State guide

Waterfalls in Maine

119 waterfalls across 12 counties, ranked 7th nationally. The main waterfall regions are Western Mountains, North Woods and Moosehead Highlands, Aroostook and Downeast, and Southern Maine Rivers.

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

Best Waterfalls Most Beautiful Waterfalls Must-See Waterfalls

Photo of Smalls Falls in Franklin County, Maine — Pictured: Smalls Falls, ME

Why Maine Has So Many Waterfalls

Maine's waterfalls were shaped first by ancient mountain building and then by ice. The state's interior is a patchwork of granite intrusions, slate and other metamorphic rock, worn into rounded mountains and high plateaus. During the last ice age, a thick ice sheet buried the entire state, scouring valleys, damming old drainages and leaving behind a disordered network of lakes, bogs and rivers that often tumble over ledges where they cross resistant bedrock. With 119 named waterfalls, Maine ranks seventh nationally in our directory. Granite ledges, slate gorges and long chains of rapids are all common.

The falls concentrate in the western mountains and the vast North Woods. Piscataquis County alone holds 32, many in the remote country around Moosehead Lake, the Appalachian Trail's Hundred-Mile Wilderness and the slate gorges east of Greenville. Oxford and Franklin counties, along the New Hampshire border, have the most accessible roadside falls. Heavy winter snowpack across these uplands feeds a strong spring runoff, while abundant rainfall keeps rivers moving through much of the year. Even Downeast and in the far north, rivers pour over ledges on their way to the Atlantic or the St. John.

Maine Waterfall Regions

Western Mountains

25 waterfalls · Oxford County and Franklin County

The mountains along the New Hampshire border, from Grafton Notch to the Rangeley Lakes and Kingfield, are Maine's most visited waterfall country. Smalls Falls in Franklin County is a series of drops and pools beside a highway rest area, and Angel Falls nearby is a tall, narrow plunge reached by a forest walk. In Oxford County, Screw Auger Falls carves potholes and a small gorge into granite within Grafton Notch State Park, while The Cataracts and Kezar Falls are other favorites. Rumford Falls on the Androscoggin River is a large river fall harnessed for power since the 1890s, which USGS notes may be dry during low water.

Start with: Smalls Falls, Angel Falls, Screw Auger Falls, The Cataracts, Kezar Falls

North Woods and Moosehead Highlands

57 waterfalls · Piscataquis County, Somerset County, and Penobscot County

This is the largest and wildest waterfall region in New England, spanning the Moosehead Lake area, Baxter State Park country and the commercial forests that surround them. Many falls lie on slate and granite bedrock in remote valleys reached by logging roads or long hikes. Little Wilson Falls in Piscataquis County drops into a slate gorge along the Appalachian Trail, and Houston Brook Falls in Somerset County is a well-loved short hike. Near Patten in Penobscot County, Shin Falls is a quieter stop near Shin Pond. Numbers alone tell the story here: these three counties hold more than 50 of the state's falls.

Start with: Houston Brook Falls, Little Wilson Falls, Shin Falls, Caratunk Falls, Abol Falls

Aroostook and Downeast

28 waterfalls · Aroostook County, Washington County, and Hancock County

Northern and eastern Maine are lower and more rolling, but rivers still break over ledges as they head for the St. John valley or the Atlantic. Fish River Falls near Fort Kent in Aroostook County is a classic north-country river drop. Washington County, Downeast, has numerous small falls on coastal rivers around Cherryfield and Calais. In Hancock County, Acadia National Park contains Hadlock Falls and Man O'War Brook Falls, short cascades on granite tumbling toward the sea, and Grand Falls is another river fall in the county. These falls tend to be modest but sit in striking coastal and forest settings.

