Surreal Sights: Waterfalls

What could be
more refreshing on a summer day than enjoying the gorgeous views and soothing
sounds of a waterfall? You can find many of these beautiful natural wonders
throughout the country, so why not add one to the itinerary for your next
camping trip? Here are a few to consider:

Silver
Falls

Sublimity, Oregon

It has been called the “crown jewel” of the Oregon State Parks
system, and one reason is that it’s part of the Trail of Ten Falls, a
nationally-recognized hiking trail that passes a series of waterfalls as it
descends to a winding creek at the forest floor. It’s a moderate, seven-mile
loop hike and offers a unique opportunity to walk behind
a waterfall at the 177-foot South Falls. The park is also on the path of the
highly-anticipated total solar eclipse on the nights of Aug.
18-20.

Multnomah
Falls

Oregon

Located 30 minutes from Portland on the magnificent Columbia River
Gorge, Multnomah Falls delivers the awe-inspiring sight of a 600-foot cascade
of icy water. It is the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific
Northwest. A five-minute trail leads to the base of the falls from the
parking area off of I-84, or, for a closer (and more exhilarating) view, take
the steep paved trail up to Benson Bridge. The bridge is named after Simon
Benson, a prominent Portland businessman who owned the site in the early
1900s before donating the falls to the City of Portland, which later
transferred ownership to the forest service.

Find
a campground nearby.

Burgess Falls

Sparta, Tennessee

Burgess Falls State Park, which is located on the Falling Water
River, features four waterfalls, the last of which is considered to be the
most spectacular because it plunges more than 130 feet into the gorge. The
1.5-mile round-trip River Trail/Service Road Loop is a moderately strenuous
hike that leads past the waterfalls and into the gorge. Please note that the
overlook area for the main falls is accessible, but the stairs down to the
main falls have been closed until further notice.

Ruby
Falls

Chattanooga, TN

This waterfall is located in a totally unexpected place –
underground! Located 1,120 feet below the surface of Lookout Mountain, Ruby
Falls was discovered by a team of excavators in 1928 and was opened to the
public in 1930. Now, thousands of visitors come to see the 145-foot Ruby
Falls each year. Additional attractions include the Lookout Mountain Tower
that offers panoramic views of the Tennessee River Gorge and downtown
Chattanooga, a choice of cave tours, and the Zipstream Aerial Adventure that
features suspended obstacle courses built in the trees that include ladders,
nets, walkways, bridges, tunnels and zip lines. The attraction also offers a
40-foot climbing tower and a zipline experience without the ropes
course.

Find
a campground nearby.

Postcard Falls

Brighton, New York

What’s not to love about a waterfall that carries the name
Postcard Falls? It’s located at Corbett’s Glen Nature Park along a three-mile
loop trail that that measures a spacious eight feet wide. The park also
includes a boardwalk, a deck viewing area and a seating area that overlooks
the falls.