South Branch Falls Trail

Trail Overview

Quick hike down to the pools and cascades of South Branch Falls.
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Trail Activity
Walking Hiking
Length
1.00 mile, Round Trip
Difficulty
Easy, Moderate
Town
T5 R9 WELS
Surface
Dirt/Forest Floor, Rock/Ledge
Pets
Not Permitted
Fees
Yes
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Description

South Branch Falls Trail leads a short ways from the South Branch Pond Road to a beautiful set of falls on South Branch Pond Brook.

The trail begins to descend gradually through poplar and birch to the edge of a deep ravine in which South Branch Pond Brook is located. Entering this ravine, the trail drops steeply to a series of ledges. The falls are directly below and are formed by water shooting through several clefts in the ledges. Below the second fall there is a large pool excellent for a refreshing mountain stream swim.

The trail is blue-blazed.

Other Information

There are a number of very interesting geological features along South Branch Pond Brook. The booklet, The Geology of Baxter State Park and Katahdin, by Dabney W. Caldwell, may be consulted for a description of these features.

Trail Manager

This trail is within Baxter State Park. For more information and detailed trail maps, please visit Baxter State Park Authority's website.

Baxter State Park Authority

Baxter State Park Authority
64 Balsam Drive
Millinocket, ME 04462
Phone: (207) 723-5140
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Nearby Events

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Trail Tips

Minimize Campfire Impacts
Keep campfires small and contained to established fire rings in permitted sites only.
Legend
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Trailhead Information

From Patten: leave ME-11 and turn left on ME-159/Shin Pond Road. Continue for 26 miles on this road to the Matagamon Gatehouse. Continue 7 miles on the Park Tote Road past the gatehouse and then turn left towards South Branch Pond. The South Branch Falls Trailhead is located at a small parking area on the west side of the South Branch Pond Road, 1.3 miles south of the junction with the Park Tote Road or 1 mile north of South Branch Pond Campground.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
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mainetraildescriber
August 19, 2018
Better suited to those with limited time and energy than to more vigorous hikers. 45-60 minutes (for round trip and to enjoy the view) and modest effort are needed. The destination is water flowing through a chute carved in bedrock. The chute illustrates water's carving powers, and how bedrock influences stream beds. The water flow is less impressive from mid-summer through autumn than during spring and early summer.
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