New England Waterfalls

BEAR HILL FALLS


Middletown, Connecticut



RATING: 1.5 / 5.0 stars (Fair) Bear Hill Falls, Connecticut
(see below for larger image and additional photographs)
STATE: Connecticut
COUNTY: Middlesex
TOWN: Middletown
PARK: Unknown
PRIVATE PROPERTY: Unknown (however, the falls are accessed using public trails)
TYPE: Plunges, horsetails, and cascades
HEIGHT: 30-foot total drop
WATER SOURCE: Unknown (most likely unnamed)
WATERSHED SIZE: Very small
TRAIL LENGTH: To main falls, 0.6 mile one-way; for entire loop, 2.0 miles
TRAIL DIFFICULTY: Moderate
HIKING TIME: To main falls, 20 minutes one-way; for entire loop, 1 hour, 10 minutes
ALTITUDE GAIN: To main falls, up 100 feet, down 75 feet; for entire loop, up 250 feet, down 250 feet
WHEN TO VISIT: April to May
SWIMMING: Not Possible and/or Prohibited
DELORME ATLAS: 2007: Page 35, H-23 (the falls are not marked on the CT atlas)
HANDICAP ACCESS: No
DOGS ALLOWED: Yes
COST TO VISIT: Free (as of 2016)
LENS TO BRING: Wide-angle (14-35mm) and/or standard (35-70mm)
ALTERNATE NAMES: None noted
GPS-TRAILHEAD: 41.514333, -72.577500
GPS-WATERFALL: 41.518500, -72.573667
COMPASS: 20° excluding declination (the falls face southeast)
INCLUDED IN BOOK?: Yes, the falls are included within the appendix of the guidebook
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THE FALLS

Bear Hill Falls offers a nice dose of privacy and isolation. The vast majority of visitors to falls are hikers passing who barely give them the time of day as they continue their hike along the 50-mile long blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. Only a few people per month likely stop at these falls for more than a brief moment.

The falls drop about 30 feet in a series of small plunges, horsetails, and cascades. Higher water conditions are needed for the falls to impress, and unfortunately that means that on most days, the waterfall is likely to disappoint. For dedicated waterfall hunters, there is also a 5-foot upper falls about a half-mile above the main falls.

Take note that the name 'Bear Hill Falls' is not an official name, but rather the term often applied to this waterfall. David A. Ellis, proprietor of ctwaterfalls.com, a website dedicated to the natural splendor of Connecticut waterfalls, is believed to have coined this waterfalls' name first.

TRAIL INFORMATION

The trail to the falls begins at the blue Mattabesett Trail sign on the north side of the road. As you travel this blue-blazed trail, you will find a fork after 0.2 mile. The right fork is for the Mattabesett Trail and the left fork is the Bear Hill South Loop Trail. Take the right fork and continue along the blue-square blazed Mattabesett Trail to the falls in 0.4 mile. The trail crosses the top of the falls. The easiest way to reach the base of the falls is to cross the stream and descend on the other side.

You can also make this a 2.0 mile loop hike, which will also pass by the upper falls about 0.5 mile above the main falls and allow you to walk along some very interesting cliffs. To complete this loop, continue climbing on the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail for 0.8 mile and take a left onto a yellow and blue-blazed trail. Follow this yellow and blue-blazed trail very carefully for 0.4 mile and you will return to the trail junction that is within 0.2 mile of your vehicle. If you do this entire loop, make sure to follow all blazes carefully since there are many unmarked forest roads running through this area.

DIRECTIONS

From Middletown, take CT 9 south to exit 10. Follow signs straight onto Aircraft Rd. Travel on Aircraft Rd for 0.8 mile and you will see a small blue sign on the left side (north side) of the road for the Mattabesett Trail. Parking is limited to the embankment on that side of the road.

UPDATES SINCE THE 2ND EDITION

NONE NOTED.

