Maine is one of the most beautiful states in New England with so many hidden waterfalls. Although Maine’s waterfalls are not the tallest in the US, they are stunning and should be on every bucket list!

Most people stick to the coast of Maine because it has the most popular areas, but the state offers so much more! Do not get me wrong, the sandy beaches, rocky coastline, and quaint coastal towns are beautiful and worth visiting, but I recommend exploring further north. It may be a long drive, but the mountains, waterfalls, lakes, and scenic drives are well worth it!

I have spent the last few years exploring the northern sections of Maine, and although I have only touched the surface, I have found some breathtaking areas. The northern sections are stunning and have the most beautiful waterfalls in the state.

I created this guide with everything you need to know about visiting the best waterfalls in Maine. So get your cameras and hiking boots ready for fun adventures!

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What You Should Know Before Visiting Maine’s Waterfalls

Before we dive into my favorite waterfalls in Maine, you should know a few things that will help you plan the best trip!

When You Should Visit the Waterfalls

One of my favorite things about the waterfalls in Maine is that you can visit most year-round. I have visited a few of these waterfalls in every season, and I love experiencing them during their different stages.

Late spring and early summer are the best time to visit the waterfalls because they will have more water flowing after the snow melts. Sometimes snow can linger on the trails through early summer, but otherwise, the weather is typically beautiful for hiking!

As we move into summer, the crowds become denser. It is also one of the busiest times in Maine, so you will probably share the waterfall with many people. I recommend visiting the most popular waterfalls in the morning to avoid the midday crowds.

Fall is my favorite time to visit the waterfalls because what is more beautiful than a waterfall surrounded by vibrant fall foliage?! Even if the waterfalls have low water, they will be picturesque with the foliage.

Because fall is one of the busiest times in New England, I recommend visiting the waterfalls in the early morning. Many of the waterfall parking lots are small and fill up quickly, especially on fall weekends.

Winter is the most underrated time to visit the waterfalls, but I love seeing them frozen and surrounded by snow. Since many waterfalls require a hike, it is crucial to bring proper hiking gear and read recent trail reviews to understand the trail conditions. Also, some roads close in the winter, so you may not be able to access all the waterfalls on this list.

What to Pack for Chasing Waterfalls

Maine mountain weather can be unpredictable, so it is crucial to pack the right gear and layers for the season you visit.

Even though some of these trails are easy, I recommend reading recent trail reviews, looking up mountain forecasts, and checking local websites for trail closures to make sure you are prepared.

This is a great baseline for what to pack, and you can adjust as needed for each season:

Maine Waterfall Map

My Favorite Waterfalls in Maine

Maine has many waterfalls throughout the state, and I am going to tell you a few of my favorites! As I explore more, I will add more to this list, so you have an endless waterfall bucket list.

**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and not leave trash behind. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw away your trash. If they do not, you must take your trash with you and dispose of it at the next available barrel. Let’s keep these beautiful places clean!

Moxie Falls

Hike length: 2 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Location: West Forks, Maine

I am starting this list with the best waterfall in Maine!

Moxie Falls is easily my favorite Maine waterfall. It is over 90 feet tall, making it the third-tallest waterfall, and it is one of the most iconic in the state, in my opinion.

And the best part? The trail to Moxie Falls is an easy 2-mile hike that brings you through a beautiful forest and over three viewing platforms. The first viewing platform looks down at Moxie Falls, while the other two offer views across from it. The last two have the best views.

Moxie Falls is pretty far north, and it takes a bit of driving to get there, but it has many fun nearby activities! I love visiting this area in Maine, so I know you will, too.

moxie falls hiking guide

Houston Brook Falls

Hike length: 0.5 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Location: Bingham, Maine

Houston Brook Falls may not be among the tallest waterfalls in Maine, but it is beautiful! The trail to the 32-foot-tall waterfall is short and easy, making it great for the entire family.

