The waterfall at Orris Falls Conservation Area in South Berwick, Maine, might not be the most interesting part of the hike. You'll have to let us know!
NOTE: This is not to be confused with Orin Falls in Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument, 270 miles away in Penobscot County.
Waterfall Details
Type of waterfall: Plunge and cascades
Height: 12 feet
Active season: April through November
Trail length: 1.4 round trip
Trail Difficulty: Easy
Leash rules: Off-leash under voice control or on a leash
All trails of Orris Falls Conservation Area lead to the waterfall that carves its way through an ancient collapsed volcano. In full transparency, the waterfall doesn't have a great view without taking some life-risking steps and violating the rules of a conservation area. It's not the most impressive waterfall in Maine, either. You will be able to look down the 12-foot gorge to see the cascading steps of the waterfall.
This area also has the foundations of several homesteads on site, with a balancing rock dropped by when the glaciers of the Ice Age receded and a summit view on top of "Big Bump."Â Here's a map to help you get a lay of the land.
Even if you hike each trail here, you'll still have a hike that's under four miles long. You'll see wetlands, vernal pools and what's left of a colonial road that is now your hiking trail.
Waterfall Safety
There is absolutely no reason you should be close enough to this waterfall to endure its risks. Conserved land is planned out to keep people on the trails and off the rest of the area. The best view of the water is from the top, anyway, as you get to see the path that carved out this gorgeous gorge.
Steep 12-foot-long slopes, vertical in some spots, go from near the trail to the bottom. It would be easy to slip down this, especially when it's wet or icy.
Dogs can be off-leash here, but they aren't allowed to leave the trail either. Yes, that also protects the conserved land, but your dog would also come out with ticks. Keep them on a leash if they don't heel. Do a full body scan of you and your pet afterward to check for ticks. Remove any attached immediately.
Parking at Waterfall
Parking is free, and there are two lots to choose from, with the Emerys Bridge Road being the largest. The one on Thurrell Road has room for just three cars.
Waterfall Dog-Friendly Rating: C
