1. Geary Falls
Geary State Fishing Lake Waterfall – Fine-Art Prints Available
Geary Falls near Junction City, Kansas
Geary Falls are located just south of Junction City. I’ve now visited this waterfall three times and it’s become my favorite after the most recent trip. In late April, I visited when early morning fog and heavy rains had a very mystical feeling to the falls. The only downside to Geary Falls, like most spillway falls in Kansas, is when the water is running low, they nearly dry up. But when they’re flowing, they’re really flowing! The main viewpoint is from the top of the falls, but if you follow a little path down through the trees and do a bit of rock-hopping on the creek, it leads you to the vantage point from below the falls where this was shot. This was also one of the first Kansas waterfall I ever visited.
2. Prather Creek Falls (Chase Lake Falls)
Prather Creek Falls – Fine-Art Prints Available
Prather Creek Falls, also known as Chase Lake Falls, near Cottonwood Falls
Prather Creek Falls, also known as Chase Lake Falls, may not be the tallest of all the waterfalls in Kansas, but it’s become one of my absolute favorites! There are three tiers to this waterfall. The middle being my favorite, is pictured above. Prather Creek Falls are pretty easy to find. Just head out to Chase State Fishing Lake to the east of Cottonwood Falls and park at the dam. Walk across and follow the spillway down the creek to stop at each layer of falls. Each of the three tiers seem to offer a new angle to photograph them, and depending on the day of the year and time of day, sunlight can hit these falls just perfectly to light them up! If you’re driving the Flint Hills Scenic Byway, this is one stop that’s absolutely worth the extra couple of miles to visit Chase State Fishing Lake!
3. Santa Fe Lake Falls
The Floodgates Opened – Fine-Art Prints Available
Heavy rainfall causes a deluge at Santa Fe Lake Falls near Augusta, Kansas
Santa Fe Lake Falls might be the best-kept secret in the Wichita area! While most lake-goers head towards Cheney and El Dorado for their lake fun, there’s a smaller lake between Augusta and Andover called Santa Fe Lake that offers some really beautiful Kansas beauty. Growing up, I visited this lake on many occasions, as my grandparents lived a mile or two down the road, but I never knew the lake harbored this beautiful waterfall until more recent times. Located in the spillway of Santa Fe Lake, this waterfall is awesome when the water is flowing! These falls shouldn’t be confused with the waterfall of the same name Santa Fe Lake Falls, that are located in the spillway of Santa Fe Lake in Edgerton, Kansas, near Kansas City.
4. Cowley Falls
Cowley Falls – Fine-Art Prints Available
Cowley Falls near Ark City, Kansas
Cowley Falls are my go-to falls when I know there’s been some rain. They almost never disappoint (other than a visit in drought conditions), and when they are in full flow, like the above photo, there’s some great angles to view them from! The typical lookout point is above the falls to the west, near the parking lot. But a sketchy path can take you down towards the base of the falls. It’s worth the hike down, as you get views like the above photo! I would almost consider moving Cowley Falls up above Santa Fe Falls or even Prather Creek Falls, but the amount of littering people have done here has left a lot of broken glass and trash at the site. Still, if you can overlook that negative, Cowley Falls can be extremely impressive! Just be careful of the broken glass if you trek down to the base of the falls.
5. Chautauqua Falls
Surging Chautauqua Falls – Fine-Art Prints Available
Upper Chautauqua Falls near Sedan, Kansas
I found Chautauqua Falls by accident while Google Mapping one day. And they sure don’t disappoint! Located near Sedan, Kansas, these beautiful falls are similar to Prather Creek Falls, as there are numerous drops along the creek. The photo above showcases part of the upper falls during high rainfall. Depending on rainfall amounts, this waterfall has multiple drops, sometimes including a twin or triple set of falls at the top. Below these is a smaller drop that can provide a more intimate waterfall to view, as it drops off a flat shelf and gets wider as more water flows over.
6. Rock Creek Falls
Rock Creek Falls – Fine-Art Prints Available
Rock Creek Falls near Fort Scott, Kansas
Rock Creek Falls are another set of falls like Prather Creek Falls that have multiple drops within a hundred yards of each other. At the top is the spillway. It’s man-made but still pretty. But below that are the falls pictured above. And further below that are a number of smaller shelf-like falls that are equally as pretty! Rock Creek Falls can be found by visiting Rock Creek Lake west of Fort Scott in eastern Kansas and following the creek between the lake spillway and the Marmaton River. These falls are just a few miles west of the Frontier Military Byway.
7. Alma Falls
Alma Falls – Fine-Art Prints Available
Alma Falls at the Alma City Fishing Lake
The Alma Falls are located in the southwest corner of Alma City Fishing Lake. You can find the Alma City Lake just 2.5 miles southeast of Alma. These spillways include at least three large drops. When the rain is flowing, they are highly impressive, though a little difficult to get a good shot at!
8. Butcher Falls
Spring at Butcher Falls – Fine-Art Prints Available
Red Buffalo Ranch’s famous Butcher Falls
Butcher Falls are located on Red Buffalo Ranch, which is owned by Bill Kurtis, a native Kansan famous for broadcasting. It’s located to the northwest of Sedan, Kansas, is some beautiful Chautauqua Hills country! The falls drop a good 10-15 feet between boulders into the pool below. You can even stay on the ranch in the Butcher Falls Bunkhouse! This is one of the few non-spillway natural waterfalls in the state!
9. Angel Falls
Angel Falls – Fine-Art Prints Available
Angel Falls in Lansing, Kansas
Angel Falls are actually located inside the city limits of Lansing, Kansas, in Northeast Kansas. They make a great stop on the south end of the Glacial Hills Scenic Byway or the north end of the Frontier Military Historic Byway. You can find them along the nature trail south of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Lansing. Angel Falls makes for great photography in the fall when autumn leaves swirl around in the pool below.
10. Pillsbury Crossing (Deep Creek Falls)
Pillsbury Crossing – Fine-Art Prints Available
Famous Pillsbury Crossing’s Deep Creek Falls near Manhattan, Kansas
Pillsbury Crossing, also known as Deep Creek Falls, are probably the most famous of all waterfalls in Kansas. They certainly deserve their fame, as they are gorgeous in any season of the year! Located to the southeast of Manhattan, Pillsbury Crossing can also be a favorite hang-out spot of folks from Manhattan and surrounding areas. If you visit on a nice day, it’s quite likely you will not have these gorgeous falls to yourself!
