Moss Glen Falls
At 125-feet, Moss Glen Falls isn’t technically the tallest waterfall in Vermont, but you’d be hard pressed to find a more impressive cascade in the Green Mountain State. The hike to the falls is quick and easy, so it doesn’t require blocking off an entire day to see. You could reasonably hike to the falls after lunch and still have plenty of time to pick up some Heady Toppers before dinner.
Moss Glen Falls Trail Summary
Distance: 0.5 miles mile to the falls and back – the trail continues past the falls along the Moss Glen Brook. The entire round-trip length of the trail is 4.2 miles.
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Map: AllTrails
Time: <1 hour (to the falls and back, including stops for photos)
Elevation Gain: ~200 feet to the falls overlook
Getting There
The Moss Glen Falls trailhead is located on Moss Glen Falls Rd, four miles northeast of the center of town. From the center of Stowe, take route 100-N for three miles before bearing right on Randolph Rd. After 0.5 miles, turn right on to Moss Glen Falls Rd. The well-marked trailhead will be on your left in 0.5 miles.
The Trail
The trailhead/small parking area is well marked, so you can’t miss it as you drive down Moss Glen Falls Rd.
We didn’t expect much from the hike itself since it was so short, and we were mostly focused on the falls, but the 10-15 minute hike was surprisingly scenic. The trail begins with a series of rather flimsy boardwalks through a muddy wetland area. There is a small pond off to the left of the trail that is evidently home to some very active beavers judging by the impressive number of felled trees.
Read More: Best Hikes in New England
After only a couple of minutes, Moss Glen Brook comes into view to the right of the trail. Since we were hiking in late spring, everything was in full bloom, making the short hike even more scenic.
After hugging the brook for a few more minutes, you begin to hear the roar of the falls up ahead. You have the option of walking down to the edge of the brook and walking along some rocks to get a glimpse of the falls from below, or hiking up a short but steep hill to get a view from above. Viewing the falls from the edge of the brook can be a bit challenging since the rocks can be slippery and is not technically part of the marked trail. You obviously need to be careful, but the water is shallow at this point, the current is not terribly strong, and you’re at the bottom of the falls so there’s no risk of actually falling off anything.
The view from below is worth checking out, but the view from above is what everyone comes to see. As the trail gains elevation, you can catch a glimpse of Mt. Mansfield (Vermont’s tallest mountain) and the surrounding peaks in the distance before the falls come into view.
Moss Glen Brook goes over a series of small drops through a narrow gorge before the final plunge. There are a couple of good vantage points through the trees before the trail continues on along the left side of the falls. Be careful along this part of the trail, because there are some serious drops and it can get slippery.
When it comes to waterfalls, this is really as good as it gets in New England. It’s right up there with New Hampshire’s Arethusa Falls, the Falling Waters Trail, and maybe a handful of others in the region. This short hike isn’t going to provide much of a challenge, but it’s worth adding as a stop on any visit to Stowe.