Hell Brook Cascades

Hell Brook Cascades are found in Smuggler's Notch in Stowe. From the center of Stowe, take Route 108 west heading into Smugglers Notch for about 9 miles. Just as the road begins to steepen, look for an unsigned parking lot on the right side adjacent to Big Spring, with Hell Brook visible almost directly across the road. Look for the Hell Brook Trail adjacent to its namesake stream. The trail climbs quickly and steeply, passing the lower parts of the falls shortly. After about five to ten minutes of climbing observe a large rock overhanging to the left of the trail with an obvious ledge path underneath - follow this ledge around the overhang for views of the largest portion of the falls (use caution if the rock is wet).Hell Brook is a tiny stream which originates high on the shoulder of Mount Mansfield and cascades down into the steep confines of Smuggler's Notch. As the stream reaches the bottom of the notch, it drops over a steep series of falls and cascades totaling about 180 feet in height, with the largest drop standing about 60 feet tall itself. As Hell Brook has a pretty small drainage and is fed mostly by snow melt and rain, it will vary in volume for much of the year depending on the amount of recent precipitation. In observing the stream along Route 108 passers by may notice the creekbed as entirely dry, any water which may be flowing is often absorbed into the rocky landscape further upstream. After periods of heavier rain though, the creek will be running with noticeable volume where it intersects the road, and this is when the falls will be at their best.