Thompson Falls is a series of slides and falls along a pleasant
mountain brook. The lowest drop is the first encountered.
The falls drop over a wide granite ledge that is shaped like a
giant clam. Above this, you'll encounter a series of granite
slides and dips, the segmented 20' middle falls, then finally the
cascading upper falls. This isn't a massive waterfall, nor
is it a particularly well known waterfall, but it is a beautiful
waterfall of unique form.
Jefferson Falls is a series of falls that start in a tight gorge,
ending as a waterfall over a jumbled pile of boulders. The
Brewster River drops into a very narrow gorge no more than a few
feet wide, perhaps the tightest gorge I’ve seen in the entire
state. After drops over two pothole falls, the gorge opens
and the river flows over, under, and around a pile of jagged boulders
that have fallen off the rock faces adjacent to the falls.
Cloudland Falls is an 80' fan shaped drop over a broad granite
ledge. It is the highlight of the hike up the Falling Waters Trail,
which passes two other waterfalls along the way. You may
want to time your visit after a stretch of rainy weather, as the
falls occur on the sometimes aptly named Dry Brook.
Nancy Cascades is one of the more remote and wild falls. A 2.4
mile hike that gains 1500' in elevation leads to the falls. The
first view of the falls is of the 80' lower tier as it veils down
the rock face into a pool. Above this, the trail switchbacks past
a series of cascades that total more than 350' in height.
Old City Falls is a 45' two tiered drop. The first drop is a 25'
plunge into a shallow pool. The outlet of the pool slides
about 20' down an angled bedrock ledge. The trail to the falls
is a straightforward dogleg with a flight of stairs. As you
make your way back up the ravine to the falls, you'll see the crest
of the upper tier before the rest of the falls comes into view.
The falls are the centerpiece of a small, well maintained recreation
area in an out of the way place.
Sabbaday Brook drops 40 feet in an unusual and scenic form. The
waters drops 8' into a small emerald green pothole. The outlet
of the pothole is a slide resulting in a 20' horsetail into a tight
gorge where it makes a ninety degree turn to the right. The
final drop is a 12' slide into a deep teal trough that opens into
a pale jade green pool below. Walkways, bridges, and stairs
make this an easy and safe place to explore.
This isn't the tallest waterfall you'll ever see, nor is it the
largest waterfall in terms of volume. What you have in Moss
Glen Falls is one of the most scenic waterfalls in the state of
Vermont. Deer Hollow Brook leaps through a narrow gap at
the head of a 30' tall cliff face that gracefully spreads the waters
over its face. It is a frequent leg stretching spot for travellers
on Route 100, one of the most scenic roads in the state. As
a bonus, Little Moss Glen Falls is one watercourse to the north,
and is passed on the short walkway to the main attraction.
Silver Cascade drops down the side of Crawford Notch just below
the height of land. Unlike its neighbor to the north, Flume Cascade,
this waterfall presents itself fully as a series of cascades, slides,
and falls dropping steeply to the base. You can view it from the
side of Route 302, or you can walk along the ledges adjacent to
the stream to the base of the falls.
A tributary of Lye Brook slides down a long rocky wall at the end
of a 2.3 mile hike. This waterfall was once referred to as
the Trestle Cascade because it was just above an old logging railroad
trestle. The trestle is long gone, and the rail grade converted
into a fairly popular hike to a very nice waterfall that is perhaps
160' tall.
Angel Falls is a 90' leap that is often said to be Maine's highest
single leap. That claim may be disputed, but the falls are very
pretty indeed.
This is a powerful and remote waterfall. When you visit this waterfall,
you'll be a long way off the beaten path. The East Branch of the
Dead Diamond River enters a gorge with waterfalls. The final
drop is a 30' drop into a tea colored pool. Despite the remote
location of the falls, it's
possible to drive on logging roads and get within a quarter mile.
