Orin Falls
Penobscot County, Maine
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Penobscot County, Maine
- Access status
- National monument trail on an old logging road
- The walk
- About 3 miles one way, 6 miles return
- Ground & access
- Mostly wide former logging road without steep slopes. The final narrow section has boardwalks and a small footbridge that can be slippery. The viewing area is rocks, boulders and sand.
Orin Falls is a set of cascades over large glacial boulders on Wassataquoik Stream. From the Wassataquoik Gate parking, hike northwest on a former gravel logging road. In about 0.4 mile, cross Katahdin Brook on a footbridge and pass Wassataquoik Campsite and Lean-to. After about 0.6 mile more, keep going northwest at a junction (left is the International Appalachian Trail to Barnard Mountain). After another 1.5 miles, turn right onto a narrow signed trail with boardwalks and a small footbridge to the falls. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Wassataquoik Gate parking, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, on the Orin Falls Trail to Wassataquoik Stream
Maine Trail Finder lists the Orin Falls Trail as 6.00 miles round trip. The NPS gives segments of about 0.4, 0.6 and 1.5 miles before the final narrow spur to the falls.
Mostly wide former logging road without steep slopes. The final narrow section has boardwalks and a small footbridge that can be slippery. The viewing area is rocks, boulders and sand.
Where to start
Wassataquoik Gate parking lot, with a vault toilet. From Route 11 via Swift Brook Road and the Grindstone/Stacyville Road to the Sandbank Campsite kiosk, then the Katahdin Loop Road and the road marked Orin Falls Trail. Swift Brook Road is an active logging road.
Timing & water
No potable water. Expect heavy biting insects in late spring and summer. Pets must be on a 6-foot leash.
Before you go
No entrance pass is required for the monument and no reservation is needed for the hike.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Norway FallsPiscataquis County, ME6.1 miNW
- The Hulling MachinePenobscot County, ME6.9 miN
- Wassataquoik Grand FallsPiscataquis County, ME7.2 miNW
- Ledge FallsPiscataquis County, ME7.3 miNW
- Grand PitchPublished trail route in a national monumentPenobscot County, ME7.4 miN
- Pond PitchNational monument trail route and trailhead documentedPenobscot County, ME7.8 miN
- Haskell Rock PitchOfficial monument route with published distancePenobscot County, ME8.5 miN
- Green FallsPiscataquis County, ME11 miNW
Katahdin FallsPiscataquis County, ME12 miW