Falling Waters State Park
- April 9, 2021
Things to Know:
- Great day trip destination in North Florida
- $5 entry fee per car
- Falls accessible via well maintained trails and boardwalk
- Definitely not something you’d expect to find in Florida
The words waterfall and Florida aren’t typically thought of together. Florida is the flattest state in the union, so finding water cascading over a cliff isn’t something most visitors expect. Folks generally come for things like gorgeous beaches, colossal theme parks, legendary Key West, and orange groves. As well they should.
All that aside, we’re here to tell you there REALLY ARE waterfalls in the Sunshine State. And, Falling Waters State Park is home to Florida’s largest and longest waterfall. But it’s not your typical one.
Glistening water spills from a winding stream over 75 feet into a vast sinkhole and disappears into the ground. Believe it or not, no one knows precisely where the water goes from there!
Frankly, we thought this was the only real waterfall in Florida, but it turns out there are a few more. They’re just not as impressive as this one.
Falling Waters State Park is located near Chipley, Florida, just a short distance from Interstate 10.
Access to the falls is surprisingly easy. A short, well maintained trail gives way to a wide wooden boardwalk that leads you on a scenic walk to the falls.
There are several stops along the boardwalk for different views of the falls and surrounding sinkholes. The boardwalk continues through areas of long-leaf pines and wire-grass. It is easy to picture what the area looked like when the first European settlers entered this region.
The boardwalk continues past a small lake, where visitors can picnic, swim, and fish. The trail continues to a campground.
At one point in time, there was a whisky distillery and an oil well near the falls. The well never struck oil, and all that is left is the shaft sticking up from the ground, which was capped in 1921.
Recommendation: If find yourself in the north Florida Panhandle and are looking for an out of the way, relaxing, and incredibly scenic way to spend an hour or so, you should check out this park. The stroll to the falls is easy walking, and the trailhead begins at the parking lot. Once you arrive, you’ll find a sheet of water spilling delicately over the rim of a cavernous sinkhole. A fairly short flight of wooden stairs allows a visitor to actually descend well into the sinkhole and view the falls from near the bottom. It’s a family friendly opportunity to glimpse a true geological rarity. Note: It’s advisable to contact the park in advance of visiting, as prolonged dry weather may limit the amount of water feeding into the falls.
