Steep Falls is a 4-foot ledge drop across the Saco River in Maine, a broad band of whitewater beside the Route 11 bridge just outside the village of Steep Falls. The river here forms the line between Limington in York County and Baldwin in Cumberland County.
The falls
The Saco breaks over a well-defined rock ledge in a single wide step. Lidar measurements put the drop at 4 feet and class the feature as a rapid rather than a waterfall; earlier surveys listed 6 feet. New England Waterfalls gives a width of about 75 feet and calls it one of the top-volume waterfalls in Maine despite its small height.
Getting there
Driving Route 11 toward Steep Falls, there is a small parking lot on the right just before the bridge over the Saco. A path on the north side of the bridge leads down to the falls, and the falls can also be seen from the bridge itself. The surrounding land is Central Maine Power property open to the public.
When to go
April to November is the recommended season. Flow is highest in spring, with surf waves on this part of the river.
On site
A rocky path runs out along the water; in cold weather it sits too close to the river to walk safely. Dogs are allowed on a leash. Accounts disagree on swimming: some descriptions note a wide-open area for swimming and sunbathing, while a 2016 visitor report says swimming is not allowed. The currents are strongest toward the middle of the river, with a dangerous hydraulic at the ledge at high flows that can hold a swimmer or boater; stay out of the water when the river is up.
Nearby
Chases Falls on the Little Ossipee River is about 6.9 miles away, Nasons Mills about 7 miles and Great Falls about 8 miles.
Distances are straight-line.