A guided-access-only waterfall with a unique 61-foot tufa formation below it; $15 per person.
Access is by appointment/guided visit only; private tours listed at $15/person on the official page
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Below the falls is a tufa (travertine) formation resembling a frozen waterfall, per the official sanctuary page
Elk Lick Falls is located at Floracliff Nature Sanctuary in Lexington, Fayette County, a property managed by the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission. This waterfall is only accessible by appointment or guided visit—there is no self-guided or walk-in access. Private tours are available at $15 per person.
A distinctive feature of the site is a 61-foot tufa (travertine) formation below the waterfall, resembling a frozen cascade. This geological formation makes the site particularly interesting for visitors interested in unique natural features beyond just the waterfall itself.
To visit, contact Floracliff Nature Sanctuary to schedule a guided hike or program. Appointment-only access means you’ll need to plan in advance, but the guided experience provides expert interpretation of the site. Check the official sanctuary page for current tour scheduling, pricing, and available programs.
Seasonal tours available; check Floracliff Nature Sanctuary for current schedule.
You prefer self-guided access or unscheduled visits.
Access is by appointment/guided visit only; private tours listed at $15/person on the official page
The managing agency's page (linked below) has the current trailhead and route details — round-trip distance wasn't published when we checked.
We track 4 waterfalls in Bluegrass Nature Preserves.
There are 3 other waterfalls we track in Fayette. All Bluegrass Nature Preserves waterfalls →
eec.ky.gov
Official Floracliff Nature Sanctuary page, checked 2026-09-04, names Elk Lick Falls and describes the tufa formation below it as '61 feet high' — that figure describes the tufa/travertine mound, not confirmed to be the waterfall's own height, so height_ft is left null. Site is scheduled-access only (guided hikes, programs, and appointments).
Checked September 2026.