There are no real waterfalls at West Rock Ridge State Park, the closest thing being the spillway to Lake Wintergreen, which has some natural rocks underneath, and the spillway from the Belden Brook Diversion Pond on the Red Trail by the brick building, just north of the southern part of Mountain Road.
Otherwise, West Rock lacks the necessary combination of steep terrain over which a regular stream flows. There are temporary seasonal flows that rush down the ridge, but none would qualify as true waterfalls, in part because the slope on the eastern side is too shallow.
The historic Wintergreen Fall was located at the Lake Wintergreen spillway, but when the spillway was constructed, the falls were hidden by concrete.
This webpage lists six waterfalls that are near West Rock and can be reached using trails within the park and local roads. This page is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to waterfalls in Connecticut. Links to websites with waterfall information across the state are included at the bottom of this page.
Any waterfall is typically best visited in March and April when the spring rains have streams moving at their fullest. Winter freezes when waterfalls turn icy are another good time to view falls. This is usually in January and February. Summer months are the most disappointing time to visit falls, as water flows are low to non-existent.
These waterfalls are near West Rock:
· Wintergreen Falls at the West Rock Nature Center, Hamden
· Wolcott Falls, Timberwood Trail, Hamden
· The Gorge Cascade, off Tuttle Avenue at Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden
· Roaring Brook Falls near the Quinnipiac Trail in Cheshire
· Wepawaug Falls in Woodbridge
· An unnamed falls on Downs Road in Woodbridge
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The
spillway below the Lake Wintergreen dam partially resembles a waterfall
as seen by the rocky bottom of the upper portion, as seen in this view
from the Red Trail.
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The West Rock Nature Center map is not needed to locate the falls, but this is the link: https://www.newhavenct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/816/637740654231370000
The easiest way to view the falls is to park in the Nature Center lower parking lot (the one on Wintergreen Avenue near the driveway to the nature center). To see the falls, walk through the woods at the back of the parking lot. In 2022, New Haven installed some wooden steps and created a small landing from which to view the falls. It is a steep drop to the falls, so be careful when standing there.
Due to the steep, slippery terrain, it is nearly impossible to walk down safely to base of the falls. The best opportunity would be when there is at least a foot of snow on the ground. Then it would be possible to walk down the steep ravine to the right of the falls (when looking down on them), rather than trying to walk along the falls themselves.
To make this an actual hike, walk from the Lake Wintergreen parking lot along the Red Trail, continuing south along Baldwin Drive. Turn left onto the road by the main entrance, and then left through the closed parking lot just past the cement booth. Just across Wintergreen Avenue is the lower parking lot of the West Rock Nature Center.
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| Wintergreen Falls, off Wintergreen Avenue, is across the street from West Rock Ridge State Park, in the lower section of the West Rock Nature Center. |
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| Wintergreen Falls runs strongly in March 2015. |
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This is a view looking down Wintergreen Falls.
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Wolcott Falls located on Shepard Brook may be accessed from a path, adjacent to the house at 15 Timberwood Trail, just off Shepard Avenue near the Hamden Public Works Department garage. Park along the street and walk the 0.1 miles to the falls. The name is puzzling because the brook is not named Wolcott and the falls are not located in the town of Wolcott.
To make this into an actual hike, park along the road by the gate at 574 West Shepard Ave., Hamden, at the junction with Rayzoe Terrace. Walk up West Shepard Avenue, continuing straight onto the dirt Sanford Road at mile 0.3. Within 200 feet, turn right on the Regicides Trail (Blue) heading north. The Regicides Trail intersects the Quinnipiac Trail on the top of York Mountain (High Rock) at mile 0.6. Turn right and head east on the Quinnipiac Trail. Follow the Quinnipiac Trail north along Paradise Avenue at mile 1.3. Where the road turns to dirt, turn right to continue on the Quinnipiac Trail at mile 1.5. At Old Coach Highway at mile 1.9, turn right to continue to follow the trail around the bend onto Nolan Rd. At Shepard Avenue, the Quinnipiac Trail turns left heading north, then east to Rocky Top. Turn right to head south on Shepard Avenue at mile 2.1, keeping an eye on traffic because the road does not have sidewalks. Just past the Hamden Public Works Garage, turn left onto Timberwood Trail at mile 2.2 for about 200 feet, then turn right onto the path to the falls.
