Chasing the Waterfalls

Waterfalls are amazing creations of nature that astound even the brave hiker and outdoor lover. The water pounding on the rocks, the splash of the spray, and the shallow wading pools leave us with lasting memories. Connecticut is lucky to be home to hundreds of waterfalls; many of them are accessible with just short walks. On this particular day we are heading towards two waterfalls in Northern-Connecticut.

Great Falls

This waterfall along the Housatonic River is so mighty that the surrounding village (Great Falls) was named after it. The 60-foot fall carries one of the highest volumes in the state and is truly awe-inspiring when flowing. Great Falls is known as the Niagara Falls of New England — at least temporarily. I said “temporarily, because timing is everything and this phrase could not be any truer when paying a visit to Great Falls. Depending on the season, Connecticut’s Niagara Falls changes its appearance like a chameleon change colors. Don’t make plans to go to Great Falls during just anytime of the year. Great Falls only showcases its true power during springtime or dam release; when so much water is flowing down the Housatonic River it bypasses the hydroelectric canal that usually siphons off most of the water and thunders over the dam and the 50-foot-high rocky precipice.

Thankfully we visited this waterfall just at the right time. Let’s look at this mercurial waterfall and all its beauty.

**Connecticut’s Niagara Falls Is Too Beautiful For Words**

Great Falls, a waterfall tucked in the Falls Village section of Canaan, Connecticut, is a sight to behold. The Housatonic, a heavily dam-controlled river, ends up releasing a lot of its water in the spring as it makes its journey to Long Island Sound. Visitors to Great Falls in turn are rewarded as copious amounts of water travels over the concrete dam that usually diverts the river into a concrete canal and into hydroelectric generation plant. The plant can generate up to 7,100 kilowatts.

The Housatonic River, the second largest river in Connecticut, flows over a 60 foot ledge. It is one of the largest volume waterfalls I have ever seen. Standing next to it you can feel the power and danger of falling water.

Usually, the falls are not so impressive. Just above the falls is a dam. Most of the year all the water is diverted for power generation. Just a trickle is flowing. Only during the springtime floods or a dam release will the falls appear in all their glory. During the planned water releases in spring, the dam-controlled Great Falls of the Housatonic puts on a spectacular show for sightseers. This water flow is unsurpassed in power by any other waterfall in the region. The volume of water flowing over this 50-foot feature, which is also commonly referred to as Canaan Falls, Housatonic Falls, or simply the Great Falls, is impressive.

Great Falls is a waterfall formed along the Housatonic River at Falls Village in the town of Canaan. Great Falls is the highest volume waterfall in the state, though a great deal of its potential water volume is diverted immediately upstream during most of the year for hydro-electric power generation and never makes it to the waterfall.

**This (Sort of) Secret Waterfall will Blow Your Mind! Listen to the thunderous rush of water as you view the massive volumes crashing over the ledge.**

If you are unable to make it to Niagara Falls in New York this summer, this waterfall might be just about as close as you can get to that in New England. Time your visit just right, either after a large rainfall, during the spring thaw, or during a dam release and Great Falls is something to behold.

Kent Falls

If you like nature and don’t mind a little hike, you should visit Kent Falls State Park in Connecticut. One of Connecticut’s most beloved natural attractions, Kent Falls is a beautiful winding waterfall that drops down in stages that amount to 250 feet, over a quarter-mile stretch. The waterfall is located within Kent Falls State Park and features a grassy area with picnic tables. The waterfalls are the highlight of a visit to this park. The base of the waterfall is visible from the parking lot where row of tall trees offers welcome shade. Falls Brook flows between the parking lot and a large open meadow. A small, red covered bridge crosses the brook and leads us to a wide path to the bottom of the waterfall. The fall looks beautiful even from this point.

**Let’s be real, waterfalls are definitely some of the most beautiful sights that Mother Nature has provided us with. This natural phenomenon is bound to take our breaths away.**

But be adventurous and walk the trails up along the rushing water. You get to see several smaller falls with several lookouts along the way. There are observation platforms along this path where you could stop and rest and get a very good view of the falls and surrounding rocks, and nice places to take photographs of the falls. This trail reveals more cascades and waterfalls along the brook that are not readily seen from the picnic area. Some of the steps were steep with more of an impact going down than going up. These 70-foot-tall waterfalls empty into a small pool; this is perhaps the most picturesque part of a series of smaller waterfalls, the entire falls being 250 feet tall.

**A series of waterfalls make up the enchanting Kent Falls. In all, they plunge over a quarter mile down a rocky traverse.**

**You’ll hike up to see the entire falls if you’re able (don’t worry, it’s not too arduous a trek).**

Be sure to climb the trail to the right of the falls and check out the rest of the falls from the series of smaller overlooks. There were several picnic tables available on the large meadow at the bottom of the hillside.

I can’t wait to visit these beautiful waterfalls in autumn and winter too. As season changes these nature’s waterslides grow into another more beautiful version of them.