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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

Big Clifty Falls

Jefferson County County, Indiana — about 60 ft, mid-height.
Big Clifty Falls, a waterfall in Indiana
Big Clifty Falls, Indiana · Chris Light · CC BY-SA 4.0

Big Clifty Falls is a 60-foot seasonal plunge on Big Clifty Creek in Clifty Falls State Park near Madison, Indiana. It runs hardest in late winter and spring; in dry months it can slow to a trickle. Trail 7 leads to upper and lower overlooks, with a short ADA-accessible section to the upper viewpoint.

Height
60 ft
Type
Plunge
Access
Moderate Hike
Trail
1.25 mi loop
Elevation gain
Not documented
Best season
Winter through spring
Land manager
Indiana Department of Natural Resources (Clifty Falls State Park)
Watercourse
Big Clifty Creek

Before you go

Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Indiana Department of Natural Resources (Clifty Falls State Park) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

Graded lakes within 25 miles

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Frequently Asked Questions

Big Clifty Falls drops about 60 feet. That makes it the 358th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 48% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Trail 7 (Big Clifty Falls overlooks) reaches it about 1.25 miles (loop), rated moderate. The nearest town is Madison. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Indiana Department of Natural Resources (Clifty Falls State Park) for closures and current conditions.

Winter through spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.

More Indiana waterfalls

Sources

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