Moxie Falls is the walk we send almost every guest on. The trail is short and mostly flat, the falls at the end are genuinely big, and you can be there and back before lunch. If you only do one thing outdoors while you're staying with us, do this one.
Getting there from the inn
Head north on Route 201 toward The Forks, then turn right onto Lake Moxie Road. The trailhead parking area is 2.3 miles up on the left. It's about ten minutes door to door. Parking is free, and there's no gate or fee station.
The lot is not large. On a summer weekend or a fall foliage Saturday it fills up by mid-morning, so an early start is worth it. Ask us at breakfast and we'll tell you how busy it's likely to be.
The hike
It's about two miles round trip through mixed woods, with boardwalk sections and stairs near the end. Most people take an hour or so including time at the falls. Kids manage it fine. The footing is uneven in places, so wear something with a bit of grip rather than flip flops.
The trail ends at a series of viewing platforms set at different heights, so you get the falls from above, straight on, and from below. The 90-foot drop is the main event, but the gorge below it is worth the extra minutes on the lower platform.
Swimming
There are swimming holes above and below the falls, and on a hot August afternoon they are hard to beat. The water is cold all summer. Below the falls the current is stronger than it looks, so pick your spot carefully and don't swim alone.
When to go
Spring is when the falls are loudest. Snowmelt through April and May pushes a lot of water over the edge, and the noise carries well before you see it.
Summer means lower water but warm enough for the swimming holes, and the woods are shaded most of the way.
Fall is the photographer's season. Color here usually peaks in early to mid October, the same stretch when the drive up Route 201 is at its best.
Winter turns the falls to ice formations, but the road and trail are not maintained for it. Ask us before you try it, and never go alone.
While you're out that way
- The Forks is 7 miles north, where the Kennebec and Dead Rivers meet.
- Cold Stream Falls near West Forks is a quieter waterfall with a 2.4-mile round trip.
- The Old Canada Road drive north toward Jackman is worth the afternoon.
Staying nearby
We're the closest lodging to the falls, ten minutes down Route 201 in Caratunk. Breakfast is included, and we'll point you at the trailhead with coffee in hand. See our rooms.