Maine

10 Tallest Waterfalls In Maine That You Must See In-Person

Written by:
Tom Riley
Date Published:
November 12, 2023

Maine is home to some of the greatest waterfalls in all of New England with several falling over 100+ feet. In this blog post, we covered the 10 tallest Maine Waterfalls. These waterfalls can be found throughout the state of Maine from as far North as Millinocket to as far South as Stow, each of these waterfalls is well worth seeking out. (Heights are based on publically available information with some being estimations)

Looking for more great spots to explore in Maine? Be sure to check out the GoXplr Maine Map at goxplr.com/map/maine!

#1 – Katahdin Falls

Photo by @scoots.shoots on Instagram
  • Town: Millinocket
  • County: Piscataquis County
  • Height: Main drop of 280 feet with a 800-foot total drop
  • Type: Varies
  • Park: Baxter State Park
  • Directions: Here

Katadhin Falls is the tallest waterfall in Maine as it drops about 800 vertical feet with a main drop of 280 feet. The falls can be found at the base of Mount Katahdin by taking the Hunt Trail, which is the final stretch of the Appalachian Trail. The falls are fueled by Katahdin Stream and during the snowmelt on the high peaks, Katahdin Falls really roars. You don’t want to miss out on seeing this waterfall!

#2 – Step Fall

"Step Falls Memories" by Just Us 3 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/
  • Town: Newry
  • County: Oxford
  • Height: Approximately 250-foot total drop
  • Type: Horsetails, cascades, slides, and pools
  • Park: Step Falls Preserve (Mahoosuc Land Trust)
  • Directions: Here

Step Falls is a chain of horsetails and cascades that can be found in Newry, Maine. The waterfall is located in the Step Falls Preserve, which is beautifully maintained by the Mahoosuc Land Trust. The falls drop about 250 feet, making them one of the tallest waterfalls in Maine. Along with lovely horsetails and cascades, there are great shallow pools at the bottom of some of the chains.

#3 – Moxie Falls

"Moxie Falls - Maine" by Dougtone is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
  • Town: Moxie Gore
  • County: Somerset
  • Height: Tallest plunge is 90 feet
  • Type: Plunge and cascades
  • Park: Moxie Falls Scenic Area
  • Directions: Here

Moxie Falls is a legendary waterfall in Somerset County, Maine. The falls consist of a plunge of about 100 feet into a pool. This plunge is the tallest in Maine. The waterfall can also be accessed by a trail that is less than a mile long. This means the waterfall is not only beautiful but extremely accessible.

#4 – Angel Falls

Photo by @kary_ventures on Instagram
  • Town: Township D
  • County: Franklin
  • Height: 90 feet
  • Type: Plunge
  • Park: None
  • Directions: Here

Angel Falls is a stunning 90-foot waterfall on Mountain Brook in Township D of Franklin County, Maine. The waterfall consists of several plunges which together total about 90 feet. There are also stunning cliffs on each side of the waterfall along with a nice pool at the base. Access to the waterfall is relatively easy considering the Angel Falls Trail is an easy and well-marked 1-mile out and back trail.

#5 – Smalls Falls

Photo by @dimitrypapkov on Instagram
  • Town: Township E
  • County: Franklin
  • Height: 54-foot total drop
  • Type: Horsetails and cascades
  • Park: Smalls Falls Rest Area
  • Directions: Here

Smalls Falls is a series of waterfalls and cascades on the Sandy River in Township E, West Central Franklin, Maine. The falls are easy to access just off Route 4. Among the several waterfalls is a stunning 54-foot main fall which is perfect for photos. There are many beautiful pools too which are great for swimming.

#6 – Poplar Stream Falls

"Poplar Stream Falls" by dowcet is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/
  • Town: Carrabassett Valley
  • County: Franklin
  • Height: 51 feet and 24 feet
  • Type: Horsetails
  • Park: None
  • Directions: Here

Carrabassett Valley is a town which is famous for its ski resort, Sugarloaf. But, it is also home to the stunning Poplar Stream Falls. The falls are rather remote and feature two main drops. The upper formation on Poplar Stream is a 24-foot horsetail with a swimming pool below. The lower drop is a 51-foot horsetail on South Brook. There is a 6.6-mile loop trail to access the falls.

#7 – Bickford Slides

"bickford slides" by Sean Munson is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/
  • Town: Stow
  • County: Oxford
  • Height: Lower slides are 50 feet; middle slides are 40 feet; upper slides are 20 feet
  • Type: Horsetails, cascades, and slides
  • Park: White Mountain National Forest
  • Directions: Here

Bickford Slides features 3 main slides including the lower, middle, and upper slides. The lower slides are the tallest as they stand 50 feet high and are composed of cascades, slides, and chutes. The middle slides are the most photogenic thanks to the steep 40-foot drop and pleasant pool below. The upper slides fall only about 20 feet and consist of horsetails and slides. Bickford Slides can be found in the White Mountain National Forest and can be accessed via the Bickford Brook Trail which is 1.5 miles out and back.

#8 – Mosher Hill Falls

  • Town: Farmington
  • County: Franklin
  • Height: 45 feet
  • Type: Horsetail
  • Park: None
  • Directions: Here

Mosher Hill Falls is a lovely horsetail waterfall in Farmington, Maine. The falls drop about 45-feet, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in central Maine. Photographing the waterfall is easy from the outlook, but a great view can also be had from the base of the waterfall which can be accessed by going off the path. Luckily, the waterfall is only a short walk from the road.

#9 – Grand Falls

"Grand Falls near Eustis Maine" by Just Us 3 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/
  • Town: Township 3, Range 4
  • County: Somerset
  • Height: 40 feet
  • Type: Block
  • Park: None
  • Directions: Here

Grand Falls is a super-wide and very tall waterfall in Township 3, Range 4 in Somerset County. The falls drop about 40 feet and are 100+ feet wide. The falls are fueled by the Dead River which keeps water rushing steadily all year long. It only takes a 0.2-mile hike to reach the falls, making it extremely accessible.

#10 – Shin Falls

"Shin Falls - Maine. April 22 2015 Snow Melt" by thepiper351 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/
  • Town: Township 6, Range 7
  • County: Penobscot
  • Height: Main falls are 30 feet; total drop is 44 feet
  • Type: Plunges and horsetails
  • Park: None
  • Directions: Here

Shin Falls is an incredible hidden gem just north of Millinocket. The falls can be found along a 0.8-mile loop trail which is suitable for all skill levels. The main falls are 30 feet and Shin Falls has a total drop is 44 feet consisting of Plunges and horsetails.

Have you visited any cool waterfalls in Maine? Let us know in the comments!

Written By

Tom Riley

Tom was born and raised in New England and loves exploring all around the Northeast. From the mountains of New Hampshire to the waterfalls of Vermont, rugged coast of Maine, and white sand beaches of Cape Cod - Tom loves seeing what each state around him has to offer. Tom's favorite quote is by Seneca and it reads, “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it." He believes everyday should be spent living life to the fullest!

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