Start with: Hadlock Falls, Grand Falls, Fish River Falls, Little Falls, Warren Falls

Southern Maine Rivers

9 waterfalls · Cumberland County, Androscoggin County, York County, and Topsham County

In the more settled south, waterfalls are mostly river falls in or near towns, many harnessed for mills and power since colonial times. Great Falls on the Androscoggin River divides Lewiston and Auburn, and is partly harnessed for hydropower. In Yarmouth, the Royal River descends over a series of falls to tidewater, beginning with the drop known as Pumgustuck. Topsham and York County add a few more historic river falls. These sites are easy to reach, often bordered by parks, bridges and riverwalks, and show how waterpower shaped southern Maine's mill towns.

Start with: Presumpscot Falls, Great Falls, Saccarappa Falls, Dundee Falls, Basion Cove Falls

25 Featured Waterfalls in Maine

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

Smalls Falls

Phillips, ME · Franklin County

4.9 (154 reviews)

Smalls Falls is a waterfall in Franklin County, Maine, about 9.0 miles west of Phillips. It appears on the USGS Jackson Mountain topographic map.

Rating
4.9 (154 Google reviews)
Address
West Central Franklin, ME 04970
Nearest town
Phillips, ME (9.0 mi)
USGS topo
Jackson Mountain quad

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Screw Auger Falls

Bethel, ME · Oxford County

4.8 (106 reviews)

Small waterfall accessed by multiple trails, popular for swimming, picnics & nature exploration.

Rating
4.8 (106 Google reviews)
Address
North Oxford, ME 04261
Nearest town
Bethel, ME (13 mi)
USGS topo
Old Speck Mountain quad

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Angel Falls

Mexico, ME · Franklin County

4.5 (128 reviews)

Angel Falls is a waterfall in Franklin County, Maine, about 17 miles northwest of Mexico. It appears on the USGS Houghton topographic map.

Rating
4.5 (128 Google reviews)
Address
West Central Franklin, ME 04275
Nearest town
Mexico, ME (17 mi)
USGS topo
Houghton quad

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Houston Brook Falls

Kingfield, ME · Somerset County

4.8 (80 reviews)

Houston Brook Falls is a waterfall in Somerset County, Maine, about 13 miles northeast of Kingfield. It appears on the USGS Bingham topographic map.

Rating
4.8 (80 Google reviews)
Address
Pleasant Ridge, ME 04920
Nearest town
Kingfield, ME (13 mi)
USGS topo
Bingham quad

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Hadlock Falls

Bar Harbor, ME · Hancock County

4.5 (33 reviews)

Hadlock Falls is a waterfall in Hancock County, Maine, about 5.4 miles southwest of Bar Harbor. USGS notes: Located in Acadia NP.

Rating
4.5 (33 Google reviews)
Address
Mt Desert, ME 04660
Nearest town
Bar Harbor, ME (5.4 mi)
USGS topo
Southwest Harbor quad

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Little Wilson Falls

Greenville, ME · Piscataquis County

4.9 (30 reviews)

Little Wilson Falls is a waterfall in Piscataquis County, Maine, about 8.3 miles southeast of Greenville. It appears on the USGS Monson East topographic map.

Rating
4.9 (30 Google reviews)
Address
Northeast Piscataquis, ME 04441
Nearest town
Greenville, ME (8.3 mi)
USGS topo
Monson East quad

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Shin Falls

Patten, ME · Penobscot County

4.9 (30 reviews)

Shin Falls is a waterfall in Penobscot County, Maine, about 13 miles northwest of Patten. It appears on the USGS Hay Brook Mountain topographic map.

Rating
4.9 (30 Google reviews)
Address
North Penobscot, ME 04765
Nearest town
Patten, ME (13 mi)
USGS topo
Hay Brook Mountain quad

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Great Falls

Lewiston, ME · Androscoggin County

4.5 (12 reviews)

Great Falls is a waterfall in Androscoggin County, Maine, in Lewiston. USGS notes: Located in the Androscoggin River, between the cities of Lewiston and Auburn, just S of Fox Island. (US-T121)

Rating
4.5 (12 Google reviews)
Address
Auburn, ME 04210
Nearest town
Lewiston, ME (0.4 mi)
USGS topo
Lewiston quad

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The Cataracts

Mexico, ME · Oxford County

4.8 (20 reviews)

The Cataracts is a waterfall in Oxford County, Maine, about 16 miles west of Mexico. It appears on the USGS Andover topographic map.

