State guide

Waterfalls in Connecticut

11 waterfalls across 5 counties, ranked 36th nationally. The main waterfall regions are Eastern Connecticut and the Thames Basin, Lower Connecticut River Valley, and Western Hills and the Naugatuck.

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System, with visitor ratings from Google Maps listings.

Best WaterfallsMust-See Waterfalls

Photo of Yantic Falls in Southeastern Connecticut County, Connecticut
Pictured: Yantic Falls, CT

Towns

Where Connecticut's Waterfalls Are

Connecticut's waterfalls are a product of ice and old rock. The state is built largely of hard crystalline bedrock, schist, gneiss and granite, worn down over hundreds of millions of years into rolling uplands on either side of a central lowland. During the last ice age, continental glaciers scraped across all of it, rearranging drainage and leaving streams to find new paths over ledges and through boulder-choked ravines. The result is a landscape full of short, steep drops rather than tall plunges. Our directory lists 11 named waterfalls in Connecticut, ranking it 36th nationally, with the eastern and lower river valley regions holding the largest share.

The Central Valley that runs from New Haven toward Massachusetts adds another element: ridges of traprock, a dark volcanic basalt, interbedded with softer sedimentary layers, which creates abrupt steps where streams cross them. Almost every waterfall in the state also has a human story. Connecticut's falls powered gristmills, textile mills and factories from colonial times onward, so many are paired with old dams, foundations and raceways. Connecticut now uses planning regions rather than counties for many purposes, and our listings follow those regions. Because these sites are small and close to roads and towns, the state is well suited to short visits that pair a waterfall with a historic mill village or riverside park.

Connecticut Waterfall Regions

Eastern Connecticut and the Thames Basin

4 waterfalls · Southeastern Connecticut County

The rivers that join to form the Thames, the Yantic, Shetucket and Quinebaug among them, drop over ledges of crystalline rock on their way to tidewater at Norwich. Yantic Falls in Norwich is the best known, a natural fall paired with a dam and linked to Mohegan legends, with walking paths nearby. Shetucket Falls and Quinebaug Falls are river falls with long histories of mill use, and Silver Falls is a smaller, quieter site. This region's waterfalls tend to sit close to town centers, and several are best appreciated as a blend of natural cascade and industrial heritage.

Start with: Yantic Falls, Shetucket Falls, Quinebaug Falls, Silver Falls

Lower Connecticut River Valley

3 waterfalls · Lower Connecticut River Valley County

Middletown and the hills east of the Connecticut River hold three of the state's most visited waterfalls. Chapman Falls in Devil's Hopyard State Park cascades about 60 feet over a series of stone steps, and its stream has carved potholes into the ledges below. Wadsworth Falls, in the state park of the same name, is a broad curtain on the Coginchaug River, and Westfield Falls nearby is a smaller cascade. The valley's mix of crystalline rock and Central Valley sedimentary layers gives these falls their stepped, ledgy character, with leafy trails that suit short walks.

Start with: Chapman Falls, Westfield Falls, Wadsworth Falls

Western Hills and the Naugatuck

4 waterfalls · Northwest Hills County, Naugatuck Valley County, and Western Connecticut County

Western Connecticut is higher and more rugged, rising toward the Berkshire and Taconic hills along the Massachusetts and New York borders. Great Falls in the Northwest Hills region is a scenic fall with a swimming hole and hiking trails around it, while Roxbury Falls is a lesser-known drop in the same uplands. In the Naugatuck Valley, Buttermilk Falls near Terryville tumbles through a wooded ravine, and Rippowan Falls in the Western Connecticut region sits along the Rippowan River near Stamford. These falls lie in steeper terrain than the rest of the state, with narrower gorges and rockier footing.

Start with: Great Falls, Buttermilk Falls, Roxbury Falls, Rippowan Falls

All 11 Waterfalls in Connecticut

Ordered by Google rating and review volume, then by documented USGS history.

  1. Chapman Falls

    Moodus, CT · Lower Connecticut River Valley County
    4.7 (118 reviews)

    A short trail leads to this 60-ft. waterfall that cascades over stone steps amid deciduous trees.