The return walk could be to backtrack on the roads and trails for a 4.4 mile hike. A more direct and easier return with minimal elevation gain is to turn right on Shepard Avenue from Timberwood Trail. Take the next right on West Shepard Avenue at mile 2.5 and follow that 1.5 miles back to where you parked your car, yielding a total walk of 4 miles.
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Wolcott Falls flows strongly in February 2023. |
The nearest trailhead is a dirt pull-off for two vehicles on Tuttle Avenue, 1.2 miles northeast of Rt. 10, and 0.2 miles northeast of River Road. The Red Circle Trail extends to Mount Carmel Avenue on the south of Sleeping Giant, ending opposite Ridge Road.
The Red Circle Trail is a steady climb from 175 ft. of elevation at Tuttle Avenue to 550 ft. of elevation at the Violet Trail, which is a 10 percent grade.
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| The upper torso of the Sleeping Giant lies peacefully, as seen from East Rock Park. |
As you hike up, you are rewarded with continuous views of the cascades. The most dramatic view may be found about a quarter mile up the trail, just before crossing a side stream on a wooden footbridge. Further up there is a waterfall about 10 feet in height.
If the Tuttle Avenue parking is full, hikers can always start from the main entrance of Sleeping Giant at 200 Mount Carmel Ave., which may be full as well on a weekend day with good weather. From the main parking lot, take the Yellow Trail north for 1.05 miles, then turn left on the Red Circle Trail and it is 0.7 miles to the junction with the Violet Trail. The cascades start just beyond the Violet Trail. From the cascades, go back the way you came or use the map to plot your own return route.
The Sleeping Giant Park Association publishes a detailed, full color map, which may be downloaded and printed from its website at http://sgpa.org/
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| This is the most dramatic view of the Gorge Cascade at Sleeping Giant State Park, as seen from the Red Circle Trail, about 0.25 miles from Tuttle Avenue, just before the trail turns and crosses wooden footbridge. |
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| This smaller waterfall rewards hikers willing to continue the uphill climb on the Red Circle Trail at Sleeping Giant State Park. |
Roaring Brook Falls on Roaring Brook in Cheshire is directly accessed from the trailhead by 827 Roaring Brook Rd. Cheshire. Parking is available along the road. Follow the entry road directly back from the cul-de-sac, and then turn left to follow the Orange Trail along the falls. Total distance is 0.75 miles. The starting elevation is 200 feet and the trail rises to 675 feet of elevation at the Quinnipiac Trail for about a 12 percent grade.
Footing is slippery and uncertain in spots, so hiking poles are highly recommended, particularly in wet and icy conditions, which are the best times to view a waterfall. If the trail is icy, be sure to wear traction devices, such as Microspikes, as the trail angles toward the gorge in places.
You can hike to Roaring Brook Falls, off the Quinnipiac Trail, from the Regicides Trail. The distance is about 8 miles one way from the end of the Regicides Trail near York Mountain. At the junction with the Orange-Blazed falls trail, turn right and descend the hill to view the falls.
The town of Cheshire owns the property and has map on this website: https://cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_8580856/File/Roaring%20Brook%20Map%20Brochure.pdf
Christopher Zajac has a video of the falls at https://vimeo.com/25595354
Directions to the Cheshire Trailhead: Rt. 15 to Exit 59. Go north on Rt. 69 for 8.6 mi. Right on Rt. 42 E. for 2.6 mi. Left on Mountain Rd. for 0.4 miles. Left on Roaring Brook Rd. to end. From I-84, take Exit 26. Go East on Rt. 70 for 2.4 miles. Right on Mountain Rd., just past turnoff for Rt. 68 West. Go 2.3 mi. Right on Roaring Brook Rd. to end.
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This is one section of Roaring Brook Falls, Cheshire, March 2013.
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Sperry Falls is located on the Sargent River in Sperry Park, 81 Sperry Road, Woodbridge, just west of Rt. 69. The easiest way to view the falls is to drive to the park and leave your car in the gravel parking lot. From the parking lot, walk directly down the path to the falls, which is a 0.1 mile walk. Note that this section of Sperry Road is closed in the winter by a metal gate. In the winter, you would have to park on the road near the gate. The recommended access would be to take Route 69 North to Morris Road, then head west on Morris Road and then left to go south on Sperry Road.