Rating
4.8 (20 Google reviews)
Address
North Oxford, ME 04261
Nearest town
Mexico, ME (16 mi)
USGS topo
Andover quad

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Sarampus Falls

Kingfield, ME · Franklin County

4.9 (16 reviews)

Sarampus Falls is a waterfall in Franklin County, Maine, about 32 miles northwest of Kingfield. It appears on the USGS Jim Pond topographic map.

Rating
4.9 (16 Google reviews)
Address
North Franklin, ME 04936
Nearest town
Kingfield, ME (32 mi)
USGS topo
Jim Pond quad

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Rumford Falls

Mexico, ME · Oxford County

3.5 (17 reviews)

Rumford Falls is a waterfall in Oxford County, Maine, about 1.5 miles south of Mexico. USGS notes: Rumford Falls, on the Androscoggin River, is the highest falls E of Niagara Falls with a drop of 176 feet. A system of dams and canals was built in the 1890's to generate electricity. Today, 40,000 kilowatts per hour are generated. The falls may be dry during low water. The Anasagunticook Tribe, which was a part of the Eastern Abanakis, lived in nearby Canton and Bethel, camped here to fish for migrating salmon.

Rating
3.5 (17 Google reviews)
Address
Rumford, ME 04276
Nearest town
Mexico, ME (1.5 mi)
USGS topo
Rumford quad

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Kezar Falls

Lovell, ME · Oxford County

4.8 (18 reviews)

Kezar Falls is a waterfall in Oxford County, Maine, about 6.2 miles northeast of Lovell. It appears on the USGS North Waterford topographic map.

Rating
4.8 (18 Google reviews)
Address
Lovell, ME 04051
Nearest town
Lovell, ME (6.2 mi)
USGS topo
North Waterford quad

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Saccarappa Falls

Westbrook, ME · Cumberland County

4.6 (9 reviews)

Saccarappa Falls is a waterfall in Cumberland County, Maine, in Westbrook. "An Indian word meaning""toward the rising sun."""

Rating
4.6 (9 Google reviews)
Address
Westbrook, ME 04092
Nearest town
Westbrook, ME (0.2 mi)
USGS topo
Portland West quad

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Fish River Falls

Fort Kent, ME · Aroostook County

4.6 (17 reviews)

Fish River Falls is a waterfall in Aroostook County, Maine, about 3.7 miles south of Fort Kent. It appears on the USGS Fort Kent South topographic map.

Rating
4.6 (17 Google reviews)
Address
Fort Kent, ME 04743
Nearest town
Fort Kent, ME (3.7 mi)
USGS topo
Fort Kent South quad

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Caratunk Falls

Madison, ME · Somerset County

4.5 (15 reviews)

Caratunk Falls is a waterfall in Somerset County, Maine, about 11 miles north of Madison. It appears on the USGS Solon topographic map.

Rating
4.5 (15 Google reviews)
Address
Solon, ME 04979
Nearest town
Madison, ME (11 mi)
USGS topo
Solon quad

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Ellis Falls

Mexico, ME · Oxford County

4.6 (16 reviews)

Ellis Falls is a waterfall in Oxford County, Maine, about 9.8 miles northwest of Mexico. It appears on the USGS Ellis Pond topographic map.

Rating
4.6 (16 Google reviews)
Address
Andover, ME 04226
Nearest town
Mexico, ME (9.8 mi)
USGS topo
Ellis Pond quad

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Katahdin Stream Falls

Millinocket, ME · Piscataquis County

5.0 (12 reviews)

Katahdin Stream Falls is a waterfall in Piscataquis County, Maine, about 21 miles northwest of Millinocket. It appears on the USGS Mount Katahdin topographic map.

