July 16, 2009
Want to visit some of Vermont's most spectacular waterfalls like reporter Keagan Harsha did in his story, "Destination Recreation: Vermont Waterfalls?"
There are more than 200 known waterfalls in the state. Most are accessible within a 10 to 20 minute hike from the road. Chris Hungerford has visited more than 70 of these falls. For a county by county listing of the state's waterfalls, including photographs of some of the most popular, visit Hungerford's Vermont Waterfalls website by clicking on the link below:
www.vtfalls.com/
Three of the most popular and accessible waterfalls include Texas Falls in Hancock, Moss Glen Falls in Granville, and the Devil's Potholes in Bolton. All are very close to one another and can be done in one trip. Each requires very little hiking.
Moss Glen Falls in Granville is located just off VT 100. To get there drive north from Hancock on VT 100 for 7.0 miles. The falls is on the left and can be seen from the road. There is a small parking lot just north of the falls.
Texas Falls is just minutes away from Moss Glen Falls and is one of the most photographed in the state. To get there travel east from Middlebury on Vermont 125 past Middlebury Gap. Turn left onto a road marked by a Green Mountain Forest Recreation sign. The parking area is just 0.5 miles down the road on your left. If coming from the east, the access road is 3.1 miles west of the VT 100 and VT 125 junction in Hancock.
Devil's Potholes double as a popular swimming hole. To get there drive to Richmond and head east on US 2. Then turn left onto Bolton Valley Road, 0.4 miles past the Bolton town line sign. Park 0.2 miles up the Bolton Valley Road and follow the trails to the waterfalls.
Other waterfalls require more effort to reach, but are well worth the hike. Some of the best include Moss Glen Falls in Stowe, Bingham Falls in Stowe, and Lye Brook Falls in Manchester.
Lye Brook Falls requires one of the longest hikes compared to all other falls in the state. To get there one must hike 2.3 miles, but the hike is relatively easy. To get to the trailhead take exit 4 off of US 7 in Manchester. Drive on VT 11/VT 30 east for 0.4 miles and turn right onto East Manchester Road. Follow that road for 1.1 miles and then go left onto Glen Road. The road forks a few hundred feet later. Turn right and follow this road to the end to the parking area and the beginning of the hike.
Moss Glen Falls and Bingham Falls in Stowe require shorter hikes. Both were featured in the WCAX Vermont Waterfalls story. To get to Moss Glen Falls head north of Stowe on VT 100. After 3.0 miles, turn right onto Randolph Road. Immediately after turn right again onto Moss Glen Falls Road. The trailhead is on the left 0.5 miles later. The hike is 0.3 miles long and takes about 10 minutes.
Bingham Falls is also 0.3 miles off the highway. To get there head west from Stowe on VT 108 for 6.3 miles. There are obvious parking spots on both sides of the highway, but the trailhead is not marked. The trail begins on the right side of the road and the hike takes about 20 minutes.
Keagan Harsha - WCAX News
Related Story:
Vermont Waterfalls
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Moss Glen Falls in Granville - Photo by Chris Hungerford