Directions: Rt. 15 to Exit 59, then north on Rt. 69 for 4 miles. Left onto Morris Rd. at the Woodbridge-Bethany border (by the sign for Whitlock Farm Book Barn) to the end, then left onto Sperry Rd. for 0.7 miles.
From I-84, take Exit 23 to Rt. 69 South for 11.7 miles. Right onto Morris Rd. and follow above directions.
To make this an actual hike would require having a Regional Water Authority recreation pass, since most trails in the area cross water company land and require use of this pass. This area is about 5-mile round trip walk from the Thomas Darling House on Rt. 69 and a 2-mile round trip walk from Lake Chamberlain. The Lake Chamberlain parking area is located on Sperry Road about 0.1 miles south of Morris Rd. The pass is not required to walk along Sperry Road or to access the falls themselves.
The park (but not the falls) is shown on this map: https://scrcog.org/wp-content/uploads/trails/RWA/alt/RecTrails_RWA9_Alt_6-2-16.pdf
Additional information:
http://www.ctwaterfalls.com/falls/main.php?Sperry1
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Sperry
Falls, Woodbridge, Feb. 2012. Alas, we cannot claim this scenic beauty
for West Rock, but we can hike there from the base of the ridge,
starting at the Thomas Darling House.
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Wepawaug Falls is located on Woodbridge Land Trust property on the west side of Alice Newton Street Memorial Park in the center of Woodbridge. The falls has one drop of about 4 feet and downstream the Wepawaug River splits, featuring a twin cascade. The nearest trailhead is located between 42 and 48 Indian Trail Road, Woodbridge, and from the road, the falls are about 0.1 miles. Indian Trail is off North Racebrook Road, which connects to Route 114 (Racebrook Road).
To make this an actual hike, park on the street by the Woodbridge Town Hall, walk toward the First Church of Christ and look for the map board set back near the church. The falls are on the Blue Trail, which has mostly flat terrain, about 1 mile from the Town Hall.
Map and brochure: https://scrcog.org/wp-content/uploads/trails/woodbridge/alt/RecTrails_WO1_Alt_6-5-17.pdf
Directions to Woodbridge Town Hall: Rt. 15 North to Exit 57 to Rt. 34 East. Left onto Rt. 114 East for 4.3 miles, then left onto Meetinghouse Lane. Rt. 15 South to Exit 59 to Rt. 69 North for 0.2 miles. Left on Lucy St., then right onto Rt. 63 North for 1 mile, then left on Rt. 114 West for 1 mile, then right on Meetinghouse Lane, and park in front of the Town Hall.
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Wepawaug
Falls single cascade on Woodbridge Land Trust property, adjacent to
Alice Newton Street Memorial Park, accessible from Meetinghouse Lane.
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Falls on Downs Road: There is a seasonal waterfall on Downs Road, Woodbridge, adjacent to Lake Watrous. If the waterfall has a name, I do not know it. The falls are located on the Rt. 69 side of Downs Road, about 0.6 miles north of the junction where Downs Road splits off from Rt. 69. There is no parking in the area, and the road is narrow and difficult for walking. The way to see them to ride a bicycle, and be aware of traffic. Since the falls are seasonal, typically running in spring or after a heavy rain, there is not much to see in dry weather.
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The waterfall on Downs Road by Lake Watrous is partially obscured by the trees.
A fence prevents getting a closer look. Online information for these and other waterfalls can be found at the Connecticut Waterfalls website, which includes pictures, sounds, and driving directions. This website has good information, but appears to be a project that was started and never completed, as the total list of waterfalls is relatively small. Connecticut Waterfalls: http://www.ctwaterfalls.com The book Connecticut Waterfalls: A Guide by Russell Dunn and Christy Butler and published in 2013 by The Countryman Press, Woodstock, Vermont, is a detailed guide to the many waterfalls in the state.
New England Waterfalls is both a book and a website with a fairly comprehensive list of falls in Connecticut (and other New England States): https://newenglandwaterfalls.com |
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