Lye Brook Falls is a 219-foot tiered cascade on a small tributary of Lye Brook in the Green Mountain National Forest near Manchester, Bennington County, Vermont. It is tall but carries little water, and a moderate forest hike of about 4.6 miles round trip leads to its base.
The falls
The stream slides down the side of Lye Brook Hollow over a cliff of layered bedrock, where hundreds of thin ledges jut out one above another and break the water into a long series of small steps. The visible portion of the falls drops 219 feet, and lidar data suggests another 40 to 60 feet of falls above it.
Getting there
The hike follows the Lye Brook Trail from the trailhead at the end of Lye Brook Falls Service Road in Manchester, where there is a large shaded parking area. At a fork about 1.8 miles in, the right branch leads to the falls. The round trip is 4.6 miles with about 740 to 938 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The path starts wide and flat, then turns rocky, with muddy stretches and small streams to rock-hop. There is no fee. The access road is not maintained in winter.
When to go
The falls look best during spring snowmelt or after prolonged rain and usually flow well until about mid-June; in dry spells the flow can nearly stop. A hiker in early April 2026 found a large blowdown, mud and high water that made the stream crossings harder. Weekday mornings typically see fewer people, and the trail is fully shaded.
On site
Do not climb the waterfall rocks, which are slippery. In August 2026 an injured hiker was carried out from the falls and airlifted. The pool at the base is too shallow for swimming. There are no toilets or trash cans, so pack everything out. Dogs are welcome, and mosquitoes can be a problem.
History and name
The falls were once known as Trestle Cascade, after an old logging railroad trestle that crossed the ravine below them.
Nearby
Downer Glen lies about 2.2 miles away, and Munsons Falls about 2.7 miles. Pikes Falls is about 9.7 miles away.
Distances are straight-line.