Cold Stream Falls, near West Forks

Another beautiful Western Maine waterfall! The 1.2-mile path to the falls, too, is a joy. It follows the stream much of the way and is wide, flat, and even — with helpful stones and bog bridges over some wet patches. But there are some rockier, rootier sections, too, so it’s not all easy footing. Once you get to the falls, you can follow a little path to the top.

To reach the footpath, you can drive the dirt logging roads, but slowly. They’re in decent shape but have a few biggish rocks and potholes. If you choose to park at the main dirt road (Capital Road), the 1.2 miles in to the trailhead is actually quite nice. Once you reach the trailhead, you’ll see an open clearing for parking and a hiking sign on your left.

Directions: From the junction of Route 201 and Route 15 in Jackman, drive south 17.5 miles to the gravel Capital Road on your left. Drive approximately 1 mile down the road (when it splits early on, take the road on the right…the two roads rejoin shortly, but the left road goes into a lumber yard). Right after you cross a small bridge, you’ll see a narrow road on your left. We parked here and walked the 1.2 miles in. But good vehicles can make it all the way down the track, staying right when it makes a sharp turn and continuing along the road until it comes upon a cleared area for parking and a hiking sign on the left. There’s also another good place to park at about .7 miles in, at a grassy area by the stream.