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Are you heading to Vermont and want to chase some beautiful waterfalls along the way? You’ve come to the perfect place!
Vermont is absolutely full of gorgeous waterfalls, tucked away in its forests, mountains and river valleys.
Some are dramatic cascades you have to hike to, others are roadside swimming holes you can practically pull up beside, and a few are among the tallest in the whole state.
I visites quite a few of them on my New England road trip, and honestly, they were some of my favorite stops.
Here’s the ultimate Vermont waterfalls road trip, running roughly from south to north, with 12 of the best falls in the state.
🚗 Good to know: A car is essential for this route, which covers around 180 miles from Manchester in the south up to Stowe in the north. If you need to hire a car, I personally use Discover Cars.
🥾Footwear: Some falls are a short roadside stop, others need a proper hike, so wear good shoes.
💦 1. Lye Brook Falls, Manchester
🥾Hike: 7.2 km – 2 to 2.5 hours – Trail here.
Start this road trip in Manchester where you can head to the Lye Brook Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Vermont at around 125 feet.
It sits within the Lye Brook Wilderness in the Green Mountain National Forest, and you’ll need to work for this one.
The hike is about 4.5 miles round trip, following blue blazes on a moderate, well-shaded trail (allow roughly 2 to 2.5 hours).
It’s a beautiful walk through the forest. The waterfall is well worth the effort but please note that the last part of the hike is uphill and therefore harder.
🌿 2. Hamilton Falls, Jamaica
🥾Hike: 9.3 km – 2.5 to 3 hours – Trail here.
Next, drive about 45 minutes to Hamilton Falls in Jamaica State Park.
These falls are quite unique as they are tumbling around 125 feet down a series of tiers and potholes.
You can reach it via a longer hike (around 5 to 6 miles round trip), that can also be combined with the lovely riverside trail along the West River.
A word of caution: the smooth potholes at the top are extremely dangerous, and swimming here is not allowed. It’s a waterfall you should admire from a distance. It’s not allowed to go at the top!
🏊 3. Buttermilk Falls, Ludlow
🥾Hike: 0.8 km – 0.5 to 1 hour – Trail here.
Drive another 50 minutes to Buttermilk Falls in Ludlow.
This is a lovely series of cascades and pools right near the road, which makes it a more relaxed spot.
Unlike the big hikes, this one is quick and easy to reach, making it a popular local swimming spot on a hot day.
It’s the perfect place to dip your toes, cool off and take a break between the bigger stops.
It’s also ideal for people who do not wish to do any of the big hikes.
♿ 4. Thundering Brook Falls, Killington
🥾Hike: 0.8 km – 0.5 to 1 hour – Trail here.
Next, drive another 30 minutes north to get to your next waterfalls.
Thundering Brook Falls in Killington is one of the most accessible waterfalls in the state, and one of the loveliest surprises.
A well-maintained wooden boardwalk (around 900 feet long) leads you across a wetland to the falls, making this the first universally accessible section of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont.
The falls themselves drop around 125 feet between the upper and lower sections. It’s an easy, roughly half-mile walk, so it’s brilliant for all abilities.
🍂 5. Texas Falls, Hancock
🥾Hike: 1.4 km – 0.5 to 1 hour – Trail here.
Drive up on Route 100 (which is beautiful in the fall by the way) for another 40 minutes and you’ll reach Texas Falls.
It is one of the prettiest and most family-friendly stops on this route as well as an easily accessible roadside waterfall.
Set in the Green Mountain National Forest, it’s a series of cascades tumbling through a rocky gorge, carved by glacial meltwater over 12,000 years ago.
There’s an easy 1.2-mile nature trail loop and a lovely picnic area nearby. It’s a wonderful spot to stretch your legs and have lunch.
🚗 6. Moss Glen Falls, Granville
🥾Hike: 0.2 km – 5 minutes – Trail here.
Keep driving another 15 minutes on Route 100 and you’ll get to Granville where you can visit Moss Glen Falls.
