Lakes, Beaches and Waterfalls in the US From TikTok Creators

The American West dominates this list, and most of it is fresh water. Glacier National Park in Montana has the two most posted entries: Lake McDonald, ten miles long and nearly 500 feet deep, and the hike to Grinnell Glacier, filmed in July wildflower season. The Pacific Northwest adds Lake Crescent, Bridal Veil Falls and Multnomah Falls.

California supplies the two remaining entries, at opposite ends of the landscape: Gray Whale Cove State Beach on the Pacific near Half Moon Bay, and Lake George, high in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. Everything here is free to visit, though Bridal Veil Falls needs a Northwest Forest Pass for parking. Expect some walking: two of these are proper hikes with real elevation gain.

Written from public posts on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Updated Nov 2026.

Where creators go

  1. Grinnell GlacierLake · Columbia Falls

    A hike of about 11 miles round trip with 1,600 feet of gain in Glacier National Park, ending at a glacier above alpine lakes. One creator filmed the July wildflowers along the way. The trail is exposed, so the listing advises preparing for changing weather.

  2. Lake McDonaldLake · Lake McDonald

    The largest lake in Glacier National Park, carved by glaciers, ten miles long and nearly 500 feet deep, known for its clear water. The historic Lake McDonald Lodge dates from 1913, and there are boat rentals and ranger-led activities. Two creators posted it, one floating on the lake.

  3. Multnomah FallsWaterfall · Bridal Veil

    A 620-foot waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon, fed by underground springs, with the historic Benson Bridge and a Tudor-style lodge from 1925. You can see it from the highway or walk to the base. The creator filmed it in autumn, surrounded by orange and yellow trees.

  4. Lake CrescentLake · Port Angeles

    A glacial lake in Olympic National Park with visibility up to 60 feet and its own Beardslee and Crescenti trout. People kayak, canoe and sail, and old-growth forest trails start from the shore. It appears in a Pacific Northwest road trip video.

  5. Bridal Veil FallsWaterfall · Gold Bar

    A waterfall near Gold Bar, Washington, reached on a 4-mile round trip with 1,000 feet of gain over rocky ground and stairways. The views include the east wall of Mount Index. Parking needs a Northwest Forest Pass. It shares the road trip video with Lake Crescent.

  6. Lake GeorgeLake · Mammoth Lakes

    The highest road-accessible lake in the Mammoth Lakes Basin, between Crystal Crag and the Mammoth Crest, with summer boat rentals, a tackle shop, picnic and camping areas and bear-proof storage. The creator notes the water is clear and shallow enough to see the colored pebbles on the bottom. In winter, access is by ski or snowshoe only.

  7. Gray Whale Cove State BeachBeach · Half Moon Bay

    A sheltered cove below cliffs near Half Moon Bay, reached by a steep trail down to the sand. The listing names gray whale migration viewing, a bluff-top picnic area, WWII bunker and railroad remains, and trails onto Montara Mountain.

Glacier National Park, Montana

Lake McDonald and Grinnell Glacier together are the most posted part of this list. The lake is the easy one, with a lodge, boats and ranger programs. Grinnell is a day hike of roughly 11 miles, best for people prepared for exposed terrain and weather changes.

A Pacific Northwest road trip

Lake Crescent and Bridal Veil Falls both come from a single road trip video, and Multnomah Falls is the Oregon entry from the same region. Of the three, Multnomah is the easiest, visible from the highway; Bridal Veil Falls is a 4-mile hike.

Good to know

The listing describes it as challenging: 10.6 to 11.1 miles round trip with about 1,600 feet of elevation gain on an exposed trail where the weather can change. The reward is the glacier, alpine lakes and wildflower meadows, which one creator filmed in July.

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