Big Bad LiDAR
LiDAR (or Light Detection and Ranging) is extremely useful for finding waterfalls or really any geological thing, be it the true highest point of a mountain, arches, sinkholes, hidden buildings, old forgotten roads, mining tracks and of course waterfalls!
LiDAR comes in many different forms, with the most advanced being a complete 3D map of an area. The main forms of LiDAR are hillshade and contour lines, which are pictured below. Compared to topographic maps, LiDAR can obtain detailed 2 foot contour lines, versus topographic maps normally only have 20 foot contour lines at the best, so as you can see LiDAR is very good for finding waterfalls, almost too good, which some people do consider it cheating.
You won't find LiDAR for all places as each state or whatever organization working for the state will have to pay for it to be done and then provide it. One state that comes to mind is Georgia, USGS has some data for the state, but it otherwise doesn't have much coverage at all, versus South Carolina has almost complete coverage.
The first 5 pictures are from USGS National Map and the 6th picture is from data that's downloadable on SCDNR's website, which was then opened in QGIS. (Any GIS mapping software will work, I just use QGIS). National Map and QGIS how to guide.
LiDAR comes in many different forms, with the most advanced being a complete 3D map of an area. The main forms of LiDAR are hillshade and contour lines, which are pictured below. Compared to topographic maps, LiDAR can obtain detailed 2 foot contour lines, versus topographic maps normally only have 20 foot contour lines at the best, so as you can see LiDAR is very good for finding waterfalls, almost too good, which some people do consider it cheating.
You won't find LiDAR for all places as each state or whatever organization working for the state will have to pay for it to be done and then provide it. One state that comes to mind is Georgia, USGS has some data for the state, but it otherwise doesn't have much coverage at all, versus South Carolina has almost complete coverage.
The first 5 pictures are from USGS National Map and the 6th picture is from data that's downloadable on SCDNR's website, which was then opened in QGIS. (Any GIS mapping software will work, I just use QGIS). National Map and QGIS how to guide.
Hillshade (with no contours)
Hillshade (with 30 foot contour lines)
30 foot contour lines (with no hillshade)
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Hillshade (with 3 foot contour lines)
3 foot contour lines (with no hillshade)
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The maps above are good, but for South Carolina I prefer using the data from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (pictured below) as it's more accurate and I can zoom in a lot further and make out what type of drop a waterfall is.
2 foot contour lines - Click to enlarge (8.99MB)
Showing the direction of flow and waterfalls
The best way to learn how to find waterfalls is by looking at known waterfalls, especially ones that you've been to. You can then start exploring to find more and more waterfalls, because there's a lot out there still to be found.
Low detail
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Mid detail
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High detail
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There are times where LiDAR isn't very great, and it throws false info, so for instance I've seen 40 foot waterfalls not appear at all and I've also seen it show a waterfall, but go field check it and there be nothing. It also has trouble at times with narrow places, such as slot canyons. In the end it is still better than a topographic map.
