Right now
Right now as of Oct 29, 2026
- Permit No permit needed. Fee: free for CT cars; $10 to $15 out of state.
Status note (Oct 29, 2026): Open daily, 8am to sunset. CT State Parks and CT Trail Finder listed no alerts or closures on October 25, 2026. The out-of-state parking fee season ended October 31, 2026, so parking is free for all vehicles until April 1. What the status labels mean
Wadsworth Falls State Park, in Middlefield and Middletown, Connecticut, has two waterfalls. Big Falls on the Coginchaug River drops about 30 feet and Little Falls on Wadsworth Brook about 40, per Wikipedia. Big Falls is about a 3-mile round trip on the easy Orange Trail, per CT Trail Finder. Swimming is banned at Big Falls.
Connecticut cars park free; out-of-state cars pay $10 to $15 from April to October. The 2026 fee season ended October 31, so parking is now free for everyone. CT State Parks listed no alerts on October 25, 2026.
About Wadsworth Falls
Wadsworth Falls State Park has two waterfalls, Big Falls and Little Falls. At Big Falls, the Coginchaug River, about 52 feet wide, drops about 30 feet over a shelf of Hampden basalt, according to Wikipedia. CT Trail Finder gives about 20 feet instead, and CT DEEP publishes no height.
Little Falls is the taller of the two. Wikipedia says Wadsworth Brook descends about 40 feet over Portland arkose, a type of sandstone. Little Falls sits on a different trail from Big Falls, so decide which one you want to see before you set out.
Connecticut State Parks says the park's rocks are about 200 million years old, among the youngest in the state. They formed as the supercontinent Pangea broke apart, when three lava flows, the Hampden Basalt, filled the valley.
The park is named for Colonel Clarence S. Wadsworth (1871 to 1941). After his death, his Rockfall Corporation gave 267 acres of his Long Hill estate to Connecticut, and it became a state park in 1942, Wikipedia says. The Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill is next door, about half a mile away on the purple-blazed trail.
Getting there and parking
The main entrance and beach lot are at 721 Wadsworth Street (Route 157), Middlefield/Middletown, CT 06457, according to Connecticut State Parks. The park phone is (860) 345-8521.
What you pay depends on your plates. Connecticut-registered vehicles park free all year under the Passport to the Parks program. Out-of-state vehicles pay $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends and holidays, from April 1 to October 31 (CT DEEP, 2026).
You can pay online through Reserve America, which adds a $2 reservation fee. You can also pay at a staffed booth when one is open, or by phone at 1-877-668-2267. Whichever way you pay, it's due by 10pm on the day of your visit. CT DEEP says unpaid parking can bring a $75 infraction. We found no timed-entry ticket for the park.
If you visit Connecticut parks often, the 2026 out-of-state season pass costs $112, plus $2.50 shipping if bought online. It covers one vehicle for calendar year 2026. Buses seating 30 or more need a bus permit.
CT Trail Finder routes walkers to Big Falls along Cherry Hill Road. We could not confirm parking rules or lot size on that road from an agency source, so the main entrance is the documented place to start.
Our guide to waterfalls in Connecticut compares parking at Kent, Wadsworth and Southford.
Map and nearby falls
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The hike
Big Falls is about 3 miles round trip from the main area on the wide, easy Orange (Main) Trail, per CT Trail Finder. The trail runs about 1.5 miles one way to Cherry Hill Road. There you turn right, walk along the road and cross active train tracks to the falls.
The park has 4.5 miles of hiking and biking trails, Connecticut State Parks says. CT Trail Finder rates the network from easy to advanced, depending on the trail.
Little Falls is on the Blue trail. CT Trail Finder rates it advanced because it drops into a ravine. Expect a descent into the ravine, and wear shoes with good grip.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the trails and grounds, but not on the beach. For accessibility, the park offers all-terrain wheelchairs by advance reservation. We found no documented accessible route to either waterfall.
When to visit
The park is open daily from 8am to sunset, year-round. CT DEEP collects the out-of-state parking fee only from April 1 to October 31. The 2026 fee season has ended, so parking is free for all vehicles until April 1.
In summer, Connecticut State Parks posts a weekly water-quality report for the designated swimming area, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Check it before you swim there.
We found no official guidance on the best month for flow or on typical crowds. As of October 25, 2026, Connecticut State Parks and CT Trail Finder listed no alerts or closures for the park.
