Nothing mesmerizes quite like a roaring waterfall. Whether the cascades are large or small, they attract visitors eager to feel the raw power of nature. For RVers seeking a quick fix, these five easy-access waterfalls provide jaw-dropping views with very little hiking involved.
Naturalist John Muir said Yosemite Valley looked as though “nature had gathered her choicest treasures” and put them in one location. Yosemite Falls shines as the crown jewel of this beautiful national park and holds the record for being the tallest waterfall in California, dropping some 2,400 feet from the granite peaks above. The best time to experience this marvel is early spring, when melting snow puts the waters at peak flow. Though Yosemite Falls can be seen from many vantage points throughout the park, the short loop trail to the base of Lower Yosemite Fall truly makes it stand out among easy-access waterfalls. Bass Lake RV Resort and Sierra Meadows RV Park make great base camps for a Yosemite vacation.
Thinking of Yellowstone National Park may conjure up images of colorful hot springs and powerful geysers shooting into the sky, but this region is also home to some spectacular waterfalls. The Upper Falls and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River are found in an area known as the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Visitors can admire these dramatic waterfalls from various access points. A short walk to Artist Point offers expansive views of the whole valley. To stand at the exact point where the river falls into the valley below, take the trails to the Brink of the Upper Falls or Lower Falls. Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park and RedRock RV and Camping Park are just two of the many Good Sam campgrounds near Yellowstone National Park.
Oregon’s beautiful Columbia River Gorge, just outside of Portland, is home to dozens of waterfalls. The tallest in the state is iconic Multnomah Falls. A short walk to the Benson Footbridge puts visitors midway up the falls and face to face with the cascading waters as they roar over a precipice hundreds of feet overhead. Looking over the rail of the bridge provides views of the lower falls as they continue on below. Stay at Sandy Riverfront RV Park in Troutdale for easy access.
Considered by many to be the “Niagara Falls of the West,” Shoshone Falls in southern Idaho is actually taller than its eastern counterpart. Carved by the rolling waters of the Snake River, Shoshone Falls varies in flow throughout the year, with spring being the best time to get a picture-perfect view of one of the finest easy-access waterfalls. Be sure to make a stop at the infamous spot where Evel Knievel once attempted to jump across the river in a rocket-powered motorcycle. Anderson Camp and Twin Falls 93 RV Parks are located nearby in Twin Falls.
Not all of America’s spectacular waterfalls are found in the West. The northeast is home to what might be the most famous of them all—Niagara Falls, which straddles the U.S. and Canadian border on the Niagara River between New York and Ontario. This waterfall is an international spectacle made up of three individual falls, with Horseshoe Falls noted as the most powerful waterfall in North America. There are many ways to experience the thunderous roar of Niagara Falls, including several viewpoints in Prospect Point Park on the American side and Queen Victoria Park on the Canadian side. AA Royal Motel & Campground and Niagara Falls Campground & Lodging provide convenient access in New York, and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort and Campark Resorts Family Camping & RV Resorts provide accommodations in Ontario.
Looking to store your belongings and take a long overdue trip, call Laing Self Storage at 607-775-9776.