The urge to seek out and marvel in awe at wild, flowing waterfalls is as deep-seated聽as it is ancient. Everyone from medieval poets to modern-day nomads like ambassador has been fascinated by them. So when KEEN asked Yamase, who is also a model, writer, and photographer, to head over to Japan to explore waterfalls on the rugged and largely undeveloped Iriomote Island, in Okinawa Prefecture, she jumped at the chance.
Iriomote is accessible only by ferry, and聽Yamase teamed up with local guide Aki Yamashita, with a plan to paddle through the mangroves and then hike the jungle to Pinaisara Falls, a three-tiered waterfall on the upper Hinai River, one of the region鈥檚 tallest falls, at 180 feet. 鈥淚t was truly an amazing experience,鈥 says Yamase, 鈥渁nd KEEN鈥檚 sandal was the perfect shoe for hiking in the jungle and scrambling around on wet rocks鈥攖hey鈥檙e super comfortable, almost like wearing a second-skin sock, but with the traction of a hiking shoe. No need to stop and change shoes or hike in soaking-wet sneakers.鈥 Japan, of course, isn’t the only place with stunning, hard-to-reach waterfalls. Here are a few of our other favorites.
Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls, Yosemite National Park, California
To reach two of 鈥檚 most majestic waterfalls, you鈥檒l leave the Valley on a well-traveled walkway toward Vernal Falls. A viewpoint on a bridge over the Merced River, about a mile in, attracts major crowds, but hike farther and you鈥檒l escape the masses. Climb the Mist Trail to the top of 317-foot-tall Vernal Falls鈥攜ou鈥檒l be so close to the waterfall, you鈥檒l get sprayed by mist on the steep staircase going up. Continue on to the top of 594-foot Nevada Falls for views of Half Dome and Liberty Cap, then return via the John Muir Trail for a 6.7-mile round-trip hike with 2,000 feet of elevation gain.
Glymur, Iceland
Once considered Iceland鈥檚 tallest waterfall, 650-foot-tall Glymur has been demoted to the country鈥檚 second highest. (Scientists discovered 750-foot Mors谩rfoss under a melting glacier a decade ago.) Still, Glymur, located in the Hvalfj枚r冒ur fjord, in West Iceland, is one of the world鈥檚 most stunning falls鈥攁 striking cataract straight out of Lord of the Rings. To get there, you鈥檒l drive an hour northeast from Reykjav铆k, wind down a dirt road, then hike in for just less than two miles, walking through a lava cave, across a river, and up steep boulders to reach the falls, set among a picturesque mossy canyon. offers guided one-day hiking tours of the falls (from $125).
The Cascades, Monkman Provincial Park, British Columbia
There鈥檚 not just one waterfall but ten along the so-called , a series of impressive waterfalls on Monkman Creek in British Columbia鈥檚 Monkman Provincial Park, outside the town of Tumbler Ridge. You鈥檒l reach the falls on foot via the 14-mile Monkman Lake Trail. The waterfalls start about ten miles in, and you鈥檒l find side trails to bring hikers closer to many of the falls. There are several designated backcountry campsites along the way, and you鈥檒l definitely want to make this a multi-day backpacking trip.
Waimoku Falls, Haleakala National Park, Maui
In the Kipahulu district of Maui鈥檚 Haleakala National Park, you can hike the through a dense bamboo forest to the trail鈥檚 endpoint at Waimoku Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls on Maui, dropping some 400 feet down a vertical lava rock wall. Along the way, you鈥檒l be treated to views of 200-foot Makahiku Falls, cascading pools in a meandering stream, and well-maintained boardwalks through towering bamboo. You鈥檒l find the trailhead about 12 miles past the town of Hana, on the famed Road to Hana. The trail is about four miles round-trip and you鈥檒l gain about 650 feet in elevation.
Cachoeira da Fuma莽a, Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil
Brazil is full of stunning waterfalls (see: Igua莽u Falls, which is so wide, it straddles the border into Argentina), but to find falls off the beaten path, you鈥檝e got to hike for it. One standout: Cachoeira da Fuma莽a, a whopping 1,115-foot stunner that means 鈥渟moke falls鈥 in Portuguese, because the water nearly evaporates by the time it reaches the ground. Deep in Chapada Diamantina National Park, it鈥檚 a four-mile hike to the top of the falls, where you鈥檒l get views of the surrounding mountains and an eerie overlook into one of the tallest waterfalls in Brazil, or a three-day trek from the town of Len莽贸is to reach the bottom of the falls. Zentur offers a three-day guided hike to the base of the falls.
Sutherland Falls, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
You can book a scenic helicopter ride for a bird鈥檚-eye view of New Zealand鈥檚 Sutherland Falls, but to really stand there and behold its 1,900 feet of awe-inducing power, you鈥檝e got to spend a few days hiking in on the 33-mile Milford Track. The three-tiered falls, fed by the high-alpine Lake Quill and located within the South Island鈥檚 Fiordland National Park, is among the five tallest waterfalls in the world. A side trail鈥攗sually reached on day three of the Milford Track鈥攙eers off the main trail to get closer to the falls. To walk the Milford Track, you鈥檒l need to in advance鈥攏o camping allowed. offers guided five-day treks along the Milford Track (from $1,460).
Havasu Falls, Havasupai Indian Reservation, Arizona
There is nothing easy about getting to , located just outside Grand Canyon National Park on land administered by the Havasupai Tribe. It鈥檚 a rugged ten-mile one-way trail downhill to get there and another ten-mile, 2,400-vertical-foot uphill haul to get out. But trust us, it鈥檚 worth it: five cascading waterfalls, including the area鈥檚 100-foot namesake, plus translucent turquoise pools, fern canyons, and red-rock nooks. It’s also one of Yamase’s favorite places. “With rope swings, swimming holes, ladders bolted to cliff sides, and tunnels to waterfalls, it feels like an oasis designed from the most wildly imagined childhood dreams,” she says.聽No day hiking is allowed, and to camp along Havasu Creek, you need to well in advance. leads guided backpacking trips to Havasupai (from $780).
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