Beautiful Maine Waterfalls You Absolutely Must See

Everyone loves waterfalls! The sounds of water crashing to the ground. The beauty of glistening and spraying water everywhere. The power of nature carving pathways through the ancient granite. Luckily, there are many beautiful Maine waterfalls to explore in our area! Plus, they are all within driving distance from our Maine bed and breakfast.

Wolf Cove Inn is a stunning Lakefront bed and breakfast surrounded by the beauty of Maine. We are ideally located near all the best outdoor adventures. When staying in one of our cozy rooms you will experience features such a gas fireplace, jetted tub, stunning lake views and more. Before heading out on your adventure, you will also enjoy a delicious complimentary breakfast. Learn more about the perfect getaway at our Maine B&B with an outdoor adventure to the areas best waterfalls.

Read on to find out about our Northerly and Northwesterly Maine Waterfall Tours including many stunning waterfalls.

Northerly Tour	Northwesterly Tour
— Great Falls | Auburn, Maine — Reed Falls | Kingfield, ME — Huston Brook Falls | Carrabassett Valley — Poplar Stream Falls | Carrabassett Valley — West Mountain Falls | Carrabassett Valley — Smalls Falls | Phillips, ME — Wortherly Brook in Poland, ME	— Snow Falls, West Paris — Coos Canyon, Byron — Angel Falls, Ten Degree/Rangeley — The Cataracts, Andover West — Screw Auger Falls, Grafton Notch State Park

 

Maine waterfalls have seasons to them corresponding to the four seasons. Springtime brings the melting of the snowpack. Consequently, the waterfalls are usually raging from the run off. In summer, the falls are often quieter but provide great opportunities to safely cool off in the watering holes at their bases. Autumn brings breathtaking fall foliage that paints a beautiful canvas of color around the waterfalls. Finally, wintertime brings on dazzling crystal formations of frozen flows. No matter the season, a tour of Maine waterfalls should be on your "to do" list during your next Maine getaway!

There are a lot of waterfalls to see around these parts. Therefore, we'll knock off these Maine waterfalls in two days via two tours. The first tour takes a northerly route with 6 waterfalls, bringing you fairly close to the Canadian border.

Stop B on our interactive map.

Located just a short 20 minute drive from our Maine bed and breakfast.Enjoy huge, raging falls after big rains. Plus, there is no hiking involved!

• Quick Tip: Indulge in a locally brewed beer at Gritty’s right around the corner.

First up on the northerly tour are Great Falls in Auburn, about twenty minutes from the Wolf Cove Inn. The Androscoggin River drives these falls. The river separates the cities of Auburn and Lewiston Maine. Back in the day the falls powered the local mills.

View these falls from the Auburn Riverwalk.  Access the Riverwalk by parking near the Hilton Garden Inn and walking to the left of the Inn to the Riverwalk.

Next up are a series of falls in the Carrabassett Valley region, about 1.5 hour drive north from Auburn. Depart the parking area and take a right onto Turner Street. A quarter mile down the road you will pick up Route 4.

You can follow Route 4 all the way through Farmington. However, once I hit Livermore Falls, I prefer taking the much more scenic Route 133 to Farmington. Once you cross the Androscoggin River in Livermore Falls, take a right at the light and then the first left. Within a few hundred feet you are on Route 133. Follow Route 133 to the end in Farmington, then take a right back onto Route 4. Follow Route 4 through downtown Farmington. A couple miles outside of downtown Farmington you will pick up Route 27 north. This will take you to the next four Maine waterfalls after about a 35 minute drive.

Be sure to stop at the Orange Cat Cafe in Kingfield before heading to Reed Falls. It's funky and they have great sandwiches. The Jalapeno Chicken Salad Wrap is a favorite. 

Stop C on our interactive map.

• A 1.5 hour drive from the Wolf Cove Inn.
• Reed Falls is an easy 15 minute hike perfect for those looking to experience the beauty of Maine on a shorter hike.
• Quick Tip: Grab sandwiches at Orange Cat in Kingfield located just a few miles before the falls.

Access Reed Falls north of downtown Kingfield, just before entering Carrabassett Valley. The starting point for Reed falls begins on Route 27 between Kingfield and Carrabassett. About 3.8 miles north of the intersection of Routes 16 and 27 in downtown Kingfield, look for a small parking area on the Carrabassett River side of the road. You'll see some orange tape tied to a tree on the opposite side of the road demarking the trail head. If you come to the Claybrook (Ira Mountain) bridge across the river, you've gone too far. The trail starts behind the guardrail across Route 27 from the parking area. Follow the trail along Reed Brook about one mile to the falls.

