Guides
Long-form pieces on how to find, photograph, and not die at waterfalls in the United States. Written by Marina and Theo from the van, edited in coffee shops in whatever town we're in that week.
7 min · by Marina Vance · 2026-05-16
Most 'swimmable waterfalls' aren't. Here's how to tell.
Why the phrase 'swimmable waterfall' is dangerous, what an actual swimming hole looks like, and the test we apply before marking a fall swimmable.
5 min · by Theo Vance · 2026-05-16
The waterfalls that are technically dams (and why Google doesn't tell you)
A surprising number of 'waterfalls' on Google Maps are concrete dam spillways. Why the distinction matters, and how to spot one before you drive.
6 min · by Marina Vance · 2026-05-16
Waterfall photography: the four settings that actually matter
Skip the gear obsession. Four camera settings and one piece of glass make the difference. Including the time of day rules nobody else writes.
6 min · by Theo Vance · 2026-05-16
Waterfall safety: the real rules NPS won't write
What actually kills people at waterfalls, in order. From NPS incident reports 2010-2023. The boilerplate doesn't help — specifics do.
8 min · by Theo Vance · 2026-05-16
Why waterfalls form: the geology in plain language
Four mechanisms create essentially every waterfall in the world. Once you know them, you start seeing the same pattern everywhere.
6 min · by Marina Vance · 2026-05-15
How to find waterfalls near you
The honest version. What to search, what to ignore, and how to tell a real waterfall page from a content-farm listicle.
7 min · by Theo Vance · 2026-05-15
When waterfalls actually flow: a US seasonal map
Peak flow by US region — and why most 'best waterfalls' lists ignore it. Includes the months we'd actually drive somewhere.
5 min · by Marina Vance · 2026-05-15
AllTrails ratings are broken. Here's how we rate trails.
Why 'easy / moderate / hard' is meaningless on AllTrails — and the Class 1-5 system we use instead. With concrete examples.