The Houston Brook Falls parking lot is discreet, so you have to keep an eye out for it. You will see a fence with a small parking lot in front with only a few spaces.

Once you park there, the hike begins to the left of the lot. The trail is well-marked, leading you to the base of Houston Brook Falls, where you can take in its beauty or swim if it is warm!

Houston Brook Falls is not too far from Moxie Falls, so you can see both when you visit. I have visited these waterfalls in summer and fall, and the views during both seasons are stunning!

Houston Brook Falls Hiking Guide

Gulf Hagas (aka the Grand Canyon of Maine)

Hike length: 8.6 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Location: 100 Mile Wilderness Conservation Area, Maine

Did you know Maine has a waterfall that is considered the Grand Canyon of the state?!

Gulf Hagas is easily one of the most beautiful trails in Maine because it follows along a huge gorge with multiple waterfalls. I honestly think it is one of the most unique areas in the state!

This trail is one of the most difficult on the list mainly because it is remote, rugged, and long. The most popular route is 8.6 miles, but it goes by quickly because the views distract you.

I recommend allocating an entire day to hiking to Gulf Hagas because trust me, you will want to take your time. It is also a very popular area, so I recommend arriving early.

Screw Auger Falls

Hike length: 0.2 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Location: Newry, Maine

Screw Auger Falls is another iconic waterfall in Maine and is one of the most visited waterfalls in the state! It is also in one of my favorite state parks in Maine, Grafton Notch.

Screw Auger Falls is one of the easiest waterfalls to access, only requiring a short walk from the parking lot. You can walk to a few viewpoints along the trail overlooking the 25-foot-tall waterfall and gorge.

Grafton Notch is a popular area for hiking, so when you visit, I highly recommend hiking nearby trails! The entire area is beautiful, so you will quickly fall in love with it.

the best things to do in bethel, maine

Step Falls

Hike length: 1.1 miles

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Location: Newry, Maine

Step Falls is the second-tallest waterfall in Maine, standing 250 feet tall. Since it is in Grafton Notch, you can visit Step Falls and Screw Auger Falls during the same trip.

Although the 1-mile trail is easy, it has a consistent climb to the top of Step Falls, but the views of the falls and surrounding mountains are worth it. Step Falls is also a popular swimming area, so if you visit on a summer weekend, be prepared to share the trail with many swimmers!

When you visit Grafton Notch, I also recommend visiting the cute town of Bethel! Although it is visited mostly in the winter for skiing at Sunday River, it has many fun things to do! I have spent a lot of time hiking through Bethel, so I know you will love visiting.

Angel Falls

Hike length: 1.1 miles

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Location: Township D, Maine

Angel Falls is another of my favorite waterfalls because it is epic, standing 90 feet tall, making it the fourth-tallest waterfall in Maine.

Although this is a popular waterfall, it can be hard to find. I recommend entering Bemis Road from the south because I met people who said the other way in was a long and slow drive over an unmaintained road.

Once near the trailhead, you will see a small sign at a fork in the road pointing to the trailhead. It is easy to miss, but if you have an offline map, you should be okay!

The 1.1-mile trail crosses a stream a few times before leading you to Angel Falls, and it can be tricky to pass if the water is high. But once you get to the end, you will quickly fall in love with how stunning Angel Falls is!

I have only visited Angel Falls in the fall when it had only a trickle of water, but it was still beautiful. Nothing beats waterfalls surrounded by foliage!

the best waterfalls near rangeley maine

Dunn Falls

Hike length: 2 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Location: Andover, Maine

Dunn Falls is a hidden gem in Maine, consisting of two waterfalls. The upper falls are 80 feet tall, and the lower falls are 70 feet tall. Both are stunning and worth the hike!

You have two options for hiking the 2-mile trail: as a loop or as an out-and-back. I recommend hiking it as a loop and starting on the Appalachian Trail, but either way works well! Make sure to say hello to thru-hikers since you may see some at the waterfall!

