Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!
Are you heading to Maine and want to chase some beautiful waterfalls along the way? You’ve come to the perfect place!
Maine is packed with gorgeous waterfalls, from roadside swimming holes to dramatic gorges and one of the tallest cascades in New England.
This route starts on the coast at Acadia and works its way west and up into the North Maine Woods, covering around 430 miles. You can do them in any order or pick just a few, but this way keeps the driving as smooth as possible.
🚗 Good to know: A car is essential for this one, as most of these falls are well off the beaten track. If you need to hire a car, I recommend Discover Cars, because I always find great deals and you can compare all the companies in one place.
🥾 Footwear: Some falls are a quick roadside stop, others need a proper hike, so wear good shoes (and bring water and bug spray in summer).
🌉 1. Hadlock Falls, Acadia National Park
🥾 Hike: ~6.5 km to the bridge – easy – Trail info
Start on the coast at Hadlock Falls, tucked into the beautiful carriage roads of Acadia National Park.
You can park at the Parkman Mountain parking lot and start the walk from there. It’s a well-maintained path with beautiful views.
Do note it flows best in spring or after heavy rain, and you’ll need an Acadia National Park pass.
Drive to Megunticook Falls: about 1 hour 30 minutes (75 miles)
🏘️ 2. Megunticook Falls, Camden
🥾 Access: roadside – no hike
Next, head down the coast to Megunticook Falls, which sits right in the heart of pretty Camden, in Harbor Park.
It’s the most accessible waterfall on this list, as you can admire it right from town, and it makes a lovely stop combined with exploring Camden’s shops, harbor and nearby Camden Hills State Park.
One important note: the historic Montgomery Dam here is scheduled for removal, with work slated to begin in summer 2027, so 2026 is likely the last year to see the falls as they’ve looked for over 250 years.
Drive to Screw Auger Falls: about 2 hours 30 minutes (120 miles) west
🌀 3. Screw Auger Falls, Grafton Notch State Park
🥾 Hike: 0.3 km – 5 minutes – Trail Info
Head west to Grafton Notch State Park and Screw Auger Falls, one of the easiest and most popular waterfalls in Maine.
Set on Route 26, this pretty 23-foot waterfall tumbles through a gorge carved into the Bear River, with lovely smooth rock ledges and swimming holes.
It’s right by the road, so it’s an effortless stop. There’s a small park entrance fee (a self-pay box is on site).
Drive to Dunn Falls: about 25 minutes (15 miles)
💦 4. Dunn Falls, Andover
🥾 Hike: 3.2 km loop – 1 to 1.5 hours – Trail info
Next, head to Dunn Falls near Andover, a real hidden gem tucked along the Appalachian Trail.
The moderate loop trail takes you past pools and cascades to both the Upper and Lower Dunn Falls, which are genuinely spectacular and much quieter than the roadside spots.
The trailhead is off East B Hill Road, and it’s well worth the effort for a couple of hours in the forest.
Drive to Smalls Falls: about 1 hour 20 minutes (60 miles)
🏊 5. Smalls Falls, Rangeley
🥾 Hike: 0.8 km – 15 to 30 minutes – Trail info
Smalls Falls, just off Route 4 near Rangeley, is one of the most fun and family-friendly falls in the state.
It’s a beautiful multi-tiered waterfall dropping through a colorful gorge, and there’s a handy roadside rest area right there, so there’s almost no walking involved.
On a hot day it’s a beloved local swimming and diving spot, so bring your swimsuit and take a dip in the pools.
Drive to Houston Brook Falls: about 1 hour 10 minutes (55 miles)
🌲 6. Houston Brook Falls, Bingham
🥾 Hike: 0.5 km – 15 minutes round trip – Trail info
Over in Bingham, just off Route 201, Houston Brook Falls is a lovely little surprise.
A short, easy 15-minute walk brings you to this pretty 32-foot waterfall with a swimming hole at the bottom.
It’s peaceful, uncrowded and perfect for all ages.
Drive to Moxie Falls: about 40 minutes (30 miles)
🌊 7. Moxie Falls, The Forks
🥾 Hike: 3.2 km round trip – 1 hour – Trail info
Next, head towards The Forks to go to Moxie Falls.
This is the showstopper of this trip and one of the tallest waterfalls in all of New England.
The water drops over 90 feet into a deep pool below, and it’s genuinely breathtaking. The trail is an easy, well-maintained walk of about a mile each way through lovely forest, with boardwalks and viewing platforms (and a set of stairs at the end down to the falls).
It’s suitable for most abilities and absolutely unmissable.
Drive to Gulf Hagas: about 4.5 hours (45 miles)
🏞️ 8. Gulf Hagas, Hundred-Mile Wilderness
🥾 Hike: ~13 km loop – strenuous, most of a day – Trail info
Known as the “Grand Canyon of Maine,” Gulf Hagas is a spectacular slate gorge carved by the West Branch of the Pleasant River, with a whole series of waterfalls (including Buttermilk, Billings and Stair Falls).
This one is for keen hikers: the full loop is around 8 miles and strenuous, in the remote Hundred-Mile Wilderness section of the Appalachian Trail.
Drive to Gauntlet Falls: about 1 hour 20 minutes (40 miles) on the forest roads
🌀 9. Gauntlet Falls, North Maine Woods
🥾 Hike: short walk – remote access
Finish deep in the North Maine Woods, off the Jo-Mary Road, at Gauntlet Falls, a wonderfully remote little cascade and swimming hole.
It’s a modest drop, but the appeal here is the wild, off-grid setting and the deep, clear pool that’s a local favorite for a summer swim and a jump off the ledges.
Note that access is via gated private logging roads (the same KI Jo-Mary system as Gulf Hagas), so you’ll pay a gate fee and should be comfortable driving gravel roads.
Please note that you can also stay at the Jo-Mary Lake Campground.
🗺️ Map of this Maine Waterfalls Road Trip
💡 A few practical tips
- Maine’s waterfalls are spread out, so plan your driving and spread the trip over several days.
- Spring and early summer bring the most powerful flow (especially for Hadlock and Moxie), while summer is best for the swimming holes.
- Gulf Hagas and Gauntlet Falls are remote and reached via KI Jo-Mary gate roads (fee, gravel roads, limited signal), so come prepared and check access before you go.
- Bring proper footwear, water and bug spray, and always take care on wet rocks near the falls.
🔗 You May Also Be Interested In:
