Among all the waterfalls I’ve visited in western Ohio, the West Milton Cascades and Waterfalls in Miami County is one of the easiest falls to access, meaning, you can easily leave the walking trail and head to the river and even come close to the falls. From the elevated observation platforms, there are stairs that go down to the base of the cascades.
Some online travelers commented that the West Milton Cascades is on a private property. However, in my recent visit, there was no sign or warning at the parking lot that is it restricted for visitors. The only sign I saw was this “No person under the age of 18 is permitted in the woods or waterfall area without supervision of an adult.” It looks like that during this challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the area has been open to the public. I even saw two families enjoying the cascades and then before I left, a group of bikers arrived. (September 2020 update: As a privately-owned area, the chance of your vehicle being towed is high. Upon arrival and you see the sign “Private Property” posted, do not trespass. Leave the area and just proceed to your next destination.)
Where it is located
204 N Miami St, West Milton, OH 45383
Here’s the Google Map link for directions.
Where to park
The address will bring you to the building where the owner lives. The parking lot for the falls is at the back of the building, along E Tipp Pike St. Take a look at this screenshot. The yellow circle is where you have to park. Important: the parking lot only allows six (6) cars at a time. I was lucky that there were only 4 cars when I arrived.
Is it kid-friendly?
The first section of the stairs doesn’t have railings, so if you have small kids, you may have to hold their hands going down.
Here’s a video I took.
