Bingham Falls is a 91-foot tiered waterfall in a narrow gorge on the West Branch of the Little River below Smugglers Notch, in Lamoille County, Vermont. A short, steep path from Route 108 north of Stowe leads to it, and visitor counts show it draws an average of 180 visitors a day, with a peak of 1,431 in a single day.
The falls
The World Waterfall Database, which surveyed the falls in person, counts six drops totaling 91 feet, the tallest 31 feet; earlier surveys listed 90 feet in 5 drops. The centerpiece is a veiling horsetail of about 30 feet into a blue pool, though the main drop has also been given as 40 feet. Above it, the stream threads a series of potholes in a narrow crack in the rock, then two more vertical falls of 10 to 15 feet. The water comes from Big Spring in Smugglers Notch, which keeps the flow steady all year. The stream is also named the West Branch Waterbury River.
Getting there
Parking is at pullouts on both sides of Route 108 (Mountain Road), 6.4 miles north of the Route 100/108 intersection in Stowe village and about 3.25 miles below the notch. The trailhead is on the east side; Route 108 is a 50 mph road, so cross with care. The walk is rated moderate: about 0.5 mile round trip with 200 feet of elevation gain, taking 30 to 60 minutes. A wide path descends about a quarter mile to the top of the gorge, then stone stairs drop to the base. Park only where signs allow.
The 72.5-acre property is state land, part of Smugglers Notch State Park and Mt. Mansfield State Forest, managed by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.
When to go
Because of the spring source, the falls run in every month, and they swell with rain and snowmelt. Hiking, snowshoeing and Nordic skiing are all permitted uses of the property.
On site
The lower path is steeper and usually wet, and the stone steps are almost always slippery; boots with good tread are recommended. Parts of the route run near the gorge edge, and a fall into the gorge can be fatal; keep children back. Do not swim at the falls or anywhere above them, because the narrow channels create dangerous vortexes. In August 2021 a man fell down the falls; bystanders gave CPR and he was airlifted to a hospital. Dogs, fishing and hunting are allowed.
History and name
Vermont bought the land in 2001 for $1 million with help from the town, conservation groups and private foundations. Heavy use has since widened trails and threatened old hemlocks, and in 2019 the state presented a master plan proposing better parking, loop trails, bridges and viewing platforms.
Nearby
Hell Brook Cascades is about 2.5 miles away, Sterling Brook Gorge about 2.7 miles and Smugglers Falls about 2.9 miles.
Distances are straight-line.