New England Waterfalls

COWYARD FALLS


Willimantic, Maine



RATING: 3.0 / 5.0 stars (Great) Cowyard Falls, Maine (see below for larger image and additional photographs)
STATE: Maine
COUNTY: Piscataquis
TOWN: Willimantic
PARK: None
PRIVATE PROPERTY: Yes (a sign on the road to the falls stated this was owned by "Cumberlands Operating Company, LTD" but a Google search indicates nothing about this company; irregardless, the general public currently appears welcome here)
TYPE: Cascades
HEIGHT: 10 feet
WATER SOURCE: Ship Pond Stream
WATERSHED SIZE: Medium
TRAIL LENGTH: Less than 0.1 mile
TRAIL DIFFICULTY: Easy side of moderate
HIKING TIME: Negligible
ALTITUDE GAIN: Down 20 feet
WHEN TO VISIT: May to October
SWIMMING: Poor
DELORME ATLAS: 2015: Page 41, E-5 (the falls are not marked on the ME atlas)
HANDICAP ACCESS: Yes (the falls are visible by looking downstream from the bridge)
DOGS ALLOWED: Yes
COST TO VISIT: Free (as of 2017)
LENS TO BRING: Wide-angle (14-35mm) and/or standard (35-70mm)
ALTERNATE NAMES: None noted
GPS-TRAILHEAD: 45.331667, -69.336333
GPS-WATERFALL: 45.331640, -69.335965
COMPASS: 0° excluding declination (the falls face south)
INCLUDED IN BOOK?: No, the falls are not currently included within the guidebook
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THE FALLS

Coming soon...

TRAIL INFORMATION

From the parking area, cross the bridge on foot and turn right to follow a rough path that descends on the east side of the brook. In less than 100 feet, you'll reach the base of the falls. The trail is often slightly overgrown, but the falls are only 20 feet downstream of the bridge, so it's pretty much impossible to get lost.

There are a few 3-4 foot cascades with small pools that can be seen by bushwhacking 0.1 mile downstream of the main falls. The bushwhack is slightly easier on the opposite (west) side of the stream. There are no trails or herd paths but the bushwhack isn't terribly difficult.

Based on Google Maps images, it also appears that there is a small waterfall 0.4 mile upstream as well. A bushwhack is almost certainly required for these falls as well.

DIRECTIONS

From the junction of ME 150, ME 16, ME 6, and ME 15 in Guilford, take ME 150 north. Drive 12.8 miles on ME 150 north and turn left onto Airport Rd (marked as Earley S Camp Rd and Ship Pond Stream Rd on some maps). After driving 100 feet north on Airport Rd, you will cross a bridge over Big Wilson Stream. As you cross the bridge, look to your left and you will see Earley Landing Falls about 300 feet upstream. Views of those falls are limited to those from the bridge. To continue to Cowyard Falls, continue driving on Airport Rd (ignoring all private property signs, as they are not applicable to the road itself) and cross over an airport runway in 0.1 mile. Continue straight after the runway and you will reach a fork 0.3 mile later. From this fork, continue straight onto Ship Pond Stream Rd as Green Point Rd heads right. Follow Ship Pond Stream Rd for 0.6 mile and you will reach a junction. Continue straight for 1.3 miles further and park in a pull-off on the left just before crossing a bridge over Ship Pond Stream.

Take note that the dirt roads that leads to Cowyard Falls are rough and often have puddles. This is a private road with the public currently allowed to travel on. SUVs and trucks should be OK driving this road under normal conditions, but low clearance vehicles are not suitable.

To get to Guilford, take ME 150 north from Skowhegan or ME 15 north from Bangor or Dover-Foxcroft.

UPDATES SINCE THE 2ND EDITION

NONE NOTED.