This is one of the best examples of water sculpted rocks you're
likely to come across. The Bear River drops over a short waterfall,
makes its way across a flat bedrock riverbed, then drops over a
very scenic waterfall into a fantastically carved gorge. The falls
are located in Grafton Notch, so the roadside falls won't be the
only thing to see.
Glen Ellis Falls is a powerful 64' plunge on the Ellis River. A
well constructed path and stairway lead to the base of the falls
passing a smaller falls and a second vantage point. Several
smaller falls may be found further downstream, off trail. This
one of the better known waterfalls in the White Mountains, and
receives several hundred visitors a day.
The Mississquoi River segments around a small rocky island, then
combines to drop into spectacular gorge. The view of the falls
from the edge of the 80' adjacent cliff is not for the faint of
heart. You may cautiously explore the ledges near the falls for
other view points. This is the largest undammed waterfall
in the state of Vermont.
The Cutler River drops 80' over a rough rock wall, briefly collecting
itself in a pool. Upon leaving the pool, the waters drop
over a 20' ledge and make a right angle turn into a tight gorge.
The falls are along the Tuckerman Ravine Trail, and see hundreds
of visitors on a typical summer day.
Avalanche Brook slides about 100' down a large granite face that
is shaped roughly like the state of New Hampshire. The waters flow
over the lip of granite at the brink, and flow down a steep face
of reddish granite to a shallow trench shaped pool at the base.
Beaver Brook fans over a ledge, drops over a free fall, then collects
itself to drop the final 30' to the valley floor. The falls are
the centerpiece of a small park, just north of Colebrook.
The West Branch of the Waterbury River slides down a sloping cascade,
surges into a pool, then drops into a deep rugged gorge. After
dropping over several steep cascades, the waters leap through a
narrow notch and plunge 25' into a deep green pool below. The waters
have carved the bedrock nicely here. The scramble to the lower
tier is now much easier as stairs have recently been constructed.
Moxie Stream drops over a plunge into a deep pool. The waters
exit the pool in a steep cascade of about 15'. More falls are supposed
to be downstream. This is a remote and powerful waterfall.
Bash Bish Brook goes through a deep ravine and over a series of
falls on its way west towards New York state. The brook drops over
several smaller falls before leaping 80' in a segmented plunge
around a large rock spire.
Not to be confused with the very scenic Katahdin Stream Falls well
downstream, this is the tallest waterfall in Maine. Topo maps only
provide a height estimate garnered by comparison with a photo of
the falls, but this is conservatively 800' tall, with a single
leap of nearly 300'. Accessing this waterfall is more problematic
than most however. Baxter State Park has a reservation system that
must be navigated. Once that hurdle is cleared, you'll be
in some of the most scenic lands along the eastern seaboard.
Moss Glen Brook meanders through a flat meadowed setting before
entering a tight gorge, dropping over several smaller falls, before
making a spectacular 125' exit from the narrow confines. A sheer
plunge of about 25' collects in a pool before veiling 100' down
a steep rock face.
The waters of Sucker Brook flow along a rocky ledge that acts as
a retaining wall. At a point where that wall is breached, the falls
make a right angle turn and drop over a 40' twin stepped falls
into a deep pool. The waters leave the pool at a right angle to
the upper falls and slide 40' down a sloping cascade that roughly
resembles a stairway with a bannister. At the base of this drop,
the falls make a right angle turn, veil 20' down a rock face making
a second ninety degree turn, dropping 10' over a fractured ledge
of water worn marble. This is perhaps the most unique waterfall
formation I've seen to date.
The waters of Cobb Brook leap 125' down a steep rock face on their
way to the West River downstream. Cobb Brook slides down a bedrock
chute into a green pool. At the exit of the pool, the waters slide
steeply down a rocky slope, leaping free into a pocket carved in
the rock. The falls then slide 30' down the rocks into a deep green
pool.
Bemis Brook makes a leap of 176' (my eye tells me it's less, but
either way, it's a spectacular waterfall) down an orange ledge
of granite. As you approach the falls, you'll see tantalizing glimpses
of white falling water high through the treetops.
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