Right now
Right now as of Oct 29, 2026
- Status CT Trail Finder still shows the trails as 'PARTIALLY OPEN' after flooding, though CT State Parks listed the park open with no alerts on October 29, 2026.
- Permit None needed.
Status note (Oct 29, 2026): CT Trail Finder still shows the trails as 'PARTIALLY OPEN' after flooding, though CT State Parks listed the park open with no alerts on October 29, 2026. In September 2024, WTNH reported that the August 2024 flood pushed the covered bridge off its foundation. We could not confirm repairs or full reopening, so check with CT DEEP at (203) 264-5169 before you go. What the status labels mean
Southford Falls is a tiered waterfall on Eight Mile Brook in Southford Falls State Park, which straddles Southbury and Oxford in Connecticut. We found no official height. The free lot on Route 188 is open to all cars, and the park, with its two-mile trail network, is open daily from 8am to sunset. CT State Parks listed no alerts on October 29, 2026, but CT Trail Finder still shows the trails as partly open after flooding.
About Southford Falls
Southford Falls is a tiered waterfall, according to Connecticut State Parks. Wikipedia names the stream as Eight Mile Brook (CT Trail Finder spells it Eightmile Brook), which flows from Lake Quassapaug to the Housatonic River. We found no official height for the falls.
The park covers 169 acres. Connecticut State Parks lists the waterfall, a covered bridge, an observation tower, a picnic gazebo, Paper Mill Pond and a two-mile trail network. The covered bridge was damaged in the 2024 flood.
Mills used the brook's power long before the park existed. Wikipedia lists gristmills, sawmills, ironworkers, button makers, knife makers and clothiers on its banks. Around 1900 the Diamond Match Company bought the site to make cardboard matchboxes.
Wikipedia says the factory burned twice and the state took over the land in 1927. WTNH reported that the factory burned down in a 1923 fire, and Connecticut State Parks says the site became a state park in 1932.
In September 2024, WTNH reported that the August 2024 flooding had uncovered ruins of the Diamond Match Company factory. Citing the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office, it said the covered bridge was pushed off its foundation, and work was under way to keep it from collapsing.
Getting there and parking
The park lot is at 175 Quaker Farms Road (Route 188), Southbury, CT 06488. The park phone is (203) 264-5169, per Connecticut State Parks.
Parking is free for everyone. Southford Falls is not on the CT DEEP fee list, and its park page says there is no out-of-state parking fee. Free parking for every car sets Southford apart from Kent Falls and Wadsworth Falls, where out-of-state cars pay $10 to $15 from April 1 to October 31.
The octagonal picnic shelter can be rented. It is 1,100 square feet, holds up to 50 people, and has 6 tables, 2 grills and electricity. Rental is $150 plus a $9 processing fee through ReserveAmerica or 1-877-668-2267.
Shelter reservations run May 23 to September 7. The shelter is closed November 8 to March 31 and is first come, first served at other times. A Clivus composting restroom is near the shelter.
Our guide to waterfalls in Connecticut compares parking at Kent, Wadsworth and Southford.
Map and nearby falls
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OpenPartly open / seasonalUnconfirmedClosedLarger map
The walk
The park's trails total about two miles, Connecticut State Parks says, and CT Trail Finder rates them easy to moderate. We found no official distance from the lot to the falls viewpoint.
CT Trail Finder describes the Red Trail as a loop from near the entrance around the south of the park and back to Paper Mill Pond. A 0.1-mile out-and-back spur leads to the observation tower, which CT Trail Finder also calls a fire tower.
Geology is part of the walk. Connecticut State Parks points out glacial plucking, glacial erratics, a U-shaped glacial valley and folded igneous and metamorphic rock along the main trail.
Dogs are allowed on a leash. We could not confirm wheelchair access to the falls or along the trails, so call the park if you need a step-free route.
When to visit
The park is open every day from 8am to sunset, year-round. In winter, Connecticut State Parks lists cross-country skiing, ice skating and ice fishing among the things to do.
Paper Mill Pond is a designated Trout Park, which the state stocks regularly. If you plan to fish, check CT DEEP's current fishing rules and license requirements first.
Trail status is the open question. On October 29, 2026, Connecticut State Parks listed the park as open with no alerts. CT Trail Finder still showed the trails as 'PARTIALLY OPEN,' with an undated alert: 'Trails are currently impacted and potentially closed due to recent flooding.'