Rating
5.0 (12 Google reviews)
Address
Northeast Piscataquis, ME 04462
Nearest town
Millinocket, ME (21 mi)
USGS topo
Mount Katahdin quad

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Abol Falls

Millinocket, ME · Piscataquis County

4.6 (14 reviews)

Abol Falls is a waterfall in Piscataquis County, Maine, about 17 miles northwest of Millinocket. It appears on the USGS Abol Pond topographic map.

Rating
4.6 (14 Google reviews)
Address
Northeast Piscataquis, ME 04462
Known for
view
Nearest town
Millinocket, ME (17 mi)
USGS topo
Abol Pond quad

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Ledge Falls

Millinocket, ME · Piscataquis County

4.8 (12 reviews)

Ledge Falls is a waterfall in Piscataquis County, Maine, about 27 miles northwest of Millinocket. It appears on the USGS Doubletop Mountain topographic map.

Rating
4.8 (12 Google reviews)
Address
Northeast Piscataquis, ME 04462
Known for
fun
Nearest town
Millinocket, ME (27 mi)
USGS topo
Doubletop Mountain quad

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Screw Auger Falls

Greenville, ME · Piscataquis County

4.7 (12 reviews)

Screw Auger Falls is a waterfall in Piscataquis County, Maine, about 14 miles east of Greenville. It appears on the USGS Barren Mountain East topographic map.

Rating
4.7 (12 Google reviews)
Address
Northeast Piscataquis, ME 04414
Nearest town
Greenville, ME (14 mi)
USGS topo
Barren Mountain East quad

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Presumpscot Falls

Falmouth, ME · Cumberland County

4.3 (15 reviews)

Presumpscot Falls is a waterfall in Cumberland County, Maine, about 1.6 miles southwest of Falmouth. It appears on the USGS Portland West topographic map.

Rating
4.3 (15 Google reviews)
Address
Falmouth, ME 04105
Nearest town
Falmouth, ME (1.6 mi)
USGS topo
Portland West quad

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Swans Falls

Fryeburg, ME · Oxford County

4.7 (9 reviews)

Swans Falls is a waterfall in Oxford County, Maine, about 1.5 miles north of Fryeburg. It appears on the USGS Fryeburg topographic map.

Rating
4.7 (9 Google reviews)
Address
Fryeburg, ME 04037
Nearest town
Fryeburg, ME (1.5 mi)
USGS topo
Fryeburg quad

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Grand Falls

Enfield, ME · Hancock County

3.9 (18 reviews)

Grand Falls is a waterfall in Hancock County, Maine, about 15 miles east of Enfield. It appears on the USGS Saponac topographic map.

Rating
3.9 (18 Google reviews)
Address
East Central Penobscot, ME 04418
Known for
Grand Falls, logging road, hike, location
Nearest town
Enfield, ME (15 mi)
USGS topo
Saponac quad

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Dunn Falls

Bethel, ME · Oxford County

4.3 (13 reviews)

Dunn Falls is a waterfall in Oxford County, Maine, about 19 miles north of Bethel. It appears on the USGS B Pond topographic map.

Rating
4.3 (13 Google reviews)
Address
North Oxford, ME 04261
Nearest town
Bethel, ME (19 mi)
USGS topo
B Pond quad

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Little Falls

Calais, ME · Washington County

5.0 (8 reviews)

Little Falls is a waterfall in Washington County, Maine, about 23 miles west of Calais. It appears on the USGS Grand Lake Stream topographic map.

Rating
5.0 (8 Google reviews)
Address
North Washington, ME 04637
Nearest town
Calais, ME (23 mi)
USGS topo
Grand Lake Stream quad

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Highest Rated in Maine

Smalls Falls 4.9 from 154 reviews · Phillips
Little Wilson Falls 4.9 from 30 reviews · Greenville
Shin Falls 4.9 from 30 reviews · Patten
Screw Auger Falls 4.8 from 106 reviews · Bethel
Houston Brook Falls 4.8 from 80 reviews · Kingfield

Waterfalls with at least 25 Google reviews.