It is a very pleasant hike along the brook. In one area, you'll use a rope to assist you across a small stream feeding the brook and as you approach the falls you'll need to climb over one fallen tree and under another. Taken during the dry summer of 2016, the falls in the photo are quiet. With heavy snow melt, you will find a torrent of water.

 

Stop D on our interactive map.

• Located only 10 minutes from the prior stop at Reeds Falls
• An easy 5 minute hike from the parking area
• Quick Tip: Bring a bathing suit in the warm months because there is swimming hole at the base of the waterfall!

From Reeds Falls, take Route 27 north about 10 minutes to the Sugarbowl, just north of Ayotte’s. Turn right down a dirt road to the right of the Bowling Alley marked by a Maine Huts & Trails sign. This will take you to a parking lot next to the airport runway. From there you can cross the multi-purpose bridge and hike about a mile to the falls.

Huston Brook Falls has been closed to all traffic as of Jan 2023. The Penobscot Indian Nation has posted their land which encompasses the falls area. It's best to check on closure updates.

 

Stop E on our interactive map.

• Just a short 5-minute drive from the prior stop at Houston Brooks Falls
• Quick Tip: There are 2 trailheads! Option 1 is a short, easy 5 minute walk to the falls. While option 2 is an easy/moderate 45 minute walk to the falls.

You can access Poplar Stream Falls a variety of ways. For quickest access to the falls from the Houston Brook parking area, return to the Carriage Road and turn left. Continue 1.5 miles up the Carriage Road and take a right onto the service road for the Poplar Stream Hut of the Maine Huts And Trails network. Follow this dirt road for 0.2 miles to a parking area. Just beyond the green gate you will see a sign for the upper falls viewing vista, about a 100 feet walk. When done there, backtrack to the gate and head over the bridge to access the trail leading to the lower falls.

After exploring the falls, if you are into ascending a mountain at this point, there is a great hike up the Little Bigelow Mountain a few miles further down the Carriage Road. Head east on the Carriage Road to the end and take a left. About a quarter mile down the road you'll find a parking lot on the right at the AT crossing. Across the road on the left is the trailhead. 

There is another route to see the Poplar Stream Falls where you'll hike for about 45 minutes to the falls. 0.2 miles into the Carriage road from Route 27 turn right onto Gauge Road. Here you access the Maine Huts and Trails Gauge Road trailhead. You will find a kiosk with information on how to get to the falls. It’s a pleasant 2.3 mile hike to the falls area, following along Poplar Stream most of the way.  Explore the lower falls basin, then head up the stone staircase for the upper falls.

 

 

Stop F on our interactive map.

• Located within a 10 minute drive from the prior stop at Poplar Stream Falls.
• The trail to West Mountain Fall is an easy/moderate 15 minute hike. The falls are stunning with a large swimming hole at the base!
• Quick Tip: Enjoy gorgeous scenery on the patio while eating lunch at the Sugarloaf Mountain Golf Course just two minutes away from the falls parking lot.

Departing the Carriage Road, turn right onto Route 27 and head north until about 6 miles and turn left onto the Sugarloaf Access Road. Turn right onto West Mountain Road heading to the Sugarloaf Golf course shortly after you pass the condo check in center. Access the West Mountain Falls via a trailhead just before you reach the Sugarloaf Golf Course parking lot. As you are proceeding to the golf course on West Mountain Road, you will pass under a chairlift, at which point the road forks.  Take the right fork. Once you finish a sweeping, descending turn you will spot a small dirt parking area large enough for 2-3 cars.

Once you park proceed to the trailhead just down the road a bit further on the left hand side. From there, it is about a 10 minute hike to the falls. Once at the falls, you can take a dip in the natural pool formed at the base of the falls. I'll warn you though - mountain run off water can be quite nippy.

If you finish these falls around lunchtime, be sure to pop on down to the golf course for lunch at Strokes in the golf course clubhouse. The food is great, as are the views looking down the ninth hole and across to the eleventh hole from the tenth hole tee box.

Furthermore, if it is a Thursday or a Saturday, you can head up the Sugarloaf Access Road to the base area and take a scenic chairlift ride. In addition to the terrific views of the mountains and valleys, you'll also get a sense of the skiing terrain at Sugarloaf. Pick up your tickets at the Outpost Adventure Center. You can also do some ziplining and Segway touring there too.

 

Stop G on our interactive map.

• On your way to Small Falls, enjoy a beautiful, scenic 55 minute drive once you depart West Mountain Falls.
• The falls are located right off of route 4 (no hiking involved!) and feature large, multi-tiered falls with swimming and diving!
• Quick Tip: There is a chance you will get to see a moose in what’s locally known at Moose Alley – the stretch of route 16 from Eustis to Rangeley.

