Best Roadside Waterfalls in Connecticut
These are strong Connecticut roadside waterfall picks when you want scenery without committing to a long hike.
Use the map to stitch quick stops into a day, then read each guide for parking, walk distance to the view, and seasonal closures. For the full ranked set, see Top 10 Waterfalls in Connecticut.
Rank 1: Kent Falls — Kent
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Signature Housatonic Valley cascade in Kent Falls State Park. Paved ADA path to the base, stairway trail up the tiers.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 20-30 min
Rank 2: Yantic Falls — Norwich
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Historic ~40 ft drop on the Yantic River at Uncas Leap Heritage Park; gorge, mill ruins, and overhead footbridge.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 5 min
Rank 3: Great Falls — Housatonic River (Canaan area)
Viewing only, not a swim stop
50-ft dam-controlled Housatonic falls at Falls Village. Spectacular after spring releases; no swim/jump.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 5 min
Rank 4: Wadsworth Falls — Middlefield / Middletown area
Viewing only, not a swim stop
30 ft horsetail drop of the Coginchaug in Wadsworth Falls State Park. Short paved overlook.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 5-10 min
Rank 5: Chapman Falls — East Haddam
Viewing only, not a swim stop
60 ft stair-step cascade on Eight Mile River in Devil's Hopyard State Park. Short viewing path from the picnic lot.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 10-15 min
Rank 6: Buttermilk Falls (Plymouth) — Plymouth
Viewing only, not a swim stop
55–60 ft tiered Hancock Brook cascade in Plymouth's Buttermilk Falls Preserve. Short Mattatuck Trail walk from Lane Hill…
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 20 min
Rank 7: Campbell Falls — Campbell Falls State Park
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Two-tier ~50 ft Whiting River cascade on the Norfolk CT / New Marlborough MA line. Short steep path to the base (Norfolk, Connecticut).
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 15-20 min
Rank 8: Enders Falls — Granby
Five-tier cascade in Enders State Forest, Granby. Popular (and unofficial) swim pools — cliff jumping is extremely dangerous.
- Walk
- 15-25 min
Rank 9: Salmon River — East Hampton (viewpoints and easy river access)
Viewing only, not a swim stop
60 ft stair-step cascade on Eight Mile River in Devil's Hopyard State Park. Short viewing path from the picnic lot (East Haddam, Connecticut).
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 10-15 min
Rank 10: Devil's Hopyard State Park — East Haddam
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Classic CT state park around Chapman Falls in East Haddam. Picnic grove, covered bridge, and loop trails.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 45-90 min