Not just Niagara: what are the best waterfalls in the United States?

Waterfalls are one of the most fascinating wonders of nature and can become attractive tourist destinations, especially in spring.

Enthusiasts consider spring, now just around the corner, to be the quintessential waterfall season, which is the best time of year to go and observe these natural wonders. Many of the world's most renowned and appreciated are located in the United States, but if you are thinking of planning a trip overseas you should know that those at Niagara or Yosemite are in danger of being overcrowded. If, then, you are looking for a less overcrowded and quieter experience, here are eight alternative tips for enjoying waterfall views in their best season, again taking advantage of a North American vacation.

8 American waterfalls to visit (besides Niagara)

• NUGGET FALLS (Juneau, Alaska).

Definitely not the place you would imagine for a vacation in the United States. We are on Lake Mendenhall, Alaska, near a popular glacier, but the area is all in all convenient to reach even from abroad. The 2.5-kilometer trail to Nugget Falls starts in the town of Juneau, Alaska's administrative capital. You can also get there by plane due to the presence of an international airport.

• PALOUSE FALLS (Washtucna, Washington)

Palouse Falls are located along the river of the same name, located in Washington state in the northwestern United States. About 200 feet high, they can be observed from as many as three separate vantage points, positioned around a gorge that dates back to the Ice Age. The most logical way to get here is by landing in Seattle, then driving about 380 kilometers to the small town of Washtucna, from where you follow the road to the nature park.

• RAINBOW FALLS (Watkins Glen State Park, New York).

Certainly more convenient to reach, Rainbow Falls are located in one of the most scenically interesting areas of the United States. They are located in a vast natural area between Chamberlain and Ontario lakes, nestled in a Lord of the Rings setting. There are four different hiking trails and as many as 19 different waterfalls, as well as a 150-year-old suspension bridge. To get to Rainbow Falls, the easiest way is to take a flight that lands in Albany, 200 kilometers further south, as well as in Montreal, just north, and then travel to the lakeside town of Piattsburgh.

• SHOSHONE FALLS (Twin Falls, Idaho)

Perhaps the best possible alternative to the world-famous Niagara Falls, so much so that Shoshone Falls is known as "the Niagara of the West." Despite the nickname, however, they are far higher (65 meters) and wider (274 meters), and are considered three of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. They are located along the Snake River in Idaho, and to reach them it is best to land in Salt Lake City. Then you travel another 350 kilometers to the town of Twin Falls, built right near the river.

• BURNEY FALLS (Redding, Calif.)

President Theodore Roosevelt had dubbed them "the eighth wonder of the world," to emphasize how much he loved them. Burney Falls are located in northern California, almost on the Oregon border, and are nestled in a nature park that is home to several hiking trails and offers camping. Also, near the falls, in addition to Lake Britton there is also the famous bridge from the movie Stand by Me to visit. An undoubted advantage of this destination is that it is easily accessible by car, given its proximity to the road; for those arriving from abroad, the best option is to land in Sacramento and then head to Redding, a town 260 kilometers further north, from which to then reach the park.

• ST. LOUIS CANYON FALLS (Starved Rock State Park, Illinois).

The next destination on our journey among America's most beautiful waterfalls takes us further east, to a park that is only 150 miles from Chicago. St. Louis Canyon is a system of 18 gullies carved out of sandstone that covers 2,800 acres of land. There are several hiking trails and numerous waterfalls to admire, making it a favorite spot for enthusiasts.

• DRY FALLS (Highlands, North Carolina).

Another very impressive and easily accessible waterfall. Placed at the intersection of the cities of Atlanta, Charlotte and Knoxville, Dry Falls is located along a road that, starting from the town of Highlands, North Carolina, crosses a vast nature area from which various routes branch off and it is possible to admire several waterfalls, such as the well-known Sequoyah Falls. Near the Dry Falls there is a convenient parking area for cars, from which you take the path that leads to a walkway located even behind the waterfall itself, which allows you to take sensational photographs without getting wet.

• WAILUA FALLS (Kauai, Hawaii)

Quite a different environment, that of Hawaii, the most distant of the U.S. states. Kauai is the northernmost island in the archipelago. It can also be reached by plane, taking advantage of the small Lihue airport, taking off from Honolulu, Hawaii's main center. From arrival, Wailua Falls is only about ten kilometers away, a convenient excursion suitable for anyone. To reach the twin waterfalls, there are many possible hiking trails that also allow close-up views of a Hindu temple and one of the sets from the movie Jurassic Park.