Next up - Smalls Falls. Head back down West Mountain Road and hang a left back onto the Sugarloaf Access Road.  At the end, take a left onto Route 27 north. Follow this to Stratton where you will pick up Route 16 west toward Rangeley. This road is called "Moose Alley". Mid day you aren't likely to see any, but if you were traveling at dawn or dusk, well that's another matter.

If time permits on your way to Rangeley, visit a scenic overlook called Quill Hill. A short detour offers some great 360 degree views of the area mountains and plains.

Once in Rangeley, you will hook up with Route 4 again.  Follow it south about 12 miles and you will spot a sign for Smalls Falls on your right. Access the falls right from the parking area - no hiking involved! Picnic facilities are also available.

Smalls Falls is the last site on this day's journey. To return to the Wolf Cove Inn, follow Route 4 south to Route 117 west in Turner, to Route 124 south in Buckfield to Route 11 south in Mechanic Falls and from there you are less than 10 minutes to our Maine bed and breakfast on Tripp Lake.

If you still want one more bit of falling water to finish off day one, head over to Wortherly Brooks in Poland. From Route 11, pick up Route 26 south in Poland, then a left onto Route 122 and then a mile down the road, a left onto Empire Road.

 

Stop H on our interactive map.

• Located just minutes from our bed and breakfast in Poland, ME.
• Quick Tip: Visit during the spring melt or after a heavy rain to really experience the best of Wortherly Brook.

Access the mountain biking/hiking trail system off of Empire Road.  Boulders border the gravel parking area on the right just prior to the main entrance to the park. Follow the trailhead by the kiosk a short way until you reach an intersection, then turn right. Follow the double track trail across a small bridge spanning Wortherly Brook. Shortly thereafter, on your left you will find access to the East Ridge Trail.  Follow this trail for about 1/3 a mile until you reach a pine grove on the ridge. You will spot an easy to miss trail leading down the ridge to the cascades. Naturally, they are more interesting during spring melt or after a heavy rain.

Once done with Wortherly Brook, head back to the Maine bed and breakfast to relax before dinner.  Be sure to get back in time for our spectacular sunsets.

 

 

 

About twenty minutes from the Wolf Cove Inn, easily access Snow Falls right off of Route 26 in West Paris. A short walk from the parking area brings you to the falls. The Little Androscoggin River powers the four cascades of Snow Falls. No need to bring a towel since there is no swimming at the falls.

 

For century upon century, the Swift River has etched and chipped away at the granite bedrock, creating Coos Canyon. Access to the canyon is from the parking area adjacent Route 17 on Byron. There are great photo ops, swimming holes, picnic areas along with a sub and gift shop at this great waterfall and canyon. For sure, bring a towel and go for a dip in any of the many swimming spots.

 

A bit further up the road from Coos Canyon you will find Angel Falls. Drive another 30 minutes north of Coos Canyon to reach the trailhead leading to Angel Falls. Mountain Brook creates this 90 foot plunging waterfall. Leave the swimming trunks in the car for this one. No swimming allowed.

 

Head back down Route 17 through Byron into Andover and pick up the Upton Hill/East B Road and head west.  At 5.4 miles you will find a small 3-4 car parking area on the right side of the road just before crossing Fyre Brook. The trailhead leading to the falls is on the other side of the road adjacent to the bridge. Follow the trail along the brook for about 1/3 of a mile. At the end of the trail you will find the falls, and a picnic area.

Once back in your car, you'll head off to the final stop on your Maine waterfalls tour - Screw Auger Falls. Continue on Upton Hill Road about 8 miles to the end in Upton and take a left onto Route 26 south. Once you enter Grafton Notch State Park, the falls are a short drive further on Route 26. Watch for a sign for the falls parking area on the right side of Route 26. Note the the State Park itself is quite beautiful. Don't be in so much of a hurry that your don't enjoy the scenery along the way.

These falls contain two 30 foot drops. The Bear River powers these beautiful falls. There is ample picnic space, but no swimming.

About a mile north of Screw Auger Falls you can visit Mother Walker Falls. And then another mile north you'll find Moose Cave falls. Both are worthy stops while in that neck of the woods. More information on both those falls can be found here.

 

We would love to hear your stories of exploring these lovely Maine waterfalls. Each one offers a unique natural beauty and sense of serentiy and a little adventure.

Mix your next Maine adventure with some time stretching your legs on our hiking trails. Or, bring your mountain bike for some two-whelelin' treks on the trails. Be sure to bring your camera (or phone) for some stunning selfies. Share them on our Facebook page with the story of your adventure. Capture stunning photos. Breathe in fresh pine air.

Book a relaxing lakeside stay at Wolf Cove Inn. Experience luxurious comfort in any of our rooms and suites. Enjoy the comfort and convenience of our room amenities. And come for a peaceful Maine escape.

Check availabiilty and book online today. We can't wait to welcome you!

 

 

 

_