Abbey Pond Cascades is an 85-foot tiered waterfall on the outlet stream of Abbey Pond in Green Mountain National Forest, Addison County, Vermont, northeast of Middlebury. The stream drops in six steps below the pond, close to the start of the Abbey Pond Trail.
The falls
Lidar data estimates the cumulative height at least 85 feet over six drops, the tallest about 20 feet; the stream is called the Roaring Branch. New England Waterfalls and waterfall writer Peter Chapin both estimate about 80 feet.
Getting there
The Abbey Pond trail system is temporarily closed due to flooding; check with the Green Mountain National Forest before going. The trailhead is on a gravel road off VT 116: from Middlebury, drive 0.7 mile north on Route 116 from Quarry Road and turn right; from Bristol, go 1.0 mile west on Routes 17/116, turn left on 116 at the blinking light and drive 6.9 miles, then turn left. Keep right at the fork to the parking area at 0.3 mile. The land along the road and the lot is private property. The falls are about 0.2 mile up the trail; the full hike to Abbey Pond is 1.8 miles one way (3.6 round trip), rated moderate.
When to go
May to October is the recommended season. The stream is small, so flow depends on rain: Peter Chapin found the falls in very good form in early May after heavy rain, and still in good form in mid-November.
On site
The upper falls and the gorge are visible from the footbridge, and the main lower cascades lie right below it, with good views from rocks opposite the bridge. Reaching the base of the whole run means leaving the trail and scrambling downstream; wading across is possible but risky, so use stepping stones. Noise from a nearby gravel pit can carry to the base. The route is not wheelchair accessible, and swimming is rated as poor.
History and name
Abbey Pond Cascades is an unofficial name, taken from the pond that feeds the stream.
Nearby
Halpins Falls is about 3 miles away, Middlebury Gorge about 4.4 miles and Bristol Cliffs Falls about 4.8 miles. The village of Middlebury is about 4.3 miles away.
Distances are straight-line.