Lye Brook Falls

Lye Brook Falls is accessed via the Lye Brook Trail in Manchester. Take US Highway 7 to the interchange with VT 11 / 30 in Manchester and exit. Proceed west on Route 11 / 30 into town for just under one mile, then turn left onto Richville Road, then turn left onto E Manchester Road in another four-tenths of a mile. Cross under Highway 7 and then turn right onto Glen Road and follow it to the trailhead at its end in another half mile.Lye Brook Falls is a tall but low volume waterfall which occurs along an unnamed tributary to Lye Brook as it tumbles steeply down the side of Lye Brook Hollow. The falls drop over an exposed cliff of stratified bedrock composed of hundreds of prominent layers which jut outward one after the other. This gives the falls a very distinct fountain-like appearance as it tumbles down dozens upon dozens of tiny shelves.
The entire waterfall cannot be seen from the base due to the steepness of the cliffs surrounding the area. The visible portion of the falls measures 219 feet, which thus far makes it the tallest measured waterfall in Vermont – the only falls known to be taller are seasonal Smuggler’s Falls in Smuggler’s Notch, and the ephemeral Bristol Cliffs Falls in Bristol. Topographic maps suggest Lye Brook Falls may be as much as 300 feet tall in all, however achieving an accurate measurement to confirm such would require considerably more extensive (and difficult) surveying on foot than the established trail to the falls allows.
The stream which produces Lye Brook Falls drains from a very small area, measuring a scant 0.37 square miles in size, give or take. Despite this, the falls do seem to retain at least a somewhat consistent though quite insignificant flow throughout the year. The falls will naturally appear best after prolonged rain or during the spring snow melt season, but do generally flow well until around mid-June in most years. It is possible that after a protracted period of drought it may run entirely dry as well, but this seem to be a fairly uncommon occurrence – the hike however may not be worth the effort later in the summer without storms to replenish the stream.The falls were at one time referred to as Trestle Cascade, owing to the fact that an old logging railroad trestle crossed the ravine below the falls. The bridge likely at one time provided the best view of the falls ever available.