Maine Waterfalls by the Compass

The farthest-apart named falls in Maine are about 290 miles apart.

Names and History

The most reused names are Little Falls (6), Ledge Falls (4), Grand Falls (4), and Great Falls (3), so check the county and town before you set out.

12 waterfalls have alternate historical names on record, such as Smalls Falls (also Small's Falls) and Great Falls (also Lewiston Falls).

From the USGS record for Orris Falls: "Orris Falls was named for Orris Littlefield, who bought land from Samuel Buffum in 1905. Orris Littlefield died in 1915."

Best Time to See Waterfalls in Maine

Maine's waterfalls peak with snowmelt, which typically runs from April into late May, earlier along the coast and later in the high country of the western mountains and North Woods. Many logging roads are soft and muddy during this mud season, and some trailheads are not reachable until roads dry out. Late May through June is black fly season in the interior, so bring head nets and repellent. Summer flows drop but remain decent in wet years, and swimming holes like Smalls Falls and Screw Auger Falls are busiest in July and August. Fall color peaks from late September in the north to mid-October in the south, and autumn rains often restore flow. Winter is long and cold, with many falls frozen and many access roads unplowed.

Planning a Waterfall Trip in Maine

Access in Maine varies widely by region. Grafton Notch, Baxter and other state parks, Acadia National Park and many roadside sites are straightforward to reach, though Acadia requires a park pass and is very busy in summer. Much of the North Woods, however, is privately owned commercial forest, crossed by gravel logging roads that are shared with heavy trucks; some are gated, with checkpoints and fees for visitors. Cell service is limited or absent across large areas, so carry maps and plan fuel carefully. Hazards include cold, fast water during spring runoff, slick granite and slate, and remote terrain where help may be hours away. Many popular swimming holes have steep ledges, and water levels can change quickly after rain.

More: waterfall safety · packing list

Waterfalls by County

County	Waterfalls	Share	Most visited
Piscataquis	32	27%	Little Wilson Falls
Oxford	20	17%	Screw Auger Falls
Somerset	13	11%	Houston Brook Falls
Penobscot	12	10%	Shin Falls
Aroostook	11	9%	Fish River Falls
Washington	11	9%	Little Falls
Cumberland	6	5%	Presumpscot Falls
Hancock	6	5%	Hadlock Falls
Franklin	5	4%	Smalls Falls
Androscoggin	1	1%	Great Falls
Topsham	1	1%	Brunswick Falls
York	1	1%	Orris Falls

