Campbell Falls State Park
102 acres in Norfolk, CT
Parking: Small lot near 117 Old Spaulding Rd, Norfolk, CT
Trail Map. Trails: 0.54 miles Rating: ★★★★☆
Campbell Falls is one of Connecticut’s ‘scenic reserve‘ state parks meaning it doesn’t get quite the attention it should. A short hike to a great waterfall, which both Peter Marteka and Steve at CTMQ have listed as their favorite waterfall at one point or another.
Hiking
A lone out and back trail is all the park has to offer. Starting from the park entrance on Tobey Hill Rd. It is less than a mile round trip and is fairly flat and easy except for the brief slope down to the waterfall. The trail crosses an unnamed creek on a nice wooden bridge and curves through old pine forest which had green ferns despite it being December.
The trail comes within earshot of of Ginger Creek and you can catch glimpses of it before reaching the gravel Campbell Falls Rd. There is a small parking area next to a stone pillar marking the border of CT and Mass. The trail heads back down into the woods on a wide path. Another border marker on the slope shows where you re-enter Massachusetts and you get your first view of the roaring falls.
The trails here could and should be expanded to really showcase the area’s beauty.
The falls are near the confluence of the Whiting River and have a zig zagging double drop of over 60ft. The falls are roaring loud as they pass through a tight gorge. On my visit in December the entire area was coated in ice and spray was freezing on my camera lens as I tried to photograph the falls. I look forward to visiting again in the summer to climb to the top of the falls.
History:
Donated by the White Memorial Foundation to become a park in 1923, the two states work together to preserve the surrounding land.
Links:
- The Geology of Campbell Falls State Park Reserve
- Waterfalls of New England – Campbell Falls
- Peter Marteka – Campbell Falls Is The New King Of The Waterfalls (2014)
- CTMQ – Campbell Falls (2010 & 2014)
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Last updated December 16, 2019
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