If you’re road-tripping around Vermont, you’ll want to add a few waterfalls to your list.
We discovered so many easy short hikes to waterfalls in Vermont during our visit.
A few days during our road trip, we even mapped it out to visit multiple waterfalls in one day!
I’m sharing a few of the top waterfalls you’ll want to add to your list.
Map It Out Ahead of Time
I highly encourage you to plan your day ahead of time on Google Maps.
We plugged in all the places we wanted to visit from a list I created. Next, we determined a realistic amount of driving for the day and which stops needed to be added to a different day.
Take a screenshot of your route with all the stops afterward. (We were in a few areas without good cell service)
Thundering Falls
2295 River Rd Fork, Killington, VT (28 minutes from Woodstock, VT)
Thundering Brook Falls hiking trail is a .5 mile out and back that takes an average of 11 minutes to complete according to AllTrails.
This is an easy waterfall to hike to, even in the rain.
The hiking trail to the waterfall is mostly on the scenic boardwalk, followed by a short dirt trail that weaves over to the waterfall viewing area.
The best times to visit the waterfall are through the months of March-October.
The observation platform allows you to safely view the waterfall as you glance above and below.
Thundering Brook Falls is the sixth largest waterfall in Vermont at 140 feet tall.
The hiking trail also connects to the Appalachian Trail if you want to continue your hiking journey.
Buttermilk Falls
1360 VT-103, Ludlow, VT
Buttermilk Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in Okemo State Forest.
There are three areas for viewing different sections of the waterfall.
Buttermilk Falls is a short walk/high-reward waterfall to visit because you don’t need to spend a lot of time to see multiple perspectives of the waterfall in a little time.
You can park and see both the lower and middle falls.
You’ll see the lower falls first and then walk the short trail to the middle falls.
The upper Falls viewing area for Buttermilk Falls is a short drive farther down the same road.
This viewing area is on a closed road steps from where you park.
Moss Glen Falls (Granville)
Rt 100. Granville, VT
Moss Glen Falls in Granville is located alongside the road on Route 100.
There is a small parking area where you can park off the road for the falls. The boardwalk closer to the falls is currently closed while repairs are being made.
The trail is normally .1 mile and currently less as you can walk on a short path parallel to the road.
The beautiful waterfall is 35 feet tall and goes into a pool around 25 feet wide.
This waterfall is a wonderful stop on a scenic road trip.
Warren Falls
3919 Vermont Rte 100, Warren, VT
Warren Falls is located in the Green Mountain National Forest.
The hiking trail to the cascades is .1 miles.
The majority of the hiking trail along the Mad River is relatively flat.
Be mindful of your footing as you approach different viewing areas closer to the waterfalls.
A few sections of the hiking trail can get pretty slippery if you visit on a rainy day.
In the summertime, tourists and locals visit Warren Falls to use it as a swimming hole.
Warren Falls has several cliffs where swimmers like to jump into the water. Please use caution and evaluate the water conditions before jumping.
This is a popular spot for swimming on summer weekends in fact it’s been named one of the best swimming holes in New England.
Keep in mind there are no public restrooms onsite.
Warren Falls is only an 8-minute drive/ 6.6 miles from Moss Glen Falls – Granville on Route 100.
You can easily visit both waterfalls in a relatively short time.
Here is a useful guide with additional waterfalls in the area if you want to extend your waterfall tour with longer hikes.
Moss Glen Falls (Stowe)
513 Moss Glen Falls Rd, Stowe, VT
This short hike to a waterfall is a 5-minute drive from the Stowe Historic Downtown Village.
Moss Glen Falls is part of the C.C. Putnam State Forest, the fifth-largest forest in Vermont at 17,503 acres. The Moss Glen Falls Natural Area consists of 82 acres.
The .4-mile trail starts on a boardwalk and takes about 20 minutes to the falls and back.
You can enjoy scenic views of the stream along the way.
There are sections of stairs and a gradual incline that will get your heart pumping as you get closer to approaching the waterfall.
Moss Glen Falls is one of the tallest waterfall in Vermont at 85 feet.
I’m sharing more about the waterfalls that are easy to hike to during your next visit.
Bonus Falls
You can see these falls without a hike.
Mill Pond Falls
1760 Quechee Main Street, Quechee, Vermont
You can dine near a waterfall at Simon Pearce Restaurant.
(Open for reservations Wednesday- Sunday)
Simon Pearce Restaurant serves local American cuisine made with local ingredients. The restaurant has been voted one of “America’s Most Romantic Restaurants.”
Patrons at the restaurant can enjoy views of the Ottauquechee River waterfall and covered bridge.
This is a popular restaurant and you need an advanced reservation for your desired date/ time.
Admire Quechee Covered Bridge
4, Waterman Hill Rd, Quechee, VT (14 minutes from Woodstock, VT)
The lower level of Simon Pearce also has an outside observation area that provides another perspective of the Quechee Covered Bridge and the Ottauquechee River with Mill Pond Falls.
There is parking near the opposite side of the covered bridge for another vantage point.
