Waterfalls above Stowe
The slopes around Stowe hide two of Vermont’s prettiest waterfalls, both easy to reach and worth building a morning around.
Bingham Falls
Off Route 108 toward the notch, a 0.6-mile round-trip trail drops through hemlocks and down steep stone steps into a narrow gorge, where a 40-foot cascade pours into a circular, cliff-ringed swimming bowl. The rocks are slick near the rim — stay on the marked path and swim only in the lower pools.
Moss Glen Falls (Stowe)
A few minutes away, an easy boardwalk and short trail lead to Moss Glen Falls, a 125-foot ribbon of water plunging down a granite face — one of the tallest and most photogenic falls in the state, for minimal effort. (Don’t confuse it with the roadside Moss Glen Falls in Granville, far to the south.)
Visiting well
Both are busiest on warm summer weekends; go early, wear grippy shoes, and pair them with a ride up the notch or a walk on the Recreation Path for a perfect Stowe day.
Good to know
How hard is the hike to Bingham Falls?+
Short but steep — about 0.6 miles round-trip with stone steps down into the gorge; footing is slippery near the rim.
Can you swim at Bingham Falls?+
Yes, in the lower pools — but take care on the wet rocks and avoid the gorge edge.
Are there two Moss Glen Falls?+
Yes — the tall one near Stowe and a roadside one in Granville; this guide covers the Stowe falls.