This is one of the easiest waterfalls to visit in all of Vermont, you can practically see it from your car.
A short boardwalk leads from the roadside pull-off straight to a viewing area, where the water tumbles beautifully down through the forest.
It’s a quick, effortless stop and honestly one of the loveliest surprises on the whole drive.
🪨 7. Warren Falls, Warren
🥾Hike: 0.2 km – 5 minutes – Trail here.
Drive another 10 minutes on Route 100 and in the gorgeous Mad River Valley where you’ll find Warren Falls.
This is a great local swimming hole.
Here the Mad River tumbles over smooth rock ledges into a series of deep, clear pools, complete with natural rock slides and jumping spots.
It’s a fun, refreshing place to cool off on a warm day, and a real favorite with locals in summer.
💧 8. Bartlett Falls, Bristol
🥾Hike: 0.2 km – 5 minutes – Trail here.
Over near Bristol (which is about a 25 minutes drive), Bartlett Falls is another gorgeous swimming hole, this time on the New Haven River.
It’s a wide, pretty waterfall spilling into a large, popular pool, and it’s easy to reach right by the road.
It gets busy on hot summer days for good reason, so arrive early if you want a quieter dip. Always take care with the currents and rocks.
🥾 9. Abbey Pond Cascades, Middlebury
🥾Hike: 7.2 km – 2.5 to 3 hours – Trail here.
Drive another 20 minutes to Abbey Pond Cascades near Middlebury (which is also a beautiful small town you can visit in Vermont).
This is a more adventurous stop.
The trail climbs up through the woods past a series of cascades to a peaceful beaver pond with lovely mountain views.
It’s a moderate hike and much less crowded than the swimming holes, perfect if you want to escape into nature for a couple of hours.
🏞️ 10. Falls of Lana, Salisbury
🥾Hike: 7.4 km – 3 to 3.5 hours – Trail here.
The Falls of Lana in Salisbury are about 20 minutes drive from the previous ones.
They are a stunning series of cascades and drops totaling well over 100 feet, set in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area.
This is a hard hike compared to the others and it takes between 3 and 4 hours to complete.
📸 11. Moss Glen Falls, Stowe
🥾Hike:
– Quick way: 0.6 miles – 20 minutes (with a 150’ climb)
– Full hike: 2-3 hours (613’ elevation)
After that, head north towards Stowe. It will take you a couple of hours.
Please note that at that point you’ll also drive past a few points of interest like Stowe itself but also the Ben & Jerry’s factory as well as the Cold Hollow Cider Mill which are both great stops.
The next waterfall is called Moss Glen Falls.
Yes, there are two Moss Glen Falls in Vermont, and this second one, in Stowe, is completely different from the Granville version (and just as beautiful).
Set in the C.C. Putnam State Forest, it’s a tall, dramatic cascade reached by a short but sometimes muddy woodland walk.
It’s one of the most photographed waterfalls in the state, and an easy add-on if you’re basing yourself in Stowe.
⛰️ 12. Bingham Falls, Stowe
🥾 Hike: 0.8 km – 0.5 to 1 hour – Trail here.
We finish on a high with Bingham Falls, just off Route 108 near Smugglers’ Notch and the Stowe Mountain Resort.
The trail is short but it gets steep at the end. The rocks are also quite slippery there so make sure to wear proper footwear.
The trail is very nice though since it goes through the forest to this gorgeous waterfall and gorge, with a beautiful pool at the bottom.
On a warm day you can carefully scramble over the rocks or take a dip.
It’s the perfect grand finale to a Vermont waterfalls road trip.
🗺️ Map of this Vermont Waterfalls Road Trip
💡 A few practical tips
- Wear proper footwear, as many trails are rocky, rooty and slippery near the water.
- Some falls are dangerous for swimming (especially Hamilton Falls), so always check signage and never swim where it’s prohibited.
- Spring brings the most powerful flow, while summer is best for the swimming holes and fall is stunning for foliage.
- Check trail conditions during mud season, and arrive early at popular swimming spots in summer.
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