As a longtime Ohioan, I consider myself very lucky to live in a state with such wonderful outdoor recreation. Ohio has Great Lakes and waterfalls, a national park and robust state parks system, bucolic countryside, and captivating caves. Yet, for most of my life, I’ve lived just a couple hours from one of the most incredible natural wonders in the world — and no, it’s *not* in Ohio.

I’m not talking about Mammoth Cave, the world’s longest underground cavern system. I’m talking about Kentucky’s Cumberland Falls, the “Niagara of the South” and one of the only places on the planet to regularly experience the natural phenomenon known as a moonbow. The waterfall is, of course, the headlining feature of the eponymous state park; a place many consider to be the crown jewel of the Kentucky State Parks.

Each month, visitors flock to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park for the opportunity to see the magnificent moonbow in person. The park releases a schedule based on the full moon schedule every year — the moonbow lingers above the falls for up to two days as long as the sky is clear, on either end of the full moon. This summer, the July 4 weekend happened to align with the moonbow schedule, so my husband and I dropped the kids off at Grandma’s, booked a tiny house, and set forth with high hopes of seeing this elusive natural phenomenon for ourselves.

My name is Sarah, and I’m a writer and editor here at OnlyInYourState. Born and raised in the Buckeye State, I am endlessly inspired by this beautiful country of ours and the adventures available right here… in the oft-overlooked Midwest! As a mom of four kids, I’m always on the lookout for new experiences, and despite living in Ohio for 35+ years, I am constantly surprised by the state’s natural beauty. Enough about me — welcome to OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers. 

This is Cumberland Falls. A place that needs no introduction, this 125-foot-wide "Niagara of the South" is a place everyone should experience, period.
Capturing Moments by Christina / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Not only are the falls completely rapturous, but so is the entire Cumberland Falls State Resort Park *and* the Daniel Boone National Forest that encompasses this 1,657-acre Kentucky State Park.
Sarah McCosham, OIYS
It's a place I've been wanting to explore for quite some time, and so, on a recent kid-free weekend, my husband and I – along with our 90-pound pup – set out to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park to do some waterfall chasing. After consulting the moonbow schedule on the Kentucky State Parks website, we targeted the July 4 holiday weekend for our adventure.
Sarah McCosham, OIYS
We were hoping to stay in the iconic DuPont Lodge, but alas, it was completely booked up. Not only is this historic lodge a Kentucky icon, but the moonbow is an event folks from across the country – and world – seek out. As such, when the moonbow schedule is released each year, the accommodations at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park book up fast.
Sarah McCosham, OIYS
Happily, however, there are numerous accommodations in the area, and my husband and I were able to find a charming tiny house that fit our lodging needs for the trip. If you're open to RV camping or glamping, RVshare makes renting an RV easy so you can "dip your toes" into #vanlife! Our RV-loving staff also shares some helpful tips for renting a RV in this article.
Once you have your accommodations squared away, it's time to explore! There are a variety of hiking trails at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park (17 miles of trails, in fact!), and many of them offer glimpses of the famous falls. The Eagle Falls Trail boasts an iconic viewpoint of Cumberland Falls (before venturing past the park's *other* famous falls), and at 1.5 miles, is a short-and-sweet trail worth tackling.
Sarah McCosham, OIYS
I will say, though, that while many of the park's trails are just a few miles in length, they definitely aren't "easy" – rugged terrain, steep elevation changes, and rocky steps make for challenging conditions, especially after a recent rainfall (more on that below). My advice? Leave your pride at the door and bring the hiking poles – and plan on taking your time. The scenery is worth savoring, anyway!
Fortunately, however, this bucket-list destination is as accessible as it is amazing: all Kentucky State Parks are free to visit and enjoy, open year-round, and full of a variety of ADA-accessible trails and viewpoints.
Sarah McCosham, OIYS
In fact, if you want to skip the trails, you can park at DuPont Lodge or at the gift shop, and walk right up to the water – no hiking necessary!
Whatever route you take, you’ll hear the falls before you see them. They’re loud but symphonically so; and, as you get closer, the scene literally unfolds before your eyes: roaring, rushing water merging into a spectacle of spray and sheer power.
Sarah McCosham, OIYS
It’s a magnificent experience you can quite literally feel, and you’ll likely be at a loss for words.
But. Remember that rain I mentioned earlier? Well. While the rain certainly offered a reprieve from the heat, it also foiled our moonbow plans.
Sarah McCosham, OIYS
You see, for this phenomenon to occur, the stars must, quite literally, align… and alas, cloudy skies prevailed.
Kentucky State Parks/Facebook
But did that make this adventure any less incredible or memorable? Absolutely not.
Sarah McCosham, OIYS
I have no doubt I’ll be back to see the moonbow, but even without a cascading prism of color, Cumberland Falls is a place of real-life magic just waiting to be discovered.

Check out our video of Cumberland Falls below.

@onlyinyourstate If you love to chase waterfalls, head over to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, also known as “the Niagara of the South”.🤩 One of our local travel experts recently took a trip to this stunning Kentucky state park during the Fourth Of July weekend, and they can’t wait to visit again to try and witness the spectacular moonbow!🌈🌑 It’s open year-round, has free admission and free parking, and also has lodge, cottage, and camping accommodations.⛺️ #onlyinyourstate #onlyinkentucky #cumberlandfalls #cumberlandfallsstatepark #kentuckywaterfall #waterfallsoftiktok #chasingwaterfalls #kentuckytravel #usatravel #explorekentucky #corbinkentucky #stateparks #waterfallhike ♬ Feel Good - Tundra Beats

Have you seen the elusive Cumberland Falls moonbow in person? If so, please share! And if you’re inspired to chase this waterfall rainbow for yourself, visit the moonbow schedule on the Kentucky State Parks website.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is open daily, year-round, and there is no admission fee to enter the park. Parking is free, too, and there are large parking lots at DuPont Lodge and the Gift Shop, plus smaller lots at trailheads along KY-90. In addition to offering lodge, cottage, and camping accommodations, visitors to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park can dine at Riverview Restaurant, a #KentuckyProud restaurant serving up locally inspired fare – with epic views of the Niagara of the South.

To discover more incredible boots-on-the-ground adventures across America from our team of local travel experts, check out all of the articles in OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers series. What destinations would you like to see featured next? Tell us where we should go on our nominations page.

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Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, 7351 KY-90, Corbin, KY 40701, USA