Middle Dunn Falls in September 2010

Middle Dunn Falls is not a particularly large waterfall, so I’ll just mention it briefly. As you’re hiking along the trail to see a number of falls, you’ll first come along Lower Dunn Falls, which is actually one of the more scenic and impressive falls that I saw along the hike (and in Maine in general). Above Lower Dunn Falls is this smaller waterfall that was more interesting than Upper Dunn Falls, which is tall, but not that scenic. Just a pretty little waterfall sandwiched between two other larger ones…

Directions:

1. From the junction of ME-120 and ME-5 in Andover, head west on Newton Street (aka East B Hill Rd. or Upton Hill Rd.). It’s not very clearly marked.
2. Head west for a little over 8 miles to a “parking area” on your right. It’s a clearing with about enough space for 3 cars, though the road is quiet enough that you could pull off on the side. There is a sign indicating the Appalachian Trail on both sides of the road, but again, they’re not obvious, so you’ll have to probably get out and look around.
3. Cross the street and head about 200 feet east, where you’ll find the beginning of the trail. A sign should indicate that this is a portion of the Appalachian Trail. There will be while blazes indicating the trail.
4. After about 150 feet downward, you’ll come to a fork in the trail. If you head right, you’ll continue on the Appalachian Trail. If you head left, you’ll see blue blazes and a sign indicating the Cascade Trail. When I was there, the tree with the sign on it had fallen down, so you’ll have to look carefully. Choose the second path. You have not crossed any brook yet.
5. Follow the trail for about 1/2 of a mile, where you’ll clearly have to cross the brook. (There are moments before that where it will seem like you should cross the stream, but don’t. This is the first time where you will see the blue blazes on the other side of the stream.)
6. After about another 1/4 of a mile, you cross a second brook.
7. After a very short distance, you’ll come to another fork. You can either head uphill or veer to the right. Veer to the right to see the falls. You’ll have to rock-jump for part of the ways to get to the falls, which are not all that obvious until you get rather close to the falls.
8. If you return to the original trail and head uphill, you can also access Upper Dunn Falls. To return to the car, you can either follow the Appalachian Trail or return the way you came. I took the Appalachian Trail, and REALLY wish I hadn’t! There are no great views and at points it’s a tedious uphill climb. If you return by the Cascade Trail, you might see something you missed, and it’s a much easier return.

Accessibility: 6/10 (moderate)
Height: 15′
Length of Hike: 2 miles round-trip

Where in the World is Middle Dunn Falls?