1-Day Connecticut Waterfall Itinerary (Litchfield Hills Loop)
This is a Litchfield Hills driving loop ordered by real mileage between major falls—not a random statewide scatter.
Treat the order as a flexible route: swap a stop if a lot is full, a gate is closed, or flow is unsafe after rain. For the broader ranked list, see Waterfalls and Swimming Holes in Litchfield Hills.
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: 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 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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 6: Dean's Ravine Falls — Canaan area
Viewing only, not a swim stop
~50 ft Reed Brook drop on the Mohawk Trail in Canaan, a former Appalachian Trail segment.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 25 min
Rank 7: 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