    Rating
    4.7 (118 Google reviews)
    Address
    East Haddam, CT 06423
    Nearest town
    Moodus, CT (5.8 mi)
    USGS topo
    Hamburg quad
    View details Directions

  2. Yantic Falls

    Norwich, CT · Southeastern Connecticut County
    4.6 (122 reviews)

    Dam & natural waterfall in a scenic environment with hiking trails & legends of the Mohegan Indians.

    Rating
    4.6 (122 Google reviews)
    Address
    Norwich, CT 06360
    Nearest town
    Norwich, CT (1.0 mi)
    USGS topo
    Norwich quad
    View details Directions

  3. Wadsworth Falls

    Durham, CT · Lower Connecticut River Valley County
    4.7 (86 reviews)

    Wadsworth Falls is a waterfall in Lower Connecticut River Valley County, Connecticut, about 3.1 miles north of Durham. It appears on the USGS Middletown topographic map.

    Rating
    4.7 (86 Google reviews)
    Address
    Middlefield, CT 06481
    Nearest town
    Durham, CT (3.1 mi)
    USGS topo
    Middletown quad
    View details Directions

  4. Great Falls

    Canaan, CT · Northwest Hills County
    4.5 (100 reviews)

    Picturesque waterfalls & a swimming hole surrounded by a variety of hiking trails.

    Rating
    4.5 (100 Google reviews)
    Address
    Canaan, CT 06031
    Nearest town
    Canaan, CT (4.9 mi)
    USGS topo
    South Canaan quad
    View details Directions

  5. Buttermilk Falls

    Terryville, CT · Naugatuck Valley County
    4.5 (80 reviews)

    Buttermilk Falls is a waterfall in Naugatuck Valley County, Connecticut, about 2.4 miles south of Terryville. It appears on the USGS Thomaston topographic map.

    Rating
    4.5 (80 Google reviews)
    Address
    Plymouth, CT 06786
    Nearest town
    Terryville, CT (2.4 mi)
    USGS topo
    Thomaston quad
    View details Directions

  6. Westfield Falls

    Middletown, CT · Lower Connecticut River Valley County
    4.2 (94 reviews)

    Westfield Falls is a waterfall in Lower Connecticut River Valley County, Connecticut, about 3.6 miles west of Middletown. It appears on the USGS Middletown topographic map.

    Rating
    4.2 (94 Google reviews)
    Address
    Middletown, CT 06457
    Nearest town
    Middletown, CT (3.6 mi)
    USGS topo
    Middletown quad
    View details Directions

  7. Shetucket Falls

    Lisbon, CT · Southeastern Connecticut County
    4.4 (7 reviews)

    Shetucket Falls is a waterfall in Southeastern Connecticut County, Connecticut, about 2.8 miles southwest of Lisbon. It appears on the USGS Norwich topographic map.

    Rating
    4.4 (7 Google reviews)
    Address
    Norwich, CT 06351
    Nearest town
    Lisbon, CT (2.8 mi)
    USGS topo
    Norwich quad
    View details Directions

  8. Roxbury Falls

    Heritage Village, CT · Northwest Hills County
    3.1 (9 reviews)

    Roxbury Falls is a waterfall in Northwest Hills County, Connecticut, about 4.4 miles northwest of Heritage Village. It appears on the USGS Roxbury topographic map.

    Rating
    3.1 (9 Google reviews)
    Address
    Roxbury, CT 06783
    Nearest town
    Heritage Village, CT (4.4 mi)
    USGS topo
    Roxbury quad
    View details Directions

  9. Rippowan Falls

    Stamford, CT · Western Connecticut County
    4.0 (7 reviews)

    Rippowan Falls is a waterfall in Western Connecticut County, Connecticut, in Stamford. It appears on the USGS Stamford topographic map.

    Rating
    4.0 (7 Google reviews)
    Address
    Stamford, CT 06902
    Nearest town
    Stamford, CT (0.4 mi)
    USGS topo
    Stamford quad
    View details Directions

  10. Quinebaug Falls

    Norwich, CT · Southeastern Connecticut County
    3.3 (4 reviews)

    Quinebaug Falls is a waterfall in Southeastern Connecticut County, Connecticut, about 2.8 miles northeast of Norwich. It appears on the USGS Norwich topographic map.

