Spruce Brook Falls
New Haven County, Connecticut
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- New Haven County, Connecticut
- Access status
- Partial guide: which Spruce Brook drop this point marks is unconfirmed; 2024 flood damage
- The walk
- About 0.7 mile one way through the gorge
- Ground & access
- Narrow, uneven gorge trail with uncertain footing; avoid in wet or icy conditions. An August 2024 storm washed out parts of the Blue Trail and the White woods road.
Naugatuck State Forest West Block has Spruce Brook Gorge and two named drops: a 15-foot plunge on Spruce Brook and a 40-foot falls on a tributary. The Blue Trail runs through the gorge and ends by a large waterfall on the White woods road. It is not confirmed which drop this listing is.
Plan your visit
Big Rock parking lot on Cold Spring Road through Spruce Brook Gorge on the Blue Trail
West Rock Trails lists the Blue Trail as 0.7 mile from the Big Rock parking lot to the White woods road. The large waterfall is at its western end. This may not be the same drop as this listing.
Narrow, uneven gorge trail with uncertain footing; avoid in wet or icy conditions. An August 2024 storm washed out parts of the Blue Trail and the White woods road.
Where to start
Big Rock lot at the end of Cold Spring Road (mapped as 290 Cold Spring Rd., Beacon Falls). Cold Spring Road is rough dirt past a gate that may be locked in winter; a small lot at the gate holds about five cars, 0.7 mile from Big Rock.
Timing & water
Hunting is allowed in the forest; wear orange in season. Flood damage reported November 2024 and January 2025.
Before you go
No fee stated.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Spruce Brook FallsNew Haven County, CT0.3 miNW
- Hopp Brook FallsPartial guide: guidebook route; land ownership not confirmed; off-trail scrambleNew Haven County, CT3.3 miSE
Southford FallsOfficial park location and free entry; short walk from the lot documentedNew Haven County, CT5.2 miW- CascadeNew Haven County, CT6.5 miE
Roaring Brook FallsTown trail and public parking documented; distance to falls not measuredNew Haven County, CT6.6 miE- Sperry FallsShort park path and seasonal parking documented; winter gate10 ft (3 m) · New Haven County, CT6.6 miSE
- Wepawaug FallsShort published route and parking documentedNew Haven County, CT7.0 miS
- Prydden Brook FallsVisitor-reported trail route documentedFairfield County, CT7.8 miW
- Wolcott FallsShort land trust path and street parking documented23 ft (7 m) · New Haven County, CT8.3 miSE