ADDISON COUNTY — Addison County’s two dozen named waterfalls cloak themselves in forests, splash through downtowns, tumble over cliffs and burble happily along roadsides. Some seem to reveal themselves only at certain times of year, and still others persist only as rumors or legends.
Viewing a falls on a hot summer day can be refreshing, and hiking through the cool shade of the woods can be restorative in itself. But most of the falls listed here are either an easy walk or really no walk at all. Some waterfalls are bold and booming, like the cataracts in downtown Middlebury and Vergennes. These were the source of hydropower that fueled the economic growth of Addison County 200 years ago.
Other falls are narrow and picturesque. Texas Falls in Hancock, for one, is simply beautiful. The boardwalks around the falls also offer a light ramble to see the various views of the falling water.
And some falls are best experienced from IN the water — think Bartlett Falls in Bristol or the Falls of Lana in Salisbury.
Whatever your pleasure — scenery, serenity, spray or swimming — you can’t go wrong with one of these natural treasures.
 
Falls of Lana
•Location: Salisbury, Route 53 near Leicester town line.
•Park: Moosamaloo National Recreation Area.
•Total drop: 100 feet.
•Water source: Sucker Brook.
•Swimming: top-notch.
•Hike: moderate.
•Feature: Lots of falls in one.
 
Moss Glen Falls
•Location: Granville, Route 100.
•Park: Granville Gulf Reservation.
•Total drop: 35 feet.
•Water source: Deer Hollow Brook.
•Swimming: not so great.
•Handicap accessible: yes.
•Feature: Visible from Route 100.
 
Bartlett Falls
•Location: Bristol, Lincoln Road.
•Total drop: 15 feet.
•Water source: New Haven River.
•Swimming: amazing.
•AKA: Bristol Falls
•Feature: You can stand underneath it.
 
Texas Falls
•Location: Hancock, Route 125 east of Middlebury Gap.
•Park: Green Mountain National Forest.
•Total drop: 35 feet.
•Water source: Texas Brook.
•Swimming: prohibited.
•Handicap accessible: yes.
•Feature: Postcard perfect.
 
Bristol Memorial Park Falls
•Location: Bristol.
•Park: Memorial Forest Park, Route 17 East near Dan Sargent Road.
•Total drop: 25 feet.
•Water source: Baldwin Creek.
•Swimming: iffy.
•Feature: Roaring gorge.
 
Abbey Pond Cascades
•Location: Middlebury, Route 116 north of Mead Lane.
•Park: Green Mountain National Forest.
•Total drop: 80 feet.
•Water Source: Abbey Pond.
•Swimming: poor.
•Feature: A lovely sequence of falls.
 
Bailey Falls
•Location: Hancock, Route 125 between Middlebury Gap and Texas Falls.
•Park: Middlebury Snow Bowl.
•Total drop: 70 feet.
•Water source: Robbins Branch.
•Swimming: poor.
•Hike: moderate to difficult.
•Feature: Secluded.
 
Middlebury Falls
•Location: Middlebury, Main Street.
•Total height: 18 feet.
•Water source: Otter Creek.
•Swimming: nope.
•Handicap accessible: yes.
•Feature: Good views from multiple locations.
 
Vergennes Falls
•Location: Vergennes, West Main Street/Route 22A.
•Total height: 37 feet.
•Water source: Otter Creek.
•Swimming: not near the falls.
•Handicap accessible: yes.
•Feature: Two rocky islands split the falls of the Otter Creek into three cascades.
 
Other great places to visit include:
 
•Circle Current in Bristol, Lincoln Road (near Bartlett Falls).
•Middlebury Gorge in East Middlebury, Route 125 east of the village (great swimming).
•Weybridge Falls in Weybridge (dam on Otter Creek).
•Belden Falls in New Haven, Belden Falls Road off Route 7 (swinging footbridge over the falls).