Cumberland Falls
Cumberland Falls, sometimes called the Little Niagara, the Niagara of the South, or the Great Falls, is a waterfall on the Cumberland River in southeastern Kentucky.
A waterfall, 11 mi northeast of Whitley City
Stearns is the nearest base
Stearns is 12 miles southwest, with 5 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Aug, Sep and Oct
April, May, June, August, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 68–84°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Whitley City. Green months are the mild ones.
Cumberland Falls
Cumberland Falls, sometimes called the Little Niagara, the Niagara of the South, or the Great Falls, is a waterfall on the Cumberland River in southeastern Kentucky. Spanning the river at the border of McCreary and Whitley counties, the waterfall is the central feature of Cumberland Falls State Resort Park and is part of the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves designated Wild River System.
It is believed the current falls formed as the result of erosion from its original starting place at an escarpment far downstream. The site of the falls was occupied in pre-modern times by a variety of indigenous peoples, and more recently has passed through multiple private owners until eventually being donated, along with surrounding land to Kentucky in 1933.
- Type
- Waterfall
- Wikipedia readers
- 13K a year
Where to stay near Cumberland Falls
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Corbin (12) and North Corbin (10).
Corbin
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
7,911 people
15 mi northeast of Cumberland Falls
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Cumberland Falls | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corbin | 15 mi northeast | 20 min | 12 10 hotels · 1 motel · 1 campground | 7,911 | $166K | B− |
| North Corbin | 16 mi northeast | 25 min | 10 8 hotels · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground | 2,190 | $158K | — |
| Stearns | 12 mi southwest | 20 min | 5 2 hotels · 2 motels · 1 campground | 1,271 | $161K | — |
| London | 24 mi northeast | 35 min | 20 9 hotels · 4 motels · 7 campgrounds | 7,637 | $170K | C− |
| Williamsburg | 12 mi southeast | 20 min | 4 3 hotels · 1 motel | 5,371 | $113K | B |
| Burnside | 20 mi northwest | 30 min | 11 3 hotels · 1 motel · 2 lodges & cabins · 3 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 733 | $167K | — |
| Somerset | 22 mi northwest | 35 min | 13 10 hotels · 2 motels · 1 lodge or cabins | 12,695 | $144K | C |
| Whitley City | 11 mi southwest | 15 min | 2 1 hotel · 1 RV park | 963 | $117K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Cumberland Falls
Other well-known places within 66 miles.
Big draw65 mi Stadium & arenaNeyland Stadium
39 mi LakeLake Cumberland
65 mi LookoutSunsphere
40 mi National forestDaniel Boone National Forest2.5M visitors a year
40 mi National Historical ParkCumberland Gap National Historical Park765K visitors a year
50 mi State parkFrozen Head State Park
66 mi Stadium & arenaThompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
31 mi National RiverBig South Fork National River and Recreation Area774K visitors a yearPhoto credits
Neyland Stadium: Neomrbungle, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Lake Cumberland: Censusdata at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Sunsphere: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Daniel Boone National Forest: Schwaltz, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cumberland Gap National Historical Park: J654567, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Frozen Head State Park: Brian Stansberry (photographer), CC BY 3.0 · Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center: TN 66, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
Visiting Cumberland Falls
What town is Cumberland Falls near?
Whitley City, KY, about 11 miles southwest.
When is the best time to visit Cumberland Falls?
April, May, June, August, September and October, with highs of 68–84°.
How far is Cumberland Falls from Lexington?
About 83 miles north of Lexington, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Cumberland Falls?
McGhee Tyson (TYS), about 74 miles away.
Where should I stay near Cumberland Falls?
Corbin (15 mi, 12 places to stay), North Corbin (16 mi, 10 places to stay) and Stearns (12 mi, 5 places to stay).
Tips from people in Whitley City
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Whitley City’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.