An Easy Falls on Big Wilson Stream
Earley Landing Falls, sometimes called Earley’s Falls, is a modest but pretty 8-foot drop on Big Wilson Stream near Willimantic, in the Moosehead foothills of Piscataquis County. It will never be the headline waterfall of a trip, but it is one of the easiest to reach in the area, and it sits in a cluster of falls that makes for a good day of waterfall-hopping. Big Wilson Stream runs through this corner of the county collecting drops, and Earley Landing is one of the more accessible.
The setting is quiet backcountry, the kind of place where the gravel roads outnumber the houses. The stream itself is the draw, sliding over a low ledge into a pool, framed by the spruce and hardwood of the surrounding woods.
Viewing
This is a roadside stop, not a hike. The falls are just off Maine Route 150, about 300 feet upstream from a bridge on Airport Road, and you view them from the public bridge. The surrounding land is private, so the bridge is your vantage point. The falls sit only a few feet off the road, with a parking area nearby, and the bridge view is accessible without any real walking.
Because the falls are a few hundred feet upstream from the bridge, a telephoto lens helps if you want a tight shot. Swimming is not an option here, both because the land is private and because the falls are not set up for it.
Treat Earley Landing as one stop on a waterfall loop. It is roughly four miles from the road access to Tobey Falls, and Big Wilson Falls and Little Wilson Falls are in the same general area. You can see several falls in a single afternoon if you map them out first.
Getting There
Earley Landing Falls is near Willimantic, just off Maine Route 150, about 300 feet upstream from the Airport Road bridge over Big Wilson Stream. Park in the small area nearby and walk to the bridge. The roads in this part of Piscataquis County are a mix of paved and gravel, and cell service is unreliable, so have your directions set before you lose signal.
Greenville, the gateway to Moosehead Lake, and the larger towns to the south are the nearest places for fuel and food.
When to Visit
Spring
Snowmelt fills Big Wilson Stream and the falls are at their fullest and most photogenic. Roads may still be muddy from mud season early on.
Summer
Lower flow in dry stretches can leave the falls modest, but it is a pleasant, easy stop. Bring bug spray for the backcountry.
Fall
Autumn rain brings the flow back, and the Piscataquis woods turn color. A fine time to pair several area falls in one drive.
Winter
The falls partly freeze and the gravel roads may be unplowed or icy. Access is harder; check road conditions before heading in.
Big Wilson Stream is fed by snowmelt and rain, so Earley Landing is at its best in spring and after a good rain. In a dry summer it can shrink to a quiet trickle over the ledge.
Packing List
Earley Landing Falls Stop
- Camera, ideally with a telephoto lens
- Water bottle
- Bug spray (this is backcountry)
- Map or downloaded directions (cell service is spotty)
- Sturdy shoes for the bridge and roadside
FAQ
How tall is Earley Landing Falls?
About 8 feet. It is a modest drop on Big Wilson Stream near Willimantic, easy to reach from the road.
Do you have to hike to the falls?
No. The falls are viewed from a public bridge on Airport Road, about 300 feet downstream, just off Route 150. There is a parking area nearby.
Can you swim there?
No. The surrounding land is private and the falls are viewed from the bridge. There is no public swimming access.
What other waterfalls are nearby?
Tobey Falls is roughly four miles away by road, and Big Wilson Falls and Little Wilson Falls are in the same area. It is good waterfall-hopping country.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring, during snowmelt, or after heavy rain, when Big Wilson Stream is high and the falls are at their fullest.
For more area falls, see Tobey Falls and Little Wilson Falls.
