Kent Falls State Park
State park · Connecticut
Connecticut's tallest waterfall drops 250 feet in a series of cascades over exposed bedrock, visible in full from a switchbacking trail that climbs alongside it, framed each October by the Litchfield Hills' turning oak and maple.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 17–October 21
Color builds from October 4 · mostly bare by November 10
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Kent Falls State Park’s own coordinates and elevation (127 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
Kent Falls State Park on the map
More things to do in Connecticut
Gillette Castle State Park
State parkPeak October 24
Actor William Gillette, famous for playing Sherlock Holmes on stage, built this 24-room fieldstone castle above the Connecticut River in 1919, complete with hand-carved oak doors and a former narrow-gauge railroad grade, now trails through river-valley foliage.
Don’t miss: 1919 fieldstone castle with hand-built oak doors · Overlook of the Connecticut River valley · Grounds include former private railroad grade
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
Scenic railwayColor nearby peaks October 26
A vintage steam locomotive pulls 1920s coaches from Essex through the lower Connecticut River valley, connecting at Deep River Landing to a riverboat cruise past Gillette Castle and the Goodspeed Opera House, a fall-foliage combination running since 1971.
Don’t miss: Vintage steam locomotive and 1920s coaches · Connecting riverboat cruise on the Connecticut River · Passes below Gillette Castle
B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill
Cider millColor nearby peaks October 25
The last steam-powered cider mill in the United States has pressed apples in Old Mystic since 1881, its 19th-century belt-driven press still running each fall. The mill sells sweet and hard cider, cider doughnuts, and pumpkins from a National Historic Landmark barn.
Don’t miss: Only surviving steam-powered cider mill in the US · National Historic Landmark, operating since 1881 · Cider-pressing demonstrations
Bull's Bridge
Covered bridgeColor nearby peaks October 20
One of only two Connecticut covered bridges still open to cars, this 1842 span crosses the Housatonic River in Kent beside a churning gorge that George Washington is said to have nearly ridden into. It's postcard-pretty against fall color on the Appalachian Trail corridor.
Don’t miss: One of two drivable covered bridges left in Connecticut · Housatonic River gorge and rapids · Near the Appalachian Trail crossing
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When does Kent Falls State Park peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 17–October 21 (best estimate October 19). Color starts around October 4 and is mostly bare by November 10.
- What is Kent Falls State Park best for?
- Litchfield Hills' signature waterfall.
- How do I get to Kent Falls State Park?
- The closest city is Hartford, about 39 mi away. It's part of Connecticut's fall lineup.
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