If you know of any updates to this waterfall, or notice any errors either on this website and/or within the New England Waterfalls guidebook, please send me an email at gparsons66@hotmail.com or leave a Facebook comment at the bottom of this page. Updates to all of the waterfalls in the latest edition of the guidebook can always be found here: book updates

OPTIONAL HIKES

None noted.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Cowyard Falls, Maine
Cowyard Falls, Maine

Cowyard Falls, Maine
Cowyard Falls, Maine

Cowyard Falls, Maine
Cowyard Falls, Maine

Cowyard Falls, Maine
Cowyard Falls, Maine

Cowyard Falls, Maine
Cowyard Falls, Maine

Cowyard Falls, Maine
typical dirt road conditions on the way to the trailhead for Cowyard Falls

Cowyard Falls, Maine
en route to the trailhead to Cowyard Falls, you must drive across an airstrip

INTERESTED IN VISITING MORE WATERFALLS IN NEW ENGLAND?

The 3rd edition of the New England Waterfalls guidebook contains 552-pages of detailed information on hundreds of waterfalls throughout all corners of New England. This 3rd edition has been completely updated and it is the first to be printed in FULL COLOR! Click on the image below to explore some sample pages of the guidebook on Amazon.com.



New England Waterfalls guidebook

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TIPS FOR VISITING WATERFALLS & SWIMMING HOLES

Here are some tips to help ensure that your trip to New England's waterfalls and swimming holes will be a safe and enjoyable one:
  • DON'T FORGET THE ESSENTIALS - When you visit waterfalls, you should consider bringing all of the following: (a) bug spray; (b) food/snacks; (c) water/sports drinks; (d) camera/smart-phone; (e) guidebook/trail map; (f) daypack/backpack; and (g) hiking shoes, hiking boots or watershoes. A full day hiking packing list can be found here.
  • CONSIDER BUYING WATER SHOES - You won't see too many people using them, but watershoes are fantastic pieces of equipment that can make your trip to waterfalls and swimming holes safer and more enjoyable. Merrill and Keen make some fantastic watershoes (here are some great ones from Merrill: womens / mens).
  • LEAVE NO TRACE - When you visit waterfalls and swimming holes, you'll often see some trash and sometimes you'll even find clothing left behind by others. It's really, really sad, and it irks the heck out of us. Won't you consider carrying out some of trash and clothing left by others when you leave? That would leave the spot more beautiful for the next person. Bring a trash bag and be a hero!
  • PRIVATE PROPERTY - Many waterfalls and swimming holes are located on private property and so we are truly fortunate that many landowners allow us to enjoy them. If you want to ensure that they stay open to the public, please do your best to leave no trace. If you see a sign that says 'Private Property', turn around and find another waterfall to visit or a different place to swim.
  • BRING A DSLR CAMERA AND TRIPOD WITH YOU - If you want to take high-quality photographs of waterfalls, your smart-phone just won't cut it. Get a DSLR camera, a tripod, and learn to master the art of waterfall photography.
  • SCOUT FIRST, SWIM SECOND - Never enter a swimming hole without first scouting it, even if you see somebody else swimming in it. Stop and access the risks based upon the depth of water, the power of the current, evidence of slippery rocks, and other safety factors.
  • CLIFF JUMPING - Cliff jumping is dangerous. Like, seriously dangerous. Understand the risks before you partake in this activity. Many have died from doing this in New England. Here is a list of all known deaths at waterfalls and swimming holes in New England.
  • PLEASE DON'T BUILD ROCK CAIRNS - Please do not build new rock cairns at waterfalls or swimming holes. Cairns are a strong reminder of human presence, and don't we all want to see waterfalls in their natural state and glory? Photographers get particularly annoyed at seeing cairns, so please resist the urge to build them.
  • DON'T RELY ON YOUR GPS TO GET YOU TO THE TRAILHEAD - Waterfalls don't have addresses, so relying on your GPS to get you to a trailhead is great way to get yourself lost. You need a guidebook, a road atlas, and/or a hiking map to visit the vast majority of waterfalls in New England. Also keep in mind that waterfalls are often located in wild areas, where smart-phone map apps and car GPS units may not work at all.
  • WATERFALLS IN SPRING - The best time to visit waterfalls is generally in the spring during the annual snowmelt (which is April to June). However, most waterfalls will often look great for several days after a significant rain storm.
  • HELP KEEP THE ULTRA-SECRET SWIMMING HOLES A SECRET (FOREVER) - If you find some ultra-secret swimming holes, please do your best to keep them a secret. Do not post their locations online or wildly share directions or photos with others. All of the swimming holes that are included in the guidebook and online through this website are the well-known swimming spots. There are many more holes that are much further off the beaten path, but they deserve a chance to stay wild and pristine.
  • DON'T SCRAMBLE UP WATERFALLS - So many people been seriously injured and killed in the waterfalls of New England. Many of these folks got too close to a waterfall and slipped and fell. Don't become a statistic: stay far back from the edge.
  • WEAR TRACTION IF YOU VISIT WATERFALLS IN WINTER - Visiting waterfalls in winter can be rewarding, but there is often a higher element of danger. You may need crampons, snowshoes, and/or some other form of traction (like Microspikes) in order to safely hike to waterfalls in winter.
  • SUPPORT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONSERVE WATERFALLS & SWIMMING HOLES - There are some organizations in New England that work diligently to conserve and maintain waterfalls and swimming holes. Please consider supporting these organizations, either with their trail maintenance projects or with monetary donations. Here are three excellent organizations engaged in this extremely important mission: the Trustees of Reservations, the Vermont River Conservancy and the Nature Conservancy.

