Buttermilk Falls

Beautiful section of the Mattatuck trail in Plymouth. It is accessible from Peterson Park in Wolcott. Camping and fires are not sanctioned but there is evidence of them all around. You park on the road and follow the trails from there (obviously you are following the stream). There are several bridges and this is the fifth or so tallest single drop fall in the state at about ~60 feet. There are several cascades, some huge boulders in this area along with an apparent rock fracture. There are potholes and more potholes and two sets of falls. Here is the upper falls and a close up of them.

Burr Falls

Stepped falls visible from the side of the road in Torrington near Burr Pond. These reminded me a bit of Wadsworth Little falls given the steps but the rate of discharge here appears to be much greater. This is home of the worlds first condensed milk factory and has a probably related rock structure and some cascades and smaller falls downstream with some manmade features.

Burlington Falls Upper

These falls are on the side of the road but still have a remote feel. I had to hike down and up a steep gorge to get a good straight-on video and picture of them. In the summer I might have tried walking up them along the side. From the trail they are still nice and they look good from the top as well..

Burlington Falls Lower

The falls are quite nice and they drop into a wonderful and deep swimming hole. The look good from the top as well and there is some nice layering and uplift visible.

Plymouth Water Control Falls

These are obviously man-made (damn) and are visible from the road near the Plymouth Water Control center. I included them because I think natural falls were once found here. The river is natural and so is the erosion since pothole formations are evident which indicates long periods of turbulence and the water flowing over the damn does fall down natural rock structures. It is certainly worth a look if you are in the area as it is picturesque. Across the street if you followed the train tracks there would be an old mile long railroad tunnel that is fun to walk through. Bring flashlights! [pics coming soon]

Southford Falls

State Park in Southford with a series of three cascading waterfalls in Eight Mile Brook which flows pretty steeply downhill through an 1804 replica covered bridge from the pond up top. It also has an old sluice pipe (los of history here!). There is fishing but I don't think swimming is sanctioned. Potentially nice swimming holes as I didn't see any signs saying"No Swimming". Nice 1.5mi loop hike with a fireman's tower, some interesting geology (layering and basalt erratics) the oddest shaped tree I have ever seen. Upper falls pic one and two.

Riga Falls

• CT Day Trips Link
• Google Map Link
• Video of Falls

Not sure if swimming is sanctioned but this is also a nice swimming Hole after a hike up Bear Mountain, Lion's Head or Mount Frissell. The area is so remote I tend to doubt it is heavily patrolled but cool off at your own risk. This region is probably as remote a part of Connecticut as you will get.

Wadsworth Falls (big)

• CT Day Trips Link
• Google Map Link
• Video of Falls

Swimming is not sanctioned here as signs in multiple languages point out but its a nice place to cool off quickly after hiking through Wadsworth State Park with its big and little falls along with a giant mountain laurel (one of the biggest you will ever see) and a damn structure.

The state park has a public swimming area that is legal so wade at your own risk in this part. Fees are charged during peak season unless you park at the big falls and walk in. Notice the two basalt flows to the left of the falls when you visit it. I had to walk across the river for a closer look and pictures being a geology buff.

Wadsworth Falls (small)

• CT Day Trips Link
• Google Map Link
• Video of Falls

Graceful rivulets or stepped falls showing differential weathering. These falls are beautiful but will only be a trickle unless it is during the wet season or after a heavy rain. I recommend during the wet season or after a strong thunderstorm. The stepped waterfall is absolutely spectacular.

These small falls are 52 feet, taller than the big falls but obviously the rate of flow of the big falls is immensely larger. Climbing these falls is tempting and I am guilty of that feat but they can be very slippery and it is recommended by this site that you enjoy them from a distance. They trickle down to another river with what looks like man-man falls off in the distance (a damn).

Kent Falls

• Google Map Link
• Video of Falls

You should always visit these when in the Kent region, whether fishing at the Housatonic or Hiking the appalachian trail or in Macedonia or Mount Tom State Parks.

If this was a single drop fall it would easily be the biggest in the state but it is actually a set of two falls (70 and 40 feet).

This is easily the most spectacular set of falls in the state. It has beautiful pothole formations and I recommend stopping at Belgique (main intersection in Kent) for gourmet truffles and Belgium hot chocolate. Don't forget the covered bridge.

Campbell Falls State Park

• Google Map Link
• Video of Falls

These falls are technically in Massachusetts. You start the very short hike in CT and pass the CT/MA border marker in the woods on your descent to Campbell Falls.

These falls are quite spectacular. They were actually featured as a picture in one of those Connecticut Vacation books and showed two people sitting by them with a wooden picnic basket. It is a cool place to sit and hang our or have a picnic at. The view doesn't get much better than this.

The video of the falls is of them while significantly frozen. Here is a picture of Campbell Falls Frozen.

Roaring Brook Falls

• Google Map Link
• Video of Falls

This is the largest single drop waterfall (~80 feet) in the state of Connecticut. Unfortunately you need to do some dangerous hiking to see them in their glory. From the trail they are hardly spectacular at all since the woods obscure the view. It is a major let down for those attempting to see the biggest single drop fall in the state, especially considering the hill you have to hike up in order to see them. View from the trail in the woods.

I actually climbed down the right side in this picture of the extremely slippery falls. I had to lay on my back and shimmy down the rocks VERY CATIOUSLY. Getting back up out of the steep ravine was extremely difficult as well (I went up a different and safer but still somewhat difficult route).

Chapman Falls

• CT Day Trips Link
• Google Map Link
• No Video at this time

Part of Devil's Hopyard State Park with trails and nice pothole formations. This picturesque three tiered waterfall of the 8 mile river drops a total of 60 feet over erosion resistant Scotland schist stone.

This area is actually a dormant fault zone and the water flow once powered a grits mill (until 1854) and a sawmill (until 1895) (google Beebe's Mills).