Snow Falls is a 25-foot tiered waterfall on the Little Androscoggin River in Oxford County, Maine, where the river squeezes through a narrow granite gorge beside a state rest area on Route 26 near West Paris. Fenced paths on both banks and a footbridge give close views without a hike.
The falls
Steep tiered cascades drop in two parts: an upper section runs about 15 feet through a sluice-like flume, and a lower section drops about 10 feet into a pool inside the gorge. Lidar data puts the total height at about 25 feet, while earlier surveys listed 15 feet. Other accounts count four sets of cascades and put the gorge walls at up to 30 feet high. A streamgage monitors the river upstream of the falls.
Getting there
The falls sit at the Snow Falls Rest Area on Route 26, managed by the State of Maine. It is located about 6 miles north of the Route 26/119 junction in South Paris, or 2 miles south of Trap Corner, on the left for northbound traffic. There is plenty of parking and no hike: the gorge is right beside the lot.
When to go
April to November is the recommended season; an April photo shows the falls in high water. The gorge receives direct sun much of the day; cloudy weather or early and late light is suggested for photography.
On site
Trails run along both sides of the gorge, with fencing around the dangerous edges and a footbridge over the river; below the bridge a thin plunge falls into a dark pool. The rest area has picnic tables and a pit toilet. Dogs are allowed, swimming is prohibited, and wheelchair users are limited to views from the roadside.
Nearby
Bisco Falls is about 1.3 miles away, Steep Falls about 6.7 miles and Basin Falls about 6.8 miles. The village of West Paris is about 2.3 miles northwest.
Distances are straight-line.