HELPFUL LINKS

Here are some helpful links to help you explore and enjoy more waterfalls and hikes throughout New England:
  • Waterfalls of Connecticut = link
  • Waterfalls of Maine = link
  • Waterfalls of Massachusetts = link
  • Waterfalls of New Hampshire = link
  • Waterfalls of Rhode Island = link
  • Waterfalls of Vermont = link
  • Best Waterfalls in New England = link
  • Best Swimming Holes in New England = link
  • Top 25 Day Hikes in New England = link
  • Top 25 Family-Friendly Day Hikes in New England = link
  • Waterfalls Near Boston, Massachusetts = link
  • Waterfalls Near Lincoln, New Hampshire = link
  • Waterfalls Near North Conway, New Hampshire = link
  • Waterfalls Near Stowe, Vermont = link
  • Waterfall Photography Tips = link

OTHER WATERFALL GUIDEBOOKS

In addition to the New England Waterfalls guidebook, there are several other guidebooks that can help you find waterfalls and swimming holes in this region:
  • Connecticut Waterfalls (1st Edition: 2014) = link
  • Hiking Waterfalls in New England: A Guide to the Region's Best Waterfall Hikes (2nd Edition: 2022) = link
  • Hiking Waterfalls Maine: A Guide to the State's Best Waterfall Hikes (1st Edition: 2020) = link
  • Vermont Waterfalls (1st Edition: 2015) = link
  • Waterfalls of the White Mountains: 30 Hikes to 100 Waterfalls (3rd Edition: 2019) = link

WATERFALLS ON FACEBOOK

Join the growing communities of waterfall aficionados on Facebook! You can share your photographs, follow the adventures of other waterfall hunters, and find new places to explore:

  • Request to join the "New England Waterfalls" community > link
  • Request to join the "New Hampshire Waterfalls" community > link
  • Request to join the "Northeastern Waterfalls" community > link
  • Request to join the "Vermont Waterfalls" community > link
  • Request to join the "Waterfalls of the United States" community > link

And if you'd like to follow the New England Waterfalls page on Facebook, click here.

ASK A QUESTION / LEAVE A COMMENT / PROVIDE AN UPDATE:

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Waterfalls, swimming holes, and hiking can be extremely dangerous. Hundreds of people have been injured or killed in the waterfalls and swimming holes of New England over the years. Never swim in strong water currents. Don't jump into a swimming hole without scouting it first. Do not climb up or along the side of waterfalls. Be wary of slippery rocks. Never swim in pools above waterfalls. Use of this website and all of its information is at your own risk! Newenglandwaterfalls.com will not be held liable for your actions. Be safe out there - and always use common sense!

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