Two other Connecticut falls are on this site. Kent Falls in Litchfield County drops about 250 feet through a series of cascades. Southford Falls in Southbury and Oxford has free parking, even for out-of-state cars, but check its trail status after the 2024 flood before you go.
| Height | 30 ftNote: Big Falls, per Wikipedia, which gives about 40 ft for Little Falls; CT Trail Finder says Big Falls is about 20 ft, and CT DEEP gives no heights |
|---|---|
| Trail | Easy Orange (Main) Trail about 1.5 mi one way from the main park area to Cherry Hill Rd, then across active train tracks to Big Falls. That is about 3 mi round trip. The Blue trail to Little Falls is rated advanced (CT Trail Finder) |
| Difficulty | Easy on the Orange Trail to Big Falls; advanced on the Blue trail to Little Falls (CT Trail Finder) |
| Entry fee | Free for Connecticut-registered vehicles. Out-of-state vehicles pay $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends and holidays, April 1 to October 31 (CT DEEP, 2026). The 2026 fee season has ended, so parking is free for all vehicles until April 1. |
| Permit / reservation | No permit; out-of-state parking fee April 1 to October 31 |
| Parking | Main lot on Route 157; out-of-state fee April to October |
| Hours / season | 8am to sunset, daily (CT State Parks) |
| Dogs | Allowed on a leash on trails and grounds; not allowed on the beach (CT State Parks) |
| Swimming | Not at Big Falls: CT State Parks prohibits swimming and picnicking there. Swimming is allowed only at the designated swimming area. |
| Wheelchair / stroller | All-terrain wheelchairs can be reserved in advance (CT State Parks). We found no documented accessible route to either fall. |
| Restrooms | Yes (listed park amenity, CT State Parks) |
| Managed by | Connecticut DEEP, Connecticut State Parks |
Safety and swimming
Swimming and picnicking are prohibited at Big Falls, according to Connecticut State Parks, which says the area is meant for short visits to view the falls. Swim only at the park's designated swimming area.
The Orange Trail route to Big Falls crosses active train tracks and follows Cherry Hill Road. Stop, look and listen for trains before you cross, and keep children and dogs close on the road.
The Blue trail to Little Falls drops into a ravine, so take it slowly on wet or icy days. Alcohol is banned in the park. Our waterfall safety guide has more on slick rock and cold water.
Where to stay near Wadsworth Falls
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Photos
Wadsworth Falls FAQ
Can you swim at Wadsworth Falls?
No, not at Big Falls. Connecticut State Parks prohibits swimming and picnicking there. Swimming is allowed only at the park's designated swimming area, which has a weekly water-quality report from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Is Wadsworth Falls State Park free?
Right now, yes: the out-of-state fee season ended October 31, 2026, so all vehicles park free until April 1. Connecticut-registered cars are free all year. From April 1 to October 31, out-of-state cars pay $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends and holidays (CT DEEP, 2026). Pay through Reserve America (plus a $2 reservation fee), at a booth, or by phone at 1-877-668-2267, by 10pm on the day of your visit. The 2026 out-of-state season pass is $112.
How tall are Wadsworth's Big Falls and Little Falls?
Big Falls drops about 30 feet over basalt and Little Falls about 40 feet over sandstone, per Wikipedia. CT Trail Finder gives about 20 feet for Big Falls, and CT DEEP gives no heights.
How do you get to Big Falls at Wadsworth Falls State Park?
About 1.5 miles one way on the easy Orange Trail, from the main entrance on Route 157 to Cherry Hill Road, per CT Trail Finder. From there you walk along the road and cross the train tracks to the falls.
Are dogs allowed at Wadsworth Falls?
Yes, on a leash on the trails and grounds, but not on the beach, according to Connecticut State Parks.
Where do you park for Wadsworth Falls?
The main entrance and beach lot are at 721 Wadsworth Street (Route 157), Middlefield/Middletown, CT 06457, according to Connecticut State Parks. A CT DEEP fishing map lists a 'Wadsworth Falls, Cherry Hill Rd., Middlefield' access point, according to a search excerpt we read. We could not confirm the lot's size or parking rules from an agency source.
How long is the hike to Wadsworth Falls?
About 3 miles round trip to Big Falls on the easy Orange (Main) Trail, per CT Trail Finder. The park has 4.5 miles of trails in all, Connecticut State Parks says. Little Falls is on the Blue trail, which CT Trail Finder rates advanced because it drops into a ravine.
What are the hours at Wadsworth Falls State Park?
The park is open daily from 8am to sunset, year-round, according to Connecticut State Parks.
Nearby waterfalls
Southford Falls25 mi straight-lineUnconfirmed
Kent Falls41 mi straight-lineOpen250FT
Bash Bish Falls58 mi straight-lineOpen60FT
Wahconah Falls70 mi straight-lineOpen40FT
On these lists: Dog-friendly waterfalls
Sources
Some facts credited to the CT DEEP come from search-result excerpts of its official pages. Confirm fees and rules on the official site.
- Connecticut State Parks: Wadsworth Falls State Park
- CT DEEP: Parking and Camping Fees, CT State Parks and Forests
- CT DEEP: DEEP prepares for spring season at state parks (Apr 2026)
- CT DEEP: Waterfalls (Explore CT State Parks)
- CT Trail Finder: Wadsworth Falls State Park
- Wikipedia: Wadsworth 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.