Lye Brook Falls

Lye Brook Falls is one of Vermont's tallest waterfalls at 125 feet, a slender ribbon of water that cascades down a sheer cliff face deep within the 15,680-acre Lye Brook Wilderness in the Green Mountain National Forest. The falls are fed by Lye Brook as it pours over a ledge of ancient metamorphic rock, creating a narrow, elegant plunge that fans slightly as it reaches the mossy boulders at the base. The remote wilderness setting adds a sense of discovery that makes reaching the falls feel like a genuine backcountry achievement.

The Lye Brook Falls Trail covers 4.5 miles round trip with about 925 feet of elevation gain, making it a moderate but rewarding hike. The trail begins on an old logging road before transitioning to a narrower footpath marked with blue blazes. At about 1.8 miles, the trail curves right onto the Lye Brook Falls spur, following the brook upstream through a mixed hardwood and conifer forest. The final approach offers increasingly exciting glimpses of the falls through the trees before the dramatic reveal at the base.

Late spring through early summer provides the best water flow, as the falls rely heavily on snowmelt and rain. By late summer, the falls can thin to a trickle during dry spells. Fall foliage in early October is spectacular along the trail. The trailhead is conveniently located just outside Manchester, one of Vermont's premier resort and shopping destinations, making it easy to combine outdoor adventure with village exploration.