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Hell Brook Cascades
Stowe, Vermont
Cascade drop. Limited shoulder parking—arrive early or carpool. Near Stowe.
At a glance
Overview
Cascade drop. Plan for about 15-30 minutes to the main cascade tier on the brutal Hell Brook Trail (0.3 mi one way if you hike the full approach). Most visitors come for the view; swimming may be limited or not allowed.
- County
- Lamoille County
- Region
- Mount Mansfield
- Water type
- Cascade
- Swim feature type
- Waterfall pool
Know before you go
Not wheelchair accessible
Conditions
Conditions snapshot
Check posted signs and official updates before entering.
Getting there
Hell Brook Cascades is a ~115-ft series of drops (largest tier ~40 ft) on Hell Brook, a tiny stream originating on the shoulder of Mount Mansfield. The trailhead is on VT 108 (Mountain Road) in Smugglers Notch, roughly 9 miles from Stowe village, with a small gravel pull-off on the left side of the road heading north (just before the notch narrows). The HELL BROOK TRAIL is the steepest maintained trail in Vermont -- class 2-3 scrambling, very wet and slick because it ascends the brook bed itself, and is ASCENT-ONLY by recommendation. To see the largest tier, hike up the blazed trail ~5-10 minutes, then follow the short ledge path beneath a large overhanging rock. A smaller ~20-ft tier is visible shortly after the trailhead. Flow is seasonal -- best 24-48 hours after rain or during snowmelt; often dry-looking in summer baseflow. Do NOT attempt with kids, pets, or in wet-leaf conditions. The notch road (VT 108 through Smugglers Notch) is CLOSED in winter.
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