The Hike To Southford Falls In Connecticut Is Short And Sweet

In Connecticut, many of our natural wonders are easily accessible. So if trekking through the forest on a long excursion is not your cup of tea, a short and sweet hike will lead you to a beautiful waterfall hiding in plain sight. Southford Falls State Park is just a hop, skip, and a jump off of Interstate 84 in the towns of Southbury and Oxford. A visit to this delightful park will grant you quick and easy access to one of the state’s underrated waterfalls.

The scenic 169-acre Southford Falls State Park is a popular destination for families and anglers alike. The designated trout park offers opportunities for fishing, while hiking trails, a picnic area, and a gorgeous setting make this park a true gem.

Google Images/C Wall

While Southford Falls may not be the biggest or the showiest waterfall in Connecticut, it’s still definitely worth a visit.

Flickr/Andrew K.

Your gateway to the waterfall trail is a quaint little covered bridge. The trail to the falls is a brief loop covering just a little over one mile.

Flickr/nick chapman

The bridge is tucked into the woods spanning Eight Mile Brook. What a wonderful way to kick off your journey.

TripAdvisor/wmcap33

As you pass across the bridge, you’ll be treated a well-maintained forest path. The shorter loop trail leads to the waterfall while the longer outer trail leads to the observation tower at the south end of the park.

TripAdvisor/Athina L

Around the falls, you can see the remains of the former mill that used to be on this site in the stonework. At first glance, you might think this waterfall is manmade but look more closely and you’ll see the falls are a natural wonder.

Google Images/Dutch Tessier

At the top, the water takes a short drop from the pond to the rocks below. Continuing to cascade and plunge over the schist rocks, the falls have a total drop of 50 feet.

Google Images/Michael Auslander

The waterfall pairs nicely with the scenic and picnic-friendly setting of the park. With just 20 minutes of walking, you can reach this lovely water wonder.

Flickr/John Schiller Learn more about Southford Falls State Park by visiting the Connecticut DEEP website. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. - sunset. Address: 175 Quaker Farms Road, Southbury, CT 06488.

Have you ever visited Southford Falls? If you had to pick just one, which waterfall in Connecticut is your favorite? For more brief and beautiful waterfall hikes, click here.