geauga County Park with restricted access.
[…] no matter what time of year. And although it’s in the heart of a town, it still feels like a hidden gem. The flow of this waterfall is always changing based on how dry or wet the season has been. It can […]