15 Best Waterfalls in Maine (2026 Updated)
Of the 119 named waterfalls in Maine, these 15 earn the strongest visitor ratings, led by Smalls Falls, Little Wilson Falls, and Shin Falls. The list spans the Western Mountains, North Woods and Moosehead Highlands, and Aroostook and Downeast.
How We Picked
We ranked the 41 publicly accessible Maine waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands. Every waterfall links to a full page with coordinates, maps and nearby falls.
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1. Smalls Falls
Phillips, ME · Franklin County · Western Mountains
Why it made the list
It is the most reviewed waterfall in Maine, holding 4.9 stars across 154 Google reviews. 88% of reviewers give it five stars. Older records also call it Small's Falls. It is one of 25 named falls in the Western Mountains region. The nearest town is Phillips, about 9.0 miles to the east.
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2. Little Wilson Falls
Greenville, ME · Piscataquis County · North Woods and Moosehead Highlands
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.9-star Google rating and is the 6th most reviewed in the state, with 30 reviews. 87% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 57 named falls in the North Woods and Moosehead Highlands region. The nearest town is Greenville, about 8.3 miles to the northwest.
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3. Shin Falls
Patten, ME · Penobscot County · North Woods and Moosehead Highlands
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.9-star Google rating and is the 7th most reviewed in the state, with 30 reviews. 93% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 57 named falls in the North Woods and Moosehead Highlands region. Sawtelle Falls is only 2.0 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Patten, about 13 miles to the southeast.
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4. Screw Auger Falls
Bethel, ME · Oxford County · Western Mountains
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 3rd most reviewed in the state, with 106 reviews. 87% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Small waterfall accessed by multiple trails, popular for swimming, picnics & nature exploration." It is one of 25 named falls in the Western Mountains region. Mother Walker Falls is only 0.9 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Bethel, about 13 miles to the southeast.
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5. Houston Brook Falls
Kingfield, ME · Somerset County · North Woods and Moosehead Highlands
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 4th most reviewed in the state, with 80 reviews. 89% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 57 named falls in the North Woods and Moosehead Highlands region. The nearest town is Kingfield, about 13 miles to the southwest.
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6. Katahdin Stream Falls
Millinocket, ME · Piscataquis County · North Woods and Moosehead Highlands
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 12 reviews. It is one of 57 named falls in the North Woods and Moosehead Highlands region. Katahdin Falls is only 1.7 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Millinocket, about 21 miles to the southeast.
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7. Sarampus Falls
Kingfield, ME · Franklin County · Western Mountains
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 16 reviews. Older records also call it Sarampas Falls. It is one of 25 named falls in the Western Mountains region. The nearest town is Kingfield, about 32 miles to the southeast.
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8. Little Falls
Calais, ME · Washington County · Aroostook and Downeast
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 8 reviews. It is one of 28 named falls in the Aroostook and Downeast region. Big Falls is only 1.0 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Calais, about 23 miles to the east.
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9. Warren Falls
Patten, ME · Aroostook County · Aroostook and Downeast
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 8 reviews. It is one of 28 named falls in the Aroostook and Downeast region. Stair Falls is only 1.9 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Patten, about 9.5 miles to the southwest.
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10. The Cataracts
Mexico, ME · Oxford County · Western Mountains
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 8th most reviewed in the state, with 20 reviews. 90% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 25 named falls in the Western Mountains region. Dunn Falls is only 2.5 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Mexico, about 16 miles to the east.
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11. Austin Stream Falls
Kingfield, ME · Somerset County · North Woods and Moosehead Highlands
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 7 reviews. It is one of 57 named falls in the North Woods and Moosehead Highlands region. The nearest town is Kingfield, about 20 miles to the southwest.
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12. Kezar Falls
Lovell, ME · Oxford County · Western Mountains
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 9th most reviewed in the state, with 18 reviews. It is one of 25 named falls in the Western Mountains region. The nearest town is Lovell, about 6.2 miles to the southwest.
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13. Big Niagara Falls
Millinocket, ME · Piscataquis County · North Woods and Moosehead Highlands
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 8 reviews. It is one of 57 named falls in the North Woods and Moosehead Highlands region. Little Niagara Falls is only 0.2 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Millinocket, about 22 miles to the southeast.
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14. Ledge Falls
Millinocket, ME · Piscataquis County · North Woods and Moosehead Highlands
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 12 reviews. Reviews most often mention fun. It is one of 57 named falls in the North Woods and Moosehead Highlands region. The nearest town is Millinocket, about 27 miles to the southeast.
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15. Poplar Stream Falls
Kingfield, ME · Franklin County · Western Mountains
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 6 reviews. It is one of 25 named falls in the Western Mountains region. The nearest town is Kingfield, about 10 miles to the south.
When to Visit Maine's Waterfalls
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.
Before You Go
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.
Read our waterfall safety rules and packing list before heading out.
Explore More Maine Waterfalls
See all 119 waterfalls in the Maine waterfall guide, or browse by town: Phillips, Greenville, Patten, Bethel, Kingfield, Millinocket, Calais, Mexico.
More Maine Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best waterfall in Maine?
Smalls Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.9-star rating from 154 Google reviews. It is near Phillips in Franklin County.
How was this list made?
We ranked the 41 publicly accessible Maine waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands.
How many waterfalls are in Maine?
Our directory lists 119 named waterfalls in Maine. See them all, sorted by town, in the Maine waterfall guide.
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.