Enchanting, cooling, photographic, scenic, rushing, twisting, splashing. Beautiful. And in Maine, abundant.

We began our search for waterfalls with a quick perusal of the listings in the Maine Gazetteer. I have added a few must-sees. Read on for our family selections from favorites, to a few hidden gems, to roadside waterfalls. Pack your camera, bug repellent, some water and a picnic if you wish, or search out some local dining spots to add color to your adventure. Remember to do a tick check at the end of your outing.

Favorites: The first is a hidden gem, the second a roadside waterfall.

Hobbitland, or Vaughn Woods in Hallowell. This is a popular local spot. For the less local, I will reveal the route to this gem. You will find wide trails in a wood leading to a gurgling stream flowing beneath stone bridges. There is a dam holding back the waters. Absolutely enchanting. Note that there is another Vaughn Woods, the Vaughn Woods State Park located in South Berwick. Getting to the Hallowell waterfall, from the center of town, turn left onto Middle Street, then turn left onto Litchfield Road. At the end of the road you will see a stone wall with a small parking area. Park here and look for the trail beyond the wall. The waterfall is a short walk away.

Screw Auger Falls is located in Grafton Notch State Park, a rest stop along Route 26. There is a wide waterfall that twists between the rocks causing the namesake. The Bear River ripples with several lesser falls. Unique to this area are the large flat, smooth rocks enabling you to safely approach the several pools to dip your feet or skip a stone. Signage gives you a history of the glaciation in the area creating these spectacular falls and the rock formations alongside. Walking to see the falls here is about .6 miles from the parking area and back. Screw Auger Falls has a handicap accessible picnic site in view of one of the upper falls. Note that there is also another Screw Auger Falls further north. This is not the one listed under “Scenic Waterfalls” in the Maine Gazetteer, but is located just outside Bethel.

More hidden gems: We give you the tricks to find them.

Jewell Falls is located in the Fore River Sanctuary in Portland. This lovely waterfall is fondly referred to as being in the heart of the city. Actually, it’s a series of smaller falls gently falling below a wooden bridge. Be sure to check out the faery houses built on the rocks along the falls. There are two entrances to the Fore River Sanctuary. To take the short path to the falls, take the Rowe Avenue Entrance. Take Route 25, or Brighton Avenue heading west, past the intersection with Capisic Street. Turn left onto Rowe Avenue. There is a small parking area at the end of the street. The trail weaves through the tall grass on your left. This trail briefly parallels the railroad tracks, then dips off into the woods to the left. The entrance is the toughest part of the trail as the gravel is loose and this section is somewhat steep. The trail immediately emerges in the woods where the trail becomes a usual wooded path. Note that this trail is not like the paved pathways that comprise other trails in Portland. The trail to and from the parking area is about 1.5 miles. To take the whole 2-mile trail, begin at the Congress Street entrance. From the intersection of Congress and Frost streets, turn right onto Frost Street, then left into the Maine Orthopedic parking lot. Follow the sidewalk to the trailhead.

Cascade Falls are located in Saco. This trail is about 1.8 miles round trip. Historically, this waterfall was a well-known tourist spot where a bear had been kept caged to entertain the tourists. Now managed by the Nature Conservancy with evidence of trail upgrades, the trail is quietly regaining popularity. The remains of the old bear cage can still be seen near the falls. The trick to finding this waterfall is to head south on U.S. Route 1