All Maine Waterfalls A to Z

Abol Falls (Millinocket)
Allagash Falls (Fort Kent)
Ambajejus Falls (Millinocket)
Angel Falls (Mexico)
Attean Falls (Greenville)
Austin Stream Falls (Kingfield)
Aziscohos Falls (historical) (Phillips)
Bagaduce Falls (Castine)
Basin Falls (Buckfield)
Basion Cove Falls (Harpswell Center)
Big Ambejackmockamus Falls (Millinocket)
Big Falls (Phillips)
Big Falls (Calais)
Big Niagara Falls (Millinocket)
Billings Falls (Greenville)
Bisco Falls (Paris)
Boars Head Falls (Patten)
Bowlin Falls (Patten)
Brunswick Falls (Topsham)
Bucks Falls (Dover-Foxcroft)
Buttermilk Falls (Greenville)
Caratunk Falls (Madison)
Cobscook Falls (Eastport)
Cold Stream Falls (Greenville)
Cowyard Falls (Dover-Foxcroft)
Debsconeag Falls (Millinocket)
Dog Falls (Calais)
Dundee Falls (South Windham)
Dunn Falls (Bethel)
Ellis Falls (Mexico)
Fish River Falls (Fort Kent)
Fish River Falls (Fort Kent)
Gauntlet Falls (Brownville)
Gilman Falls (Patten)
Goose Falls (Castine)
Gordon Falls (East Millinocket)
Grand Falls (Enfield)
Grand Falls (Kingfield)
Grand Falls (Millinocket)
Grand Falls (Patten)
Great Falls (Lewiston)
Great Falls (Hiram)
Great Falls (Machias)
Green Falls (Patten)
Grindstone Falls (East Millinocket)
Hadlock Falls (Bar Harbor)
Hatch Falls (Greenville)
Hays Brook Falls (Greenville)
Heald Stream Falls (Greenville)
Holeb Falls (Greenville)
Holmes Falls (Machias)
Houston Brook Falls (Kingfield)
Katahdin Falls (Millinocket)
Katahdin Stream Falls (Millinocket)
Kees Falls (Bethel)
Kezar Falls (Lovell)
Ledge Falls (Millinocket)
Ledge Falls (East Millinocket)
Ledge Falls (Hodgdon)
Ledge Falls (Patten)
Little Allagash Falls (Patten)
Little Ambejackmockamus Falls (Millinocket)
Little Boy Falls (Phillips)
Little Canada Falls (Greenville)
Little Falls (Calais)
Little Falls (Cherryfield)
Little Falls (Addison)
Little Falls (Machias)
Little Falls (Phillips)
Little Falls (Calais)
Little Niagara Falls (Millinocket)
Little Wilson Falls (Greenville)
Long Falls (Kingfield)
Lower Falls (Patten)
Mad River Falls (Lovell)
Mallison Falls (South Windham)
Man O'War Brook Falls (Tremont)
Millinocket Falls (Patten)
Mother Walker Falls (Bethel)
Moxie Falls (Greenville)
Mud Gauntlet Falls (Brownville)
Munsungan Falls (Patten)
Nesowadnehunk Falls (Millinocket)
Norway Falls (Patten)
Orin Falls (Patten)
Orris Falls (North Berwick)
Passamagamet Falls (Millinocket)
Pockwockamus Falls (Millinocket)
Poplar Hill Falls (Greenville)
Poplar Stream Falls (Kingfield)
Presumpscot Falls (Falmouth)
Pumgustuck (Yarmouth)
Red River Falls (Fort Kent)
Rumford Falls (Mexico)
Saccarappa Falls (Westbrook)
Sarampus Falls (Kingfield)
Sawtelle Falls (Patten)
Screw Auger Falls (Bethel)
Screw Auger Falls (Greenville)
Shadagee Falls (Kingfield)
Shin Falls (Patten)
Silver Ripple Cascade (Mexico)
Skew Falls (Fort Kent)
Slugundy Falls (Greenville)
Smalls Falls (Phillips)
Sprague Falls (Cherryfield)
Stair Falls (Greenville)
Stair Falls (Patten)
Stair Falls (Patten)
Steep Falls (Norway)
Sullivan Falls (Sullivan)
Swans Falls (Fryeburg)
The Cataracts (Mexico)
The Falls (Greenville)
The Falls (Mexico)
Thirtyfoot Falls (Patten)
Upper Falls (Patten)
Warren Falls (Patten)
Whetstone Falls (Patten)

Maine Waterfalls: FAQs

How many waterfalls are in Maine?

Our directory lists 119 waterfalls in Maine (117 officially named in the USGS Geographic Names Information System and 2 added from Google Maps listings), 7th among the 50 jurisdictions in our directory and 4.5% of the national total. 55% of them are in just three counties: Piscataquis, Oxford, and Somerset.

What is the most visited waterfall in Maine?

By Google review count, Smalls Falls in Franklin County leads with 154 reviews and a 4.9 rating. Angel Falls is next.

Which Maine county has the most waterfalls?

Piscataquis County, in the Moosehead Lake and North Woods region, holds 32 of the 119 named waterfalls in our directory, more than any other county in the state.

What are the easiest waterfalls to visit in Maine?

Smalls Falls in Franklin County sits beside a highway rest area, and Screw Auger Falls in Grafton Notch State Park is a short walk from the parking area. Both are among the most reviewed falls in the state.

Which Maine town has the most waterfalls nearby?

Patten has 31 named waterfalls within 30 miles, the most of any town in our Maine directory.