If you know of any updates to this waterfall, or notice any errors either on this website and/or within the New England Waterfalls guidebook, please send me an email at gparsons66@hotmail.com or leave a Facebook comment at the bottom of this page. Updates to all of the waterfalls in the latest edition of the guidebook can always be found here: book updates

OPTIONAL HIKES

None noted.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Bear Hill Falls, Connecticut
Bear Hill Falls, Connecticut

Bear Hill Falls, Connecticut
Bear Hill Falls, Connecticut

Bear Hill Falls, Connecticut
the upper falls of Bear Hill Falls, Connecticut

INTERESTED IN VISITING MORE WATERFALLS IN NEW ENGLAND?

The 3rd edition of the New England Waterfalls guidebook contains 552-pages of detailed information on hundreds of waterfalls throughout all corners of New England. This 3rd edition has been completely updated and it is the first to be printed in FULL COLOR! Click on the image below to explore some sample pages of the guidebook on Amazon.com.



New England Waterfalls guidebook

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TIPS FOR VISITING WATERFALLS & SWIMMING HOLES

Here are some tips to help ensure that your trip to New England's waterfalls and swimming holes will be a safe and enjoyable one:
  • DON'T FORGET THE ESSENTIALS - When you visit waterfalls, you should consider bringing all of the following: (a) bug spray; (b) food/snacks; (c) water/sports drinks; (d) camera/smart-phone; (e) guidebook/trail map; (f) daypack/backpack; and (g) hiking shoes, hiking boots or watershoes. A full day hiking packing list can be found here.
  • CONSIDER BUYING WATER SHOES - You won't see too many people using them, but watershoes are fantastic pieces of equipment that can make your trip to waterfalls and swimming holes safer and more enjoyable. Merrill and Keen make some fantastic watershoes (here are some great ones from Merrill: womens / mens).
  • LEAVE NO TRACE - When you visit waterfalls and swimming holes, you'll often see some trash and sometimes you'll even find clothing left behind by others. It's really, really sad, and it irks the heck out of us. Won't you consider carrying out some of trash and clothing left by others when you leave? That would leave the spot more beautiful for the next person. Bring a trash bag and be a hero!
  • PRIVATE PROPERTY - Many waterfalls and swimming holes are located on private property and so we are truly fortunate that many landowners allow us to enjoy them. If you want to ensure that they stay open to the public, please do your best to leave no trace. If you see a sign that says 'Private Property', turn around and find another waterfall to visit or a different place to swim.
  • BRING A DSLR CAMERA AND TRIPOD WITH YOU - If you want to take high-quality photographs of waterfalls, your smart-phone just won't cut it. Get a DSLR camera, a tripod, and learn to master the art of waterfall photography.
  • SCOUT FIRST, SWIM SECOND - Never enter a swimming hole without first scouting it, even if you see somebody else swimming in it. Stop and access the risks based upon the depth of water, the power of the current, evidence of slippery rocks, and other safety factors.
  • CLIFF JUMPING - Cliff jumping is dangerous. Like, seriously dangerous. Understand the risks before you partake in this activity. Many have died from doing this in New England. Here is a list of all known deaths at waterfalls and swimming holes in New England.
  • PLEASE DON'T BUILD ROCK CAIRNS - Please do not build new rock cairns at waterfalls or swimming holes. Cairns are a strong reminder of human presence, and don't we all want to see waterfalls in their natural state and glory? Photographers get particularly annoyed at seeing cairns, so please resist the urge to build them.
  • DON'T RELY ON YOUR GPS TO GET YOU TO THE TRAILHEAD - Waterfalls don't have addresses, so relying on your GPS to get you to a trailhead is great way to get yourself lost. You need a guidebook, a road atlas, and/or a hiking map to visit the vast majority of waterfalls in New England. Also keep in mind that waterfalls are often located in wild areas, where smart-phone map apps and car GPS units may not work at all.
  • WATERFALLS IN SPRING - The best time to visit waterfalls is generally in the spring during the annual snowmelt (which is April to June). However, most waterfalls will often look great for several days after a significant rain storm.
  • HELP KEEP THE ULTRA-SECRET SWIMMING HOLES A SECRET (FOREVER) - If you find some ultra-secret swimming holes, please do your best to keep them a secret. Do not post their locations online or wildly share directions or photos with others. All of the swimming holes that are included in the guidebook and online through this website are the well-known swimming spots. There are many more holes that are much further off the beaten path, but they deserve a chance to stay wild and pristine.
  • DON'T SCRAMBLE UP WATERFALLS - So many people been seriously injured and killed in the waterfalls of New England. Many of these folks got too close to a waterfall and slipped and fell. Don't become a statistic: stay far back from the edge.
  • WEAR TRACTION IF YOU VISIT WATERFALLS IN WINTER - Visiting waterfalls in winter can be rewarding, but there is often a higher element of danger. You may need crampons, snowshoes, and/or some other form of traction (like Microspikes) in order to safely hike to waterfalls in winter.
  • SUPPORT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONSERVE WATERFALLS & SWIMMING HOLES - There are some organizations in New England that work diligently to conserve and maintain waterfalls and swimming holes. Please consider supporting these organizations, either with their trail maintenance projects or with monetary donations. Here are three excellent organizations engaged in this extremely important mission: the Trustees of Reservations, the Vermont River Conservancy and the Nature Conservancy.

HELPFUL LINKS

Here are some helpful links to help you explore and enjoy more waterfalls and hikes throughout New England:
  • Waterfalls of Connecticut = link
  • Waterfalls of Maine = link
  • Waterfalls of Massachusetts = link
  • Waterfalls of New Hampshire = link
  • Waterfalls of Rhode Island = link
  • Waterfalls of Vermont = link
  • Best Waterfalls in New England = link
  • Best Swimming Holes in New England = link
  • Top 25 Day Hikes in New England = link
  • Top 25 Family-Friendly Day Hikes in New England = link
  • Waterfalls Near Boston, Massachusetts = link
  • Waterfalls Near Lincoln, New Hampshire = link
  • Waterfalls Near North Conway, New Hampshire = link
  • Waterfalls Near Stowe, Vermont = link
  • Waterfall Photography Tips = link

OTHER WATERFALL GUIDEBOOKS

In addition to the New England Waterfalls guidebook, there are several other guidebooks that can help you find waterfalls and swimming holes in this region:
  • Connecticut Waterfalls (1st Edition: 2014) = link
  • Hiking Waterfalls in New England: A Guide to the Region's Best Waterfall Hikes (2nd Edition: 2022) = link
  • Hiking Waterfalls Maine: A Guide to the State's Best Waterfall Hikes (1st Edition: 2020) = link
  • Vermont Waterfalls (1st Edition: 2015) = link
  • Waterfalls of the White Mountains: 30 Hikes to 100 Waterfalls (3rd Edition: 2019) = link

WATERFALLS ON FACEBOOK

Join the growing communities of waterfall aficionados on Facebook! You can share your photographs, follow the adventures of other waterfall hunters, and find new places to explore:

  • Request to join the "New England Waterfalls" community > link
  • Request to join the "New Hampshire Waterfalls" community > link
  • Request to join the "Northeastern Waterfalls" community > link
  • Request to join the "Vermont Waterfalls" community > link
  • Request to join the "Waterfalls of the United States" community > link

And if you'd like to follow the New England Waterfalls page on Facebook, click here.

ASK A QUESTION / LEAVE A COMMENT / PROVIDE AN UPDATE:

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Waterfalls, swimming holes, and hiking can be extremely dangerous. Hundreds of people have been injured or killed in the waterfalls and swimming holes of New England over the years. Never swim in strong water currents. Don't jump into a swimming hole without scouting it first. Do not climb up or along the side of waterfalls. Be wary of slippery rocks. Never swim in pools above waterfalls. Use of this website and all of its information is at your own risk! Newenglandwaterfalls.com will not be held liable for your actions. Be safe out there - and always use common sense!

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