Moss Glen Falls
4.8(292)google
4.4(27)yelp
WaterfallHikingPhoto SpotOutdoor
Overview
Located just a short drive from Stowe Village, Moss Glen Falls is arguably one of the most photogenic and easily accessible waterfalls in northern Vermont. A brief, scenic quarter-mile walk along a boardwalk and dirt path brings visitors to a elevated viewing platform overlooking a spectacular 125-foot cascading gorge. The waterfall drops dramatically through a narrow, deep hemlock-carved ravine, plunging into a crystal-clear pool below, offering an incredible yield of wilderness beauty with minimal hiking effort.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration45-60 minutes
Best TimeThis spectacular 125-foot hidden gorge waterfall cascade erupts beautifully through sheer rock chasms, peaking from May to June or mid-October. A weekday morning trek between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM is highly recommended; early morning sun filters through hemlocks to light up the roaring lower pools flawlessly, providing pristine crowd-free conditions.
Getting ThereTucked inside an environmental wilderness valley northeast of Stowe at 615 Moss Glen Falls Rd. Driving is completely mandatory given its isolated forest coordinate: ride VT-100 N north out of town for 1 mile, turn right onto Randolph Rd, and follow the direct wooden markers onto Moss Glen Falls Rd. The state trail features a free public gravel lot.
Travel Tips
- The dedicated trailhead lot holds fewer than 10 cars; Route 100 shoulders are strict tow-away zones, and parking on the grass results in immediate impoundment.
- The short walk leads to a lower view; however, the upper steep muddy social paths are unstable and unrailed, making climbing wet, mossy ledges highly hazardous.
Photo Tips
Best LightFlanked by deep gorge walls, the falls suffer from harsh morning backlighting; optimal photography conditions occur under diffused midday light from 11:00 to 13:00.
Reviews
Positive
- An incredibly striking waterfall cascading in a zigzag pattern down massive granite cliffs, located close to the trailhead—true to its fame as an Eastern viral spot.
- The hike to the main core viewing platform is short, taking just 5-10 minutes, with the first stretch paved with a flat accessible wooden boardwalk, friendly for all stamina levels.
- The waterfall site is completely free to enter, preserving a pure, raw forest stream environment untouched by commercial pollution, with top-tier value and nature vibes.
- The trailhead signs are clear for direct navigation; the path features sturdy guardrails and directional indicators, ensuring fast visitor turnover without severe bottlenecks.
Heads up
- The dedicated free parking lot at the trailhead is tiny, holding only a dozen cars; by 9 AM on summer/fall weekends it overflows completely, causing risky roadside parking.
- Beyond the boardwalk, the second half of the path to the highest viewpoint gets very steep, narrow, and full of exposed roots and slick mud, lacking accessible support.
- The site features no public restrooms, water stations, or trash bins; adhering to wilderness rules, you must pack out your own waste, offering fair convenience.
- During extremely dry summer spells, the waterfall flow shrinks severely from a roaring cascade to a thin trickle, potentially causing a gap from promotional photos.