West River Trail Cascades Hike
Waterfall · about 12 ft high | Vermont
3 mi round trip
75 ft
Easy
West River Trail Cascades Hike at a Glance
The West River Trail Cascades hike via the West River Trail is 3 mi round trip with 75 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 12 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 910 ft |
| Trail | West River Trail |
| Distance | 3 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 75 ft |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Your time: about 1 h of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 1 h 20 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 590 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 3 mi distance and 75 ft of gain for this hike are verified (newenglandwaterfalls.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About West River Trail Cascades
West River Trail Cascades is a waterfall in Vermont, about 12 feet high, on land managed by Jamaica State Park (Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks & Recreation). Its height is from newenglandwaterfalls.com.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the West River Trail: 3 miles round trip with about 75 feet of elevation gain, from Jamaica State Park day use parking area. Distance from newenglandwaterfalls.com. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Easy.
Before You Go
- Day-use fees apply at Jamaica State Park. (vtstateparks.com)
- Pets are permitted throughout the park but not at the Salmon Hole swimming area. (vtstateparks.com)
- A short bushwhack is required for the best views of the falls. (newenglandwaterfalls.com)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Jamaica State Park (Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks & Recreation) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to West River Trail Cascades?
The West River Trail to West River Trail Cascades is 3 miles round trip with about 75 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the West River Trail Cascades hike start?
It starts from Jamaica State Park day use parking area.
How tall is West River Trail Cascades?
West River Trail Cascades is about 12 feet high.
Is there a fee to hike to West River Trail Cascades?
Day-use fees apply at Jamaica State Park.
Are dogs allowed on the West River Trail Cascades trail?
Pets are permitted throughout the park but not at the Salmon Hole swimming area.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The West River Trail Cascades Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- newenglandwaterfalls.com
- Distance
- newenglandwaterfalls.com
- Falls height
- newenglandwaterfalls.com
- Falls location
- newenglandwaterfalls.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of West River Trail Cascades.