Moxie Falls: The 90-Foot Waterfall at the End of a One: Here’s the latest

A short walk through the northern Maine woods leads to one of New England’s most impressive waterfalls. Moxie Falls, located in Moxie Gore township near the village of The Forks, sends water plunging roughly 90 feet straight down into a pool about 17 feet deep. The round-trip distance runs approximately two miles, the trail is mostly flat, and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands charges no entrance fee to visit. Wooden observation platforms and boardwalks position visitors directly over the gorge for unobstructed views of the drop from multiple angles.

The hike itself begins wide and level, threading through a mixed canopy of hardwoods and evergreens. Wooden stepping stumps bridge the boggy sections along the way, keeping the route manageable for children, older visitors, and leashed dogs. Well before the falls appear, hikers begin picking up a low, building rumble that grows louder with each step forward. Above the main drop, Moxie Stream slides through a series of smaller cascades and feeds a large quiet pool roughly 500 feet upstream. Below the primary plunge, two additional cascades remain hidden from the main platforms, accessible only to those willing to explore a bit further. Swimming is possible near the base, though the rocks are slippery and the terrain steep; calmer pools upstream and a stretch about 100 feet downstream offer safer options. Bald eagles, hawks, deer, and rabbits have all been spotted along the trail, and birdsong tends to outnumber footsteps on quieter days. The falls run year-round, hitting peak volume after spring snowmelt or heavy rain, locking into a column of ice in winter, and framing autumn foliage in gold and orange through late September and into October. The name itself traces to an Algonquian word tied to this region, shared by nearby Moxie Pond, Moxie Stream, and Moxie Mountain, and some accounts connect it to the origin of the well-known New England soft drink, though that link remains unconfirmed.

“The flow runs strongest after snowmelt in spring or after a heavy rain, when the falls thunder into the pool below. Even so, Moxie Falls keeps running all year, no matter the water level you find.”

Visitors can find the trailhead approximately 2.3 miles along Moxie Pond Road, also known as Lake Moxie Road, off Route 201 just before the Kennebec River bridge in The Forks. A large parking area sits directly at the trailhead. To avoid the heaviest foot traffic, plan for a weekday visit or arrive before 9 a.m. on weekends. Footing is most reliable between April and October; winter trips are doable but typically require snowshoes. No permit or fee is required at any time of year.