Over the years, we’ve hiked to more waterfalls than we can count, and this is one of those waterfalls that’s kind of like a white whale. The trailhead is hard to find, and the waterfall itself is elusive. Only flowing during certain parts of the year, experiencing Amos Falls is a joy purely for the chase.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this post:
- How to find Amos Falls
- The Amos Falls Hiking trail
- Best Hikes and Trails Near Amos Falls
- What to Bring With You To Amos Falls
- Can you camp at Amos Falls?
How To Find Amos Falls
One doesn’t need to be familiar with the area to find Amos Falls but note that you’ll likely be without cell service on some of the drive. (We stress downloading directions and paper maps when driving through this part of Kentucky!)
Tucked away in Whitley County, Kentucky, is some of the country’s most pristine and untouched wilderness. It’s easy to discount Amos Falls because it’s out of the way and potentially not worth the hike if you don’t know where to start, but we’re here to make it easy. Many small rivers and creeks shoot off from the famous Cumberland River, well known for Cumberland Falls. Bunches Creek is one of these creeks near Cumberland Falls State Park, which leads to a smaller stream called Amos Falls Branch. On this branch is where Amos Falls slumbers away.
- To find Amos Falls, explorers will first need to orient themselves to I-90 (AKA Cumberland Falls Road).
- From Cumberland Falls Road, turn down Log Cabin Road (These roads come to a T, so regardless of which way you’re coming into the area, you’ll be turning at the top of Log Cabin Road going South.)
- Drive 2.3 miles, then take a right on Craig Road.
- After 1.1 miles on Craid Road, turn right onto Amos Falls Road.
THIS IS WHERE IT GETS TRICKY TO FIND AMOS FALLS!
- Instead of doing what your directions are probably telling you and turning left down Elbert Lane immediately after turning right on Amos Falls Road, keep going straight.
- There are only two right turns off Amos Falls Road, and you need NEITHER of them. Pass the sign on your right for Ova Lane (there are different names for the roads depending on which maps you’re using.) At the 2nd right turn (which is really just Amos Falls Road continuing), you’ll see a gravel road headed straight into some forest. This is not a driveway. It’s the entrance to Amos Falls. (See both pictures below.)
- Keep headed straight for roughly 1.2 miles, and on your left, after coming over a crest, will be a shoulder parking area. Once you park here, the trailhead will be pretty obvious.
Please see the Amos Falls trailhead coordinates below. (You can enter these directly into your maps app and use that to guide you where the paper maps road runs out. Plu the coordinates into your maps app while you still have service, and follow the gravel road until you reach this spot.)
Amos Falls Trail
Steep in some places and easy in others, Amos Falls is a short, low to mid-level challenge hiking trail. Overall, we wouldn’t classify this half-mile journey as particularly memorable. You’re hiking next to a shallow ravine (which is almost always the case when chasing waterfalls), and it’s over within 20 minutes. The real fun of Amos Falls Trail is enjoying the falls!
What To Expect At The Falls: When you get to the falls, you’ll most likely be alone, and there’s a swing that the locals have contracted.. needless to say, we’re not fans of anyone adding their own *touches* to a beautiful natural area like this. (Especially since there’s no guarantee it’s a sturdy swing!) However, there is plenty of space to stop and enjoy a picnic lunch, layout for a bit of tanning, and simply relax. It’s the kind of place one could stay and read at if they lived nearby!
Can I Swim At The Falls?
The pool at the base of Amos Falls, Kentucky, is not deep enough to swim in – but it is deep enough to enjoy a refreshing splash in the water. (Or to throw sticks in and let your dog chase as we did!)
**As always – ensure you’re wearing water shoes because you never know who threw in metal cans or glass bottles when visiting an area like this. The area immediately surrounding the falls was mostly clean, but at the beginning of the trail, there was lots of trash.
Other Trails & Waterfalls Near Amos Falls
If I were planning a trip to this area, Amos Falls wouldn’t be the only thing I’d want to come for. The trail itself is short, and the waterfall is a fun find, but as any hiker knows – you really want a good cluster of hikes in an area unless the one you’re taking on is long, challenging, and rewarding.
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With that being said, there are a number of great trails to choose from in the counties surrounding Amos Falls because you’re close to Daniel Boone National Forest.
- Our Favorite Kentucky Summer Hikes – There are five hikes in the region near Amos Falls on this list!
- Big South Fork Waterfalls & Hiking Guide – Big South Fork is a gorgeous region of waterfalls, sweeping vista views, and tons of water sports fun if you’re in the mood!
What To Bring With You To Hike Waterfalls
With all the memes out there making fun of hikers with backpacks when people’s children do the same trails in Barbie Crocs.. with all due respect.. I’m sure they’d all rather be comfortable and able to actually enjoy the scenery once they arrive at their destination!
The biggest thing to note about chasing waterfalls, or hiking to something remote like Amos Falls is that there isn’t much around you. You often lack cell phone service in areas like this, and it’s better to be prepared.
If the weather is good enough, you’ll want to swim in the pool at the base of Amos Falls, and if it’s cold – you’ll be kicking yourself for not packing the right gear to keep yourself from getting frostbite once you’re out of the water. Not to mention that when you’re done.. you’ll most likely be continuing back up the trail and wanting to head to other trails. Since we started majorly hiking in Kentucky, one of the things I’ve realized is that Kentucky is a very ‘wet’ state. That’s why everything is so lush and green.
What To Pack for Waterfall Hikes
- Reef-safe sunscreen – Protect our planet’s natural beauty as much as possible!
- Water Shoes – You never know what’s under the blue-green waters in Kentucky, and these weigh very little, so they’re easy to shove in your hiking pack.
- A Quick Dry Microfiber Towel – We have these Rainleaf towels, and we’ve used them for years! (Great for drying off dogs too.)
- Extra Socks – Don’t let your feet stay wet to avoid blisters!
- Your Full Water Bottle – Do not drink the water. Unfortunately, there’s just no way to tell what you’ll be getting into, no matter where you are.
What being in a wet state means for hikers is that it’s incredibly easy to slip, get blisters, and be blindsided by dehydration.
Don’t. Be. That. Person. You know… the one who didn’t want to pack extra socks and made everyone go back to the campsite early because they had blisters…
Can You Camp At Amos Falls?
While there are no set regulations for this part of the forest, when we hiked this trail, many areas were obviously campsites at one point. If you want to camp at Amos Falls trailhead, we highly suggest making sure that you aren’t loud and disturbing the neighborhood that’s roughly 1.5 miles away from the trailhead. That’s the surest way to be booted from camping in the area!!
- There isn’t enough space at the waterfall to camp by it. You’ll have to camp at the trailhead.
**At this point, I don’t know if Amos Falls is a public trail. However, there aren’t any signs posted, and the trail is clearly posted on AllTrails if one were to go looking for it? Not only that, but other websites have mentioned that it’s part of Daniel Boone National Park etc. Hike and camp at your own risk!!
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Until next time friends,
