Waterfalls and Swimming Holes Near Greenville & Gulf Hagas
Planning from Greenville and the Moosehead Lake side puts Gulf Hagas and Katahdin-country waterfalls on the same long-weekend map — with cold water and serious walk times on several pins.
Start with the map spacing, then open each guide for ford notes, slippery ledges, and where swimming is off-limits. For Rangeley-side western Maine picks, see waterfalls and swimming holes near Rangeley.
Rank 1: Gulf Hagas — Bowdoin College Grant East
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Maine's classic slate gorge on the West Branch Pleasant River in the KI Jo-Mary country. 8-mile AT-linked loop.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 0-5 min
Rank 2: Screw Auger Falls — Newry
Grafton Notch State Park's polished slot-rock waterfall on the Bear River in Newry, Maine.
- Can you swim?
- Swimming allowed when posted rules and staffing say it is open
- Walk
- 0-5 min
Rank 3: Big & Little Niagara Falls — Township 3
Viewing only, not a swim stop
The larger Baxter State Park ledge drop on Nesowadnehunk Stream, on the AT corridor. Access is inside the park, not in… (Baxter State Park (T3 R10 WELS),…
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 25-35 min one way
Rank 4: Little Niagara Falls — Millinocket
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Loud cascade on Nesowadnehunk Stream off the AT / Daicey Pond corridor in Baxter State Park (Baxter State Park (T3 R10 WELS), Maine).
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 0-5 min
Rank 5: Algers Falls — Greenville
Viewing only, not a swim stop
A low-confidence Moosehead-area cascade listing with coordinates that need field verification.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 5-10 min one way
Rank 6: Baker Stream Falls — Greenville
Viewing only, not a swim stop
A tiered waterfall on Baker Stream in the Moosehead Lake country near Greenville.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 5-10 min one way
Rank 7: Ripogenus Falls — Millinocket
Viewing only, not a swim stop
A West Branch Penobscot cascade in the Millinocket / Ripogenus Dam country of Penobscot County, Maine.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 0-5 min
Rank 8: Ripogenus Gorge & Falls — T3 R12 & T3 R11
Viewing only, not a swim stop
The West Branch Penobscot gorge below Ripogenus Dam, in T3 R12 & T3 R11, Piscataquis County, Maine.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 0-5 min
Rank 9: Nesowadnehunk Falls — Township 2
Viewing only, not a swim stop
A class V drop on the West Branch Penobscot along the Golden Road, Piscataquis County, Maine.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 0-5 min