Great Falls, Falls Village
Waterfalls are awe-inspiring, and you can soak up their beauty in so many ways. Whether you kayak beneath them or climb to the top, here are 5 great ways to cool off at one of Connecticut’s many amazing waterfalls (since swimming in them is prohibited.)
Bring your Kayak
The impressive Great Falls can be found in the aptly named town of Falls Village, or Canaan, Connecticut. The Housatonic River flows over the 60-foot ledge, but the falls are particularly spectacular when the dam just upriver releases. You can put a kayak in the whitewater beneath the falls and make the most of this awesome spot.
Take a Hike
In Granby, Ender’s Falls in Ender’s State Forest is one of the state’s most well-known and well-visited waterfalls. The trails to the waterfall offer hiking and letterboxing, and there’s even a trail that runs right alongside the falls themselves.
Pack a Picnic
Named for a Native American legend surrounding this Shelton park’s scenic waterfalls and the splash pool that creates a “well” at the base of the falls, Indian Well Falls feature a shaded picnic grove at the water’s edge. You can’t swim in the falls themselves, but there is a beach area at adjacent Indian Well State Park where you can cool off in the Housatonic River.
Bike to the Falls
Five winding miles of trail take mountain bikers across stone arched bridges to both the Little and Big Falls in Middlefield’s Wadsworth State Park. It’s a great way to get a scenic workout and then cool off in the refreshing mist of a waterfall.
Uncover History
In downtown Norwich, you will discover a waterfall that is also a piece of Connecticut history. Yantic Falls, also known as Indian Leap or Uncas Leap Falls, was the site of an ill-fated 1643 meeting between the Mohegan and Narragansett tribes. Later, it was developed for industrial use in the early 20th century. You can view the falls from a footbridge above or via a short hike on a trail alongside the gorge. (Look for the plaque that tells the whole story!)
For more summer fun ideas, visit www.CTvisit.com.