    Rating
    3.3 (4 Google reviews)
    Address
    Preston, CT 06365
    Nearest town
    Norwich, CT (2.8 mi)
    USGS topo
    Norwich quad
    View details Directions

  11. Silver Falls

    Oxoboxo River, CT · Southeastern Connecticut County
    2.0 (1 reviews)

    Silver Falls is a waterfall in Southeastern Connecticut County, Connecticut, about 5.3 miles southwest of Oxoboxo River. It appears on the USGS Palmertown topographic map.

    Rating
    2.0 (1 Google reviews)
    Address
    Waterford, CT 06333
    Nearest town
    Oxoboxo River, CT (5.3 mi)
    USGS topo
    Palmertown quad
    View details Directions

Highest Rated in Connecticut

  1. Chapman Falls 4.7 from 118 reviews · Moodus
  2. Wadsworth Falls 4.7 from 86 reviews · Durham
  3. Yantic Falls 4.6 from 122 reviews · Norwich
  4. Great Falls 4.5 from 100 reviews · Canaan
  5. Buttermilk Falls 4.5 from 80 reviews · Terryville

Waterfalls with at least 25 Google reviews.

What Visitors Mention

  • Reviews of 1 Connecticut waterfall mention swimming, including Great Falls.

Connecticut Waterfalls by the Compass

The farthest-apart named falls in Connecticut are about 86 miles apart.

Names and History

5 waterfalls have alternate historical names on record, such as Chapman Falls (also Chapman's Falls) and Yantic Falls (also Unca's Leap).

Best Time to See Waterfalls in Connecticut

Spring, from late March into May, is the peak for Connecticut waterfalls. Snowmelt from the western hills and frequent spring rain keep streams high, and the falls are at full volume before the trees leaf out. Early summer still offers good flow in most years, but by July and August many smaller streams drop considerably, and falls like Buttermilk and Chapman can thin to modest trickles during dry spells. Autumn is a strong second season: foliage usually peaks from early to late October, moving from the northwest hills toward the coast, and a few days of rain can bring the falls back. Winter visits can reward with ice formations on cold, still days, but ledges and stone steps become very slippery, and short daylight hours limit time on the trail.

Planning a Waterfall Trip in Connecticut

Most of Connecticut's well-known falls are on state land, including Devil's Hopyard and Wadsworth Falls state parks, or in town-owned parks and open space. Connecticut State Parks generally allow free entry for vehicles with Connecticut plates, while out-of-state vehicles pay a parking fee at many parks. Parking at small town sites can be limited to a few roadside spaces and fills quickly on warm weekends. Many falls sit next to old dams and mill structures, so stay on marked paths and away from dam spillways, where currents can be dangerous. Wet schist and moss-covered ledges are slippery year-round. Swimming is restricted at some sites, so look for posted rules. Rapid rises after heavy rain can be sudden in narrow ravines, especially in the western hills.

More: waterfall safety · packing list

Find Waterfalls Near a Connecticut Town

Waterfalls by County

CountyWaterfallsShareMost visited
Southeastern Connecticut436%Yantic Falls
Lower Connecticut River Valley327%Chapman Falls
Northwest Hills218%Great Falls
Naugatuck Valley19%Buttermilk Falls
Western Connecticut19%Rippowan Falls

All Connecticut Waterfalls A to Z

Connecticut Waterfalls: FAQs

How many waterfalls are in Connecticut?

Our directory lists 11 waterfalls in Connecticut, all officially named in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, 36th among the 50 jurisdictions in our directory and 0.4% of the national total. 82% of them are in just three counties: Southeastern Connecticut, Lower Connecticut River Valley, and Northwest Hills.

What is the most visited waterfall in Connecticut?

By Google review count, Yantic Falls in Southeastern Connecticut County leads with 122 reviews and a 4.6 rating. Chapman Falls is next.

Which Connecticut waterfall is easiest to reach?

Chapman Falls in Devil's Hopyard State Park is reached by a short trail, and Yantic Falls in Norwich is close to town with walking paths. Both are good options for a short outing.

Why are so many Connecticut waterfalls next to dams or old mills?

Waterfalls offered a concentrated drop in elevation that early settlers and later industries used to power mills. As a result, many natural falls in the state were partly dammed or channeled, and their historic structures often remain.

Which Connecticut town has the most waterfalls nearby?

Canaan has 11 named waterfalls within 30 miles, the most of any town in our Connecticut directory.