These are the Connecticut waterfalls that draw the biggest crowds, measured by Google review volume and led by Yantic Falls. Popular does not have to mean packed if you time it right.
For every waterfall we track nearby, see the full list of waterfalls in Connecticut, or browse by town: Norwich, Moodus, Canaan, Middletown, Durham. You can also compare our best waterfalls in Connecticut and must-see waterfalls in Connecticut.
How we picked: Ranked purely by the number of Google reviews, the best public signal of how many people visit. Together these five account for 83% of all Google reviews of Connecticut waterfalls.
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1. Yantic Falls
Yantic Falls near Norwich takes the top spot, rated 4.6 out of 5 from 122 reviews.
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122 Google reviews make it the most visited waterfall in Connecticut, about 20% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. That is 1.0 times as many as Chapman Falls in second place. Visitors have shared 486 photos of it. It averages 4.6 stars, with 71% five-star reviews. "Dam & natural waterfall in a scenic environment with hiking trails & legends of the Mohegan Indians." The nearest town is Norwich, about 1.0 miles to the southeast.
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2. Chapman Falls
Chapman Falls, near Moodus, is next up, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 118 reviews.
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118 Google reviews make it number 2 in Connecticut, about 19% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. Visitors have shared 458 photos of it. It averages 4.7 stars, with 80% five-star reviews. "A short trail leads to this 60-ft. waterfall that cascades over stone steps amid deciduous trees." The nearest town is Moodus, about 5.8 miles to the west.
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3. Great Falls
Great Falls, near Canaan, is next up, rated 4.5 out of 5 from 100 reviews.
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100 Google reviews make it number 3 in Connecticut, about 16% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. Visitors have shared 366 photos of it. It averages 4.5 stars, with 78% five-star reviews. "Picturesque waterfalls & a swimming hole surrounded by a variety of hiking trails." The nearest town is Canaan, about 4.9 miles to the northeast.
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4. Westfield Falls
Westfield Falls near Middletown rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 4.2 out of 5 from 94 reviews.
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94 Google reviews make it number 4 in Connecticut, about 15% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. Visitors have shared 391 photos of it. It averages 4.2 stars, with 59% five-star reviews. The nearest town is Middletown, about 3.6 miles to the east.
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5. Wadsworth Falls
Wadsworth Falls near Durham is worth the drive, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 86 reviews.
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86 Google reviews make it number 5 in Connecticut, about 14% of all reviews of the state's waterfalls. Visitors have shared 221 photos of it. It averages 4.7 stars, with 78% five-star reviews. The nearest town is Durham, about 3.1 miles to the south.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most visited waterfall in Connecticut?
Yantic Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.6-star rating from 122 Google reviews. It is near Norwich in Southeastern Connecticut County.
How was this list made?
Ranked purely by the number of Google reviews, the best public signal of how many people visit. Together these five account for 83% of all Google reviews of Connecticut waterfalls.
How many waterfalls are in Connecticut?
Our directory lists 11 waterfalls in Connecticut. See every one, with filters and a map, on the Connecticut waterfalls page.
Why are so many Connecticut waterfalls next to dams or old mills?
Waterfalls offered a concentrated drop in elevation that early settlers and later industries used to power mills. As a result, many natural falls in the state were partly dammed or channeled, and their historic structures often remain.
Summary
Yantic Falls near Norwich is our top pick for most visited waterfalls in Connecticut, rated 4.6 out of 5 from 122 reviews. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access, water levels and road conditions vary through the year, so confirm current conditions before you drive out.
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 options, see every waterfall on the Connecticut waterfalls page, read 10 Best Waterfalls in Connecticut, or check our waterfall safety tips before you go.