Falling Waters State Park

            This place is truly a hidden gem to the outside world. Florida is known for it’s incredible beaches, amusement parks, springs, and the insane wildlife, but the one thing barely anyone knows about is this 100-foot waterfall. Barely known to native Floridians, this place is dangerous and exciting with winding trails and fern covered sinkholes. You never know if you may take a step down to the bottom of one of the many parks hidden pits and never to be seen again...

Falling Waters State Park. Photo by Florida State Parks.

            Located off I-10 in the panhandle of Florida, this park is truly masked to the busy tourists and many locals. I asked several people if they knew such place existed and they were perplexed that such a crazy idea could actually be a possibility in the flat highway state of Florida. But, though intriguing, this waterfall is not the best place to take a hike and then relax in the pool of water below. It is a Florida waterfall, not an amazing one found in the Oregonian wild, and the end of the water goes down a deep hole the size of a garbage can.

            

          Don’t get your hopes down just yet, there’s a freshwater lake with a white sand beach that one can cool off in after a summer time hike to the waterfall. But, if you want to see something really amazing, wait till the summer heat passes and this place is truly magical when the leaves change from green to beautiful red and golden yellows. The foliage gently drapes itself across the wooded trails and it’s the most beautiful place for an autumn walk to the waterfall.