Tilton River Falls

Located between Elbe and Morton along Highway 7. From US 12 in Morton, drive north on Highway 7 for about 6 ½ miles to a turnout on the right, just before the upper portion of the falls can be glimpsed in the canyon below. Alternatively, drive about 11 miles south of Elbe to the site. Watch your odometer, because it's easy to pass without noticing the canyon. There are really rough paths in portions of the canyon, but navigation isn't difficult. The best part of the falls is the upper section (pictured above), which is most easily seen from just off the road anyway, so not much effort is needed to view the falls.The Tilton River drainage is not known for its waterfalls, though considering the density in other nearby areas, it would logically follow that there would be at least a modest representation of the trend in this area. This waterfall in particular was a satisfying find just for the fact that it proved there are large accessible waterfalls in the drainage. I had suspected a waterfall at this location for a while, but until recently, I had no idea how extensive. Here, the still modest Tilton River cascades down a small gorge in three sections totaling about 65 feet. The first drop is a two-stepped sliding fall, dropping 30 feet or so. Immediately below is another drop of 15 feet as the river flumes down a chute. Another 100 feet downstream is the third drop, another 15-foot flume. The third tier is almost impossible to photograph because of the shape of the canyon, and the middle drop is not terribly photogenic (but it can be seen in tandem with part of the upper drop). The largest portion of the falls can be seen from the road, but a few bushes block totally clear views. A quick scramble down to the river provides clear views.