Acadia’s Finest Waterfall
Hadlock Falls is the most photographed waterfall in Acadia National Park, and the reason is the bridge. The falls drop about 40 feet down a ledge on Hadlock Brook, and just below them the brook passes under the skewed stone arch of Waterfall Bridge. Stand on the carriage road and look upstream through the arch and the cascade frames itself almost perfectly. It is one of those views that looks staged but is simply where the road and the brook happened to meet.
Waterfall Bridge was built in 1925 as part of the carriage road network that John D. Rockefeller Jr. funded and laid out across the eastern side of Mount Desert Island. The roads were designed to be car-free, and they still are, so the only traffic at the falls is hikers, cyclists, and the occasional horse-drawn carriage. The bridge is one of seventeen stone spans on the carriage road system, and the only one named for a waterfall.
The Trail
The shortest way to the falls is the Hadlock Brook Trail. It is just under a mile from the trailhead to the bridge, climbing gently alongside the brook through hemlock and birch. The footing is rocky in places and there are a couple of brook crossings, but there is no real elevation to speak of and most people reach the falls in twenty to thirty minutes. From the bridge you can scramble a short way up to the base of the cascade.
Many hikers tie the falls into a longer loop using the Maple Spring Trail and the carriage roads, or continue up toward Parkman Mountain and Bald Peak for the summit views. If you only want the waterfall, the out-and-back on the Hadlock Brook Trail is the simplest option and the one to do with kids.
You do not have to hike at all to see the falls. Waterfall Bridge sits on the carriage road between signposts 12 and 19, so anyone walking or biking that stretch of the carriage road system passes directly over it. The hiking trail just gets you there faster on foot.
Getting There
The trailhead is the Norumbega Mountain (Lower Hadlock) parking area on Route 198, or the Parkman Mountain lot a bit farther north on the same road, both south of where Route 198 meets Route 233 near Northeast Harbor. Both lots are small and fill on summer mornings. From the Parkman Mountain lot, follow the carriage road and pick up the Hadlock Brook Trail toward Waterfall Bridge.
Acadia requires an entrance pass, which you can buy online ahead of time or at the park. Cell service on this side of the island is unreliable, so download a carriage road map before you go.
A daypack with water and a layer is plenty for this short hike.
When to Visit
Spring
Snowmelt and spring rain put the falls at full force. This is the time to see Hadlock at its loudest, usually April into May.
Summer
By midsummer Hadlock Brook can slow to a trickle in dry spells. Still a pleasant shaded walk, but the cascade may be modest.
Fall
Cooler air, foliage along the carriage roads, and a rebound in flow after autumn rains. Fewer crowds than midsummer.
Winter
The carriage roads are used for skiing and snowshoeing. The falls partly freeze into ice; access depends on conditions.
Most of Hadlock Brook’s water comes from spring runoff, so the honest advice is to go in spring or after a good rain. In a dry August the falls can be little more than a wet streak on the ledge.
Packing List
Hadlock Falls Day Hike
- Acadia park pass (printed or on phone)
- Water bottle
- Sturdy shoes or hiking boots (rocky, often wet trail)
- Bug spray in late spring and early summer
- Light rain layer
- Downloaded carriage road map
- Camera for the bridge-and-falls view
FAQ
How tall is Hadlock Falls?
About 40 feet. The cascade drops down a ledge on Hadlock Brook just upstream of Waterfall Bridge.
How long is the hike to Hadlock Falls?
Just under a mile each way on the Hadlock Brook Trail, with little elevation gain. Most people reach the falls in 20 to 30 minutes.
When is the best time to see the falls flowing?
Spring, during and after snowmelt, or after a heavy rain. By late summer the brook can slow to a trickle in dry years.
Do I need a park pass?
Yes. Hadlock Falls is inside Acadia National Park, which requires an entrance pass. You can buy one online ahead of time or at the park.
Can I see the falls without hiking?
Yes. Waterfall Bridge is on the carriage road between signposts 12 and 19, so anyone biking or walking that section passes right over the falls.
For more Acadia waterfalls and walks, see Jordan Pond and the Acadia carriage roads.
