Western Mountains
25 waterfalls · Oxford County, Franklin County
The mountains along the New Hampshire border, from Grafton Notch to the Rangeley Lakes and Kingfield, are Maine's most visited waterfall country. Smalls Falls in Franklin County is a series of drops and pools beside a highway rest area, and Angel Falls nearby is a tall, narrow plunge reached by a forest walk. In Oxford County, Screw Auger Falls carves potholes and a small gorge into granite within Grafton Notch State Park, while The Cataracts and Kezar Falls are other favorites. Rumford Falls on the Androscoggin River is a large river fall harnessed for power since the 1890s, which USGS notes may be dry during low water.
Start with: Smalls Falls, Angel Falls, Screw Auger Falls, The Cataracts, Kezar Falls
North Woods and Moosehead Highlands
57 waterfalls · Piscataquis County, Somerset County, Penobscot County
This is the largest and wildest waterfall region in New England, spanning the Moosehead Lake area, Baxter State Park country and the commercial forests that surround them. Many falls lie on slate and granite bedrock in remote valleys reached by logging roads or long hikes. Little Wilson Falls in Piscataquis County drops into a slate gorge along the Appalachian Trail, and Houston Brook Falls in Somerset County is a well-loved short hike. Near Patten in Penobscot County, Shin Falls is a quieter stop near Shin Pond. Numbers alone tell the story here: these three counties hold more than 50 of the state's falls.
Start with: Houston Brook Falls, Little Wilson Falls, Shin Falls, Caratunk Falls, Abol Falls
Aroostook and Downeast
28 waterfalls · Aroostook County, Washington County, Hancock County
Northern and eastern Maine are lower and more rolling, but rivers still break over ledges as they head for the St. John valley or the Atlantic. Fish River Falls near Fort Kent in Aroostook County is a classic north-country river drop. Washington County, Downeast, has numerous small falls on coastal rivers around Cherryfield and Calais. In Hancock County, Acadia National Park contains Hadlock Falls and Man O'War Brook Falls, short cascades on granite tumbling toward the sea, and Grand Falls is another river fall in the county. These falls tend to be modest but sit in striking coastal and forest settings.
Start with: Hadlock Falls, Grand Falls, Fish River Falls, Little Falls, Warren Falls
Southern Maine Rivers
9 waterfalls · Cumberland County, Androscoggin County, York County, Topsham County
In the more settled south, waterfalls are mostly river falls in or near towns, many harnessed for mills and power since colonial times. Great Falls on the Androscoggin River divides Lewiston and Auburn, and is partly harnessed for hydropower. In Yarmouth, the Royal River descends over a series of falls to tidewater, beginning with the drop known as Pumgustuck. Topsham and York County add a few more historic river falls. These sites are easy to reach, often bordered by parks, bridges and riverwalks, and show how waterpower shaped southern Maine's mill towns.
Start with: Presumpscot Falls, Great Falls, Saccarappa Falls, Dundee Falls, Basion Cove Falls