You will arrive at the lower falls first before passing many unnamed small waterfalls on the way to the upper falls. It is a really beautiful hike, and it is nice that it tends to be quieter than others on this list!

Smalls Falls

Hike length: 0.5 miles

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Location: Rangeley, Maine

Did you know you can visit a waterfall at a rest stop?! Smalls Falls is a 54-foot waterfall near Rangeley with multiple viewpoints along the trail, so you can choose if you want an easy or moderate adventure.

The short trail is easy to follow from the rest area to a set of stairs leading you to a bridge with stunning views of Smalls Falls. If you want more of an adventure, you can follow the trail to the top of the waterfall, where there are many viewpoints of various cascades. But the best view, in my opinion, is at the bridge.

Rangeley is one of my favorite areas in Maine, and it has many beautiful waterfalls you can visit on a trip! You can also enjoy one of the most scenic drives, Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway.

Bonus waterfall: If you follow the trail to the left after the bridge, you will find a hidden waterfall many people miss!

The Cascades

Hike length: 1 mile

Difficulty: Easy

Location: Rangeley, Maine

The Cascades is another beautiful waterfall near Rangeley with three falls. The Cascade Gorge Stream Trail travels through the beautiful gorge before reaching the star of the show, the Cascades.

The Cascades is not too far from Smalls Falls, so you can easily visit both waterfalls in one trip. When I visited Rangeley, I visited all its beautiful waterfalls in one day along its scenic drive.

If you want to plan a weekend trip to Rangeley, you can add many fun activities to your itinerary! You can explore the lake, chase waterfalls, hike to overlooks, and enjoy stunning roadside overlooks.

Katahdin Stream Falls

Hike length: 2.4 miles

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Location: Baxter State Park, Maine

And last but certainly not least, we have the tallest mountain in Maine, Katahdin Stream Falls!

If you are not familiar with Baxter State Park, it is one of the most rugged and remote areas in Maine and home to the tallest mountain in the state, Mount Katahdin, which is also the end of the Appalachian Trail. Baxter State Park is easily one of the most beautiful areas in Maine, with hikes, scenic drives, and waterfalls.

One of the best things to do in the area is hike the 2.4-mile trail to Katahdin Stream Falls. The entire trail is beautiful, but of course, the star of the show is the waterfall.

If you want to visit Baxter State Park, I highly recommend spending a few days in the area. The drive is VERY long, but the area has so much to do, so it is worth the trip.

Maine Waterfalls FAQs

When is the best season to visit Maine’s waterfalls?

One of the best things about the waterfalls in Maine is that you can visit in any season!

Late spring and early summer are by far the best time to explore waterfalls after the winter snow melts if you want to see them in all their glory.

Fall is another one of the best times to visit the waterfalls because they are surrounded by beautiful fall foliage and look picture-perfect! Although the water volume is higher in spring, I prefer visiting the waterfalls in fall because of the foliage.

Do I need to hike to the waterfalls?

Most of Maine’s waterfalls require a hike, but not all of them are strenuous!

One of the best things about these waterfalls is you can pick which type of adventure you want to go on. You can hike longer, strenuous trails to some waterfalls or stick to short, easy ones.

What are some of the best waterfalls in Maine?

A few of the best waterfalls in Maine are:

Angel Falls
Moxie Falls
Houston Brook Falls
Screw Auger Falls
Step Falls
Dunn Falls
Smalls Falls
The Cascades
Gulf Hagas
Katahdin Stream Falls

Are the waterfalls crowded in Maine?

The most popular ones, like Screw Auger Falls and Step Falls, can become crowded, especially during summer and fall. But because many of these waterfalls are pretty far north, they are not all busy.

If you want to avoid the midday crowds, I recommend arriving early. The trails will be far more peaceful.

If you want to visit the most beautiful waterfalls in Maine, you are in the right place! I will continue to visit and find the best waterfalls in the state to help you plan the best trip to them.