The best waterfalls near Hartford, Connecticut are Wadsworth Falls, Chapman Falls, Yantic Falls and 6 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Westfield Falls, about 13 miles south of Hartford.
For more waterfalls around Hartford, browse the nearest towns: Middletown, Terryville, Durham, Moodus, Heritage Village, Norwich, Oxoboxo River, Lisbon. You can also see every waterfall on the Connecticut waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 9 publicly accessible Connecticut waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Hartford that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Wadsworth Falls
16 miles south of Hartford. Our top pick near the city 4.7 out of 5 from 86 reviews.
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Wadsworth Falls is about 16 miles south of Hartford, near Durham. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 86 Google reviews, and 78% of them give it five stars. Older records also call it Middlefield Falls and Little Falls.
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2. Chapman Falls
26 miles southeast of Hartford. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 118 reviews.
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Chapman Falls is about 26 miles southeast of Hartford, near Moodus. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 118 Google reviews, and 80% of them give it five stars. In short: "A short trail leads to this 60-ft. waterfall that cascades over stone steps amid deciduous trees." Older records also call it Chapman's Falls and Foxtown Falls.
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3. Yantic Falls
35 miles southeast of Hartford. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 122 reviews.
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Yantic Falls is about 35 miles southeast of Hartford, near Norwich. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 122 Google reviews, and 71% of them give it five stars. In short: "Dam & natural waterfall in a scenic environment with hiking trails & legends of the Mohegan Indians." Older records also call it Unca's Leap.
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4. Buttermilk Falls
18 miles southwest of Hartford. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 80 reviews.
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Buttermilk Falls is about 18 miles southwest of Hartford, near Terryville. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 80 Google reviews, and 64% of them give it five stars.
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5. Great Falls
38 miles west of Hartford. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 100 reviews.
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Great Falls is about 38 miles west of Hartford, near Canaan. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 100 Google reviews, and 78% of them give it five stars. In short: "Picturesque waterfalls & a swimming hole surrounded by a variety of hiking trails." Older records also call it Turner's Falls and Fishing Falls.
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6. Shetucket Falls
36 miles east of Hartford. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 7 reviews.
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Shetucket Falls is about 36 miles east of Hartford, near Lisbon. Visitors rate it 4.4 stars across 7 Google reviews.
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7. Westfield Falls
13 miles south of Hartford. Rated 4.2 out of 5 from 94 reviews.
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Westfield Falls is about 13 miles south of Hartford, near Middletown. Visitors rate it 4.2 stars across 94 Google reviews, and 59% of them give it five stars.
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8. Rippowan Falls
66 miles southwest of Hartford. Rated 4.0 out of 5 from 7 reviews.
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Rippowan Falls is about 66 miles southwest of Hartford, in Stamford. Visitors rate it 4.0 stars across 7 Google reviews.
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9. Roxbury Falls
37 miles southwest of Hartford. Rated 3.1 out of 5 from 9 reviews.
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Roxbury Falls is about 37 miles southwest of Hartford, near Heritage Village. Visitors rate it 3.1 stars across 9 Google reviews. Older records also call it Shepaug Falls.
Waterfall Day Trips From Hartford
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield Falls | 13 mi south | Middletown | 4.2 |
| Wadsworth Falls | 16 mi south | Durham | 4.7 |
| Buttermilk Falls | 18 mi southwest | Terryville | 4.5 |
| Chapman Falls | 26 mi southeast | Moodus | 4.7 |
| Yantic Falls | 35 mi southeast | Norwich | 4.6 |
| Shetucket Falls | 36 mi east | Lisbon | 4.4 |
| Roxbury Falls | 37 mi southwest | Heritage Village | 3.1 |
| Great Falls | 38 mi west | Canaan | 4.5 |
| Rippowan Falls | 66 mi southwest | Stamford | 4.0 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Hartford. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Hartford?
Wadsworth Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 16 miles south of Hartford and rated 4.7 stars from 86 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Hartford?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Westfield Falls is the closest, about 13 straight-line miles south of the city, near Middletown.
How many waterfalls are near Hartford?
We track 9 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Connecticut within 100 miles of Hartford, 8 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the Connecticut waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 9 publicly accessible Connecticut waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Hartford that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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.
Summary
Wadsworth Falls is our top waterfall pick near Hartford, rated 4.7 out of 5 and about 16 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
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.
For more Connecticut waterfalls, see the full Connecticut waterfalls page, or read 10 Best Waterfalls in Connecticut, 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Connecticut and 5 Most Visited Waterfalls in Connecticut.