We could not confirm whether the covered bridge has been repaired or whether every trail has reopened. Check with CT DEEP at (203) 264-5169 before you go. The photos on this page were taken before the 2024 flood.
For more Connecticut falls, try Wadsworth Falls in Middlefield and Middletown, with a wide fall over a basalt ledge. Kent Falls in Litchfield County is a chain of cascades about 250 feet tall.
| Trail | Two-mile trail network (CT State Parks). The Red Trail loops from near the entrance around the south of the park back to Paper Mill Pond. It has a 0.1-mi spur to the observation tower (both per CT Trail Finder) |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate (CT Trail Finder) |
| Entry fee | Free, including for out-of-state vehicles (CT State Parks, 2026). Southford Falls is not on the CT DEEP parking fee list. |
| Permit / reservation | None needed; parking is free, including for out-of-state cars |
| Parking | Free park lot on Route 188 |
| Hours / season | 8am to sunset, daily (CT State Parks) |
| Dogs | Allowed on a leash (CT State Parks) |
| Restrooms | Clivus composting restroom near the picnic shelter (CT State Parks) |
| Managed by | Connecticut DEEP, Connecticut State Parks |
Safety and swimming
We found no swimming rule for Southford Falls on the Connecticut State Parks page. Since we could not confirm the rule, watch the falls from the trails and stay off the wet rock beside the brook.
Flood damage may still affect the trails, according to CT Trail Finder. Respect any closure signs or barriers, and do not cross a damaged bridge or structure.
Please leave the factory ruins as you find them. The State Historic Preservation Office told WTNH that people were seen taking artifacts, that looting destroys archaeological resources, and that it is illegal at sites designated Archaeological Preserves. Look, but do not touch or take anything.
Keep dogs leashed, and hold on to children near the brook and Paper Mill Pond. Our waterfall safety guide has more on slick rock and fast water.
Where to stay near Southford Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Southbury.
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Photos
Southford Falls FAQ
Is there a fee at Southford Falls State Park?
No. Entry and parking are free, including for out-of-state vehicles, according to Connecticut State Parks (2026).
Is Southford Falls open after the 2024 flooding?
Partly. On October 29, 2026, Connecticut State Parks listed the park open daily from 8am to sunset with no alerts. CT Trail Finder still shows the trails as partially open after flooding, and we found no report of bridge repairs. Call (203) 264-5169 for current trail and bridge conditions.
What happened to the covered bridge at Southford Falls?
The August 2024 flood pushed the covered bridge at Southford Falls off its foundation, WTNH reported in September 2024. Work was under way to keep it from collapsing. We could not confirm its current condition.
How long are the trails at Southford Falls?
About two miles in total, according to Connecticut State Parks. The Red Trail loop includes a 0.1-mile spur to the observation tower, and CT Trail Finder rates the trails easy to moderate.
Are dogs allowed at Southford Falls?
Yes. Connecticut State Parks allows dogs at Southford Falls State Park on a leash.
What is the history of Southford Falls?
Mills used Eight Mile Brook's waterpower long before the Diamond Match Company bought the site around 1900 to make matchboxes. The state took over the site in 1927 and made it a state park in 1932.
What are the hours at Southford Falls State Park?
The park is open every day from 8am to sunset, year-round, according to Connecticut State Parks.
Is there a tower at Southford Falls?
Yes. Connecticut State Parks lists an observation tower, and CT Trail Finder says a 0.1-mile spur off the Red Trail leads to it. We could not confirm whether it is open to climb, so ask the park at (203) 264-5169.
Nearby waterfalls
Wadsworth Falls25 mi straight-lineOpen30FT
Kent Falls26 mi straight-lineOpen250FT
Bash Bish Falls48 mi straight-lineOpen60FT
Kaaterskill Falls69 mi straight-lineOpen260FT
Wahconah Falls71 mi straight-lineOpen40FT
On these lists: Dog-friendly waterfalls · Free waterfalls
Sources
- Connecticut State Parks: Southford Falls State Park
- CT DEEP: Parking and Camping Fees, CT State Parks and Forests
- CT Trail Finder: Southford Falls State Park
- WTNH: Historic flooding reveals ruins in Southbury (Braley Dodson, Sep 4, 2024)
- Wikipedia: Southford Falls State Park
Last verified Oct 29, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with Connecticut DEEP, Connecticut State Parks before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.