Cumberland Falls

Cumberland Falls is one of the most magnificent waterfalls in the eastern United States, a powerful curtain of water some 68 feet high and 125 feet wide where the Cumberland River pours over a great sandstone ledge in the forested hills of southeastern Kentucky. Known as the ‘Niagara of the South,’ the thundering falls are the spectacular centerpiece of Cumberland Falls State Resort Park within the Daniel Boone National Forest.

What makes Cumberland Falls truly extraordinary is a rare natural phenomenon: on clear nights around the full moon, the mist of the falls produces a ‘moonbow’ — a lunar rainbow — one of the only places on Earth where this ghostly arc of light can be reliably seen. By day, the falls roar in full color; by the light of the full moon, they shimmer with the moonbow. With its powerful falls, its famous moonbow, a historic lodge, river rapids and miles of forest trails, Cumberland Falls is a treasured natural wonder of Kentucky.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park centers on the spectacular falls, viewed from overlooks and trails, and is famous for moonbow-viewing on clear full-moon nights. Beyond the falls, the park offers whitewater rafting and the Cumberland River’s rapids, miles of hiking trails (including connections to the Sheltowee Trace), the historic DuPont Lodge, cabins, camping, fishing, horseback riding and a swimming pool. The combination of the powerful ‘Niagara of the South,’ the rare moonbow, river adventure and forest trails makes the park a premier and beloved destination in southeastern Kentucky.

Spring brings the fullest, most thunderous flow over the falls from rain and snowmelt, while fall frames the falls and Cumberland River gorge in spectacular color. The famous moonbow is visible on clear nights around the full moon year-round (check the park’s moonbow calendar). Summer is popular for rafting and the lodge, and winter can ice the falls. The falls are most powerful in spring; moonbow nights, fall color and spring high water are highlights. Plan moonbow viewing around the full-moon schedule and clear skies.

Cumberland Falls has drawn visitors for generations, long known as the ‘Niagara of the South’ and famous for its rare moonbow. The land was protected as a state park in the early 20th century, saved from a proposed hydroelectric dam through the philanthropy of T. Coleman du Pont, whose family helped donate the falls to Kentucky. The historic DuPont Lodge and CCC-era structures reflect that heritage. Set within the Daniel Boone National Forest, Cumberland Falls has been a treasured Kentucky landmark and a beloved destination for its falls and moonbow ever since.

Cumberland Falls pours over a great ledge of hard sandstone of the Cumberland Plateau, where the Cumberland River drops some 68 feet across a 125-foot-wide curtain into a deep gorge below. The resistant sandstone caprock forms the lip of the falls, while the river has carved the gorge into the softer rock beneath, slowly eroding the falls upstream over time. The sandstone ledge, the wide curtain of water and the river gorge reflect the geology of the Cumberland Plateau, and the falls’ mist creates the conditions for the famous moonbow.

The forests, cliffs and Cumberland River of Cumberland Falls State Resort Park host white-tailed deer, black bear (returning to the region), wild turkey, foxes, and a rich community of birds, including woodland species, hawks and vultures soaring along the gorge, while the river supports fish. The biodiverse Cumberland Plateau forest, within the Daniel Boone National Forest, supports abundant wildlife. The park is a fine place for wildlife watching and birding amid its falls, river gorge and lush forest in southeastern Kentucky.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park protects a biodiverse stretch of the Cumberland Plateau, where the powerful falls, the Cumberland River gorge, sandstone cliffs and lush forest support diverse plant and animal life, including species of the rich plateau forest and the river corridor. The mist zone around the falls creates a special humid microhabitat. Set within the Daniel Boone National Forest, the park preserves a vital stretch of the river and forest. Protecting the falls, the gorge, the river’s water quality and the forest sustains both the ecology and the scenic wonder of this Kentucky landmark.

Cumberland Falls, the ‘Niagara of the South’ and one of the only places on Earth to reliably see a moonbow, holds a treasured and storied place in Kentucky’s natural heritage. Its thundering curtain of water, its rare lunar rainbow, and its history of preservation through philanthropy have drawn generations of visitors and moonbow-seekers. The falls and their historic lodge embody both the natural grandeur and the conservation heritage of the Cumberland Plateau, a beloved and magical natural icon of southeastern Kentucky.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is in southeastern Kentucky near Corbin and Williamsburg, off US-25W and State Route 90, within the Daniel Boone National Forest, about 20 miles southwest of Corbin and an hour and a half south of Lexington. The park is free to enter. It offers overlooks and trails to the falls, moonbow viewing, the historic DuPont Lodge, cabins, campgrounds, rafting outfitters, and river access. Check Kentucky State Parks for the moonbow calendar, lodging, rafting and conditions before visiting, especially for moonbow nights.

Kentucky State Parks protects Cumberland Falls, the Cumberland River gorge, the cliffs and the forest, within the Daniel Boone National Forest. Visitors help by staying on trails and overlooks, keeping back from the dangerous cliff edges and the river, protecting the dark skies that make moonbow-viewing possible, packing out everything, protecting the river’s water quality, respecting wildlife, and following park rules. Protecting the falls, the gorge, the river and the forest — and the dark skies — sustains both the ecology and the natural and lunar wonders of this treasured Kentucky park.

Cumberland Falls’ gorge has steep, dangerous cliffs and the rocks near the falls and river are slippery, with powerful currents — stay on trails and overlooks, keep well back from the edges and the river, and supervise children closely, as falls into the gorge or river can be fatal. Do not climb on the falls or swim in the dangerous currents above or below them. For moonbow viewing at night, use a flashlight, stay on the safe overlooks, and take extra care in the dark. Whitewater rafting should be done with licensed outfitters.

The park is free to enter. Stay on trails and overlooks and back from the cliff edges and the river; climbing on the falls and swimming in the dangerous currents are prohibited. View the moonbow from the safe overlooks. Camp only in designated areas; the lodge and cabins require reservations. Raft with licensed outfitters and follow river and fishing regulations. Pets must be leashed. Drones generally require authorization. Pack out all trash. Check Kentucky State Parks for the moonbow calendar and current rules before visiting.

The towns of Corbin and Williamsburg lie near the park, with the Daniel Boone National Forest, the Cumberland River, the Sheltowee Trace trail, and nearby Laurel River Lake within reach. The city of Lexington is about an hour and a half north, and the Tennessee border and the Big South Fork region lie to the south. The Cumberland Plateau’s forests and rivers define the region. Cumberland Falls anchors a scenic region of waterfalls, river adventure and forest in southeastern Kentucky, a centerpiece of an outdoor and moonbow-viewing getaway.

See the thundering ‘Niagara of the South’ by day from the overlooks — best after spring rain for the fullest flow — and plan a special trip for the rare moonbow on a clear night around the full moon (check the park’s moonbow calendar and bring a flashlight, staying on the safe overlooks). Raft the Cumberland River’s rapids with a licensed outfitter, hike the gorge trails, stay at the historic DuPont Lodge, keep back from the dangerous cliffs and currents, and visit in fall for spectacular color.