Circle Current

Turn east on Lincoln Gap Road from Rt. 116 a mile north of the village of Bristol. The slabs that form Circle Current are clearly visible on the right side of the road about 3/10 mile from Rt. 116. There is a large dirt turnout just above the start of the falls.The New Haven River descends from a broad valley on the western slope of the Green Mountains. As it passes through the deep valley between Lincoln and Bristol, it steepens considerably in pitch. While much of the length is a boulder garden, there are two waterfall formations along this stretch of river: Bartlett Falls and Circle Current, a short distance upriver. Circle Current is formed where the New Haven River slides over three tilted ledges of the Cambrian era Cheshire Quartzite and Forestdale Marble formations. The result is a series of slides and angular pools that lose between 15 and 20 feet in height over a linear distance of about 200 feet.