Photos
Description
Westfield Falls
Middletown Town Park
4 acres in Middletown, CT
Parking: Shoulder parking near 267 Miner St Middletown, CT
Trail Map Trails: 0.3 miles Rating: ★★★☆☆
Nature and civilization clash at Westfield Falls. What should be a secluded gem is bordered by I-91, a manufacturing plant, and a golf course. The trap rock surroundings are riddled with graffiti and the paths are littered with trash.
Thankfully all it takes is a bit of narrowed focus to appreciate this waterfall. Split into two (or sometimes 3) sections Fall Brook descends at strange angles to a horsetail on the left and a plunge on the right. The two rejoin downstream which creates a great area to wander and explore. The established paths are to the top and bottom of the falls, which seems to be enough for most.
There isn’t a lot of hope for what should be a charming gorge. It is drowned out by traffic and hemmed in on all sides and unmaintained. Despite this, it’s still highly recommended by everyone who visits, but I think all would agree we haven’t done it justice.
History:
A banded water snake specimen was collected here for the Smithsonian in 1876 by a J.H. Pillsbury.
View of the Falls and Gorge from The Connecticut Quarterly 1896
Links:
New England Waterfalls – Westfield Falls
Peter Marteka – Falling for Some Frozen Winter Waterfalls (2015)
CTMQ – Westfield Falls (2012)
“Connecticut Waterfalls: a Guide.” Connecticut Waterfalls: a Guide, by Russell Dunn and Christy Butler, Countryman Press, 2013, p. 135.
The Connecticut Quarterly. The Ancient Lavas of Connecticut. United States, Connecticut Quarterly Company, 1896. p. 318.
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Last updated August 14th, 2017
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