Quick Facts
Accessibility: 9/10 (easy)
Height: 16′ / 5 m
Length of Hike: 0.4 miles / 0.6 km round-trip
The Record
Kentucky has a good number of waterfalls, but up until a few days ago, I had only visited one: Cumberland Falls. It’s probably the most visited waterfall in Kentucky since it’s tall, wide, and intense for much of the year. There are several other waterfalls in the area. Eagle Falls and Dog Slaughter Falls have designated trails in the park. A few miles further east of the park, Amos Falls is tucked away.
The drive to the falls might be more complicated than the hike. Finding waterfalls usually involves curving, winding roads, and there are those getting to Amos Falls. Google Maps will get you most of the way there, but it’s the last few steps that aren’t correct. It tries to direct people to drive down Elbert Lane. I think some signs direct you to stay on Amos Falls Road, but if you don’t see them, stay on Amos Falls Road! The last half mile or so is a bit rough. This portion is unpaved, wide enough for one vehicle, and there are a few ruts. I was driving a rental car with lower clearance. Driving slowly and methodically got me there in one piece, which means you can likely do it too.
In the map below, I’ve included the location where the trail starts. Some previous visitors mentioned that the trail/parking area was marked with plastic on a tree, but I didn’t see this. For me, the hint about where the trail started was that before the parking area, there was no way I could have turned around. The road widens, and there’s a trail to your left that I could see from the road. That was the difficult part…
The hike is short: under a half-mile total. It does have a bit of a downhill slope on the way there, but I don’t remember exerting myself much on the return, hence the “easy” rating. Amos Falls isn’t tall, but there’s an understated beauty to it. I was the only one at the falls, so it felt very peaceful. You’ll likely have the falls to yourself also. My one recommendation: show up after a good rainfall…Amos Falls probably doesn’t flow much in the drier months.
Directions
- There are ways to access Amos Falls from KY-90 and US-25W/KY-204. In either set of directions, you’ll end up on Log Cabin Road.
- If headed north on Log Cabin Road, you’ll turn left onto Craig Road, and the opposite if headed south.
- Heading west on Craig Road, you’ll turn right onto Amos Falls Road, and you’ll stay on this until you arrive at the parking area.
- The last 0.5-0.6 miles on Amos Falls Road are along the unpaved, narrow road.
- Once arriving at the parking area on your left, the trail will also be on your left. While unmarked, I found the trail clear enough to arrive at the falls.
Waterfall Record 
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