The best waterfalls near Montpelier, Vermont are Moss Glen Falls, Moss Glen Falls, Falls of Lana and 7 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Bolton Falls, about 14 miles northwest of Montpelier.
For more waterfalls around Montpelier, browse the nearest towns: Waterbury, Hardwick, Morristown, Randolph, Johnson, Middlebury (village), Winooski, Brandon. You can also see every waterfall on the Vermont waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 18 publicly accessible Vermont waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Montpelier 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. Moss Glen Falls
16 miles north of Montpelier. Our top pick near the city 4.8 out of 5 from 313 reviews.
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Moss Glen Falls is about 16 miles north of Montpelier, near Morristown. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 313 Google reviews, and 84% of them give it five stars. In short: "Scenic hiking trails offer sweeping views of this cascading waterfall, with gorges & pools below."
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2. Moss Glen Falls
22 miles southwest of Montpelier. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 106 reviews.
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Moss Glen Falls is about 22 miles southwest of Montpelier, near Randolph. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 106 Google reviews, and 80% of them give it five stars.
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3. Falls of Lana
34 miles southwest of Montpelier. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 40 reviews.
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Falls of Lana is about 34 miles southwest of Montpelier, near Brandon. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 40 Google reviews, and 93% of them give it five stars. Older records also call it Sucker Brook Falls and Lana Falls.
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4. Big Falls
50 miles north of Montpelier. Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 18 reviews.
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Big Falls is about 50 miles north of Montpelier, near Newport. Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 18 Google reviews.
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5. Bingham Falls
20 miles northwest of Montpelier. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 200 reviews.
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Bingham Falls is about 20 miles northwest of Montpelier, near Morristown. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 200 Google reviews, and 82% of them give it five stars. In short: "Waterfall in Mt. Mansfield State Forest with deep pools & gorges housing wildlife & a trail network."
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6. Texas Falls
28 miles southwest of Montpelier. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 160 reviews.
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Texas Falls is about 28 miles southwest of Montpelier, near Randolph. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 160 Google reviews, and 80% of them give it five stars.
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7. Highgate Falls
52 miles northwest of Montpelier. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 5 reviews.
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Highgate Falls is about 52 miles northwest of Montpelier, near Swanton. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 5 Google reviews.
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8. Bolton Falls
14 miles northwest of Montpelier. Rated 4.1 out of 5 from 10 reviews.
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Bolton Falls is about 14 miles northwest of Montpelier, near Waterbury. Visitors rate it 4.1 stars across 10 Google reviews.
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9. Buttermilk Falls
57 miles south of Montpelier. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 142 reviews.
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Buttermilk Falls is about 57 miles south of Montpelier, near Chester. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 142 Google reviews, and 81% of them give it five stars. In short: "Cluster of 3 waterfalls in a wooded state park with a 1.1-mi. hiking trail & swimming holes."
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10. Black River Falls
67 miles south of Montpelier. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 13 reviews.
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Black River Falls is about 67 miles south of Montpelier, in Springfield. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 13 Google reviews.
Waterfall Day Trips From Montpelier
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolton Falls | 14 mi northwest | Waterbury | 4.1 |
| Moss Glen Falls | 16 mi north | Morristown | 4.8 |
| Bingham Falls | 20 mi northwest | Morristown | 4.7 |
| Moss Glen Falls | 22 mi southwest | Randolph | 4.8 |
| Texas Falls | 28 mi southwest | Randolph | 4.7 |
| Falls of Lana | 34 mi southwest | Brandon | 4.9 |
| Big Falls | 50 mi north | Newport | 5.0 |
| Highgate Falls | 52 mi northwest | Swanton | 4.6 |
| Buttermilk Falls | 57 mi south | Chester | 4.7 |
| Black River Falls | 67 mi south | Springfield | 4.8 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Montpelier. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Montpelier?
Moss Glen Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 16 miles north of Montpelier and rated 4.8 stars from 313 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Montpelier?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Bolton Falls is the closest, about 14 straight-line miles northwest of the city, near Waterbury.
How many waterfalls are near Montpelier?
We track 18 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Vermont within 100 miles of Montpelier, 6 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the Vermont waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 18 publicly accessible Vermont waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Montpelier 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.
Why are there two Moss Glen Falls in Vermont?
The name is used for two separate falls: one near Stowe in Lamoille County and one in Granville in Addison County. Both are in our directory and both are among the state's most reviewed.
Summary
Moss Glen Falls is our top waterfall pick near Montpelier, rated 4.8 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 snowmelt dominates Vermont's waterfall calendar. Flows usually peak from April into May, but that period coincides with mud season, when unpaved roads turn to mud and higher-elevation trails are vulnerable to damage, so many visitors focus on roadside falls in spring. By late May and June, trails dry out and falls still run well. Midsummer brings lower flows on smaller brooks, though summer thunderstorms can bring brief surges and swimming holes draw crowds. Fall foliage, generally from late September through mid October, is Vermont's busiest season, especially along Route 100 and around Stowe. Late autumn rains often revive the falls. Winter turns many falls into ice formations, but snow-covered approaches and short days require caution.
For more Vermont waterfalls, see the full Vermont waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in Vermont, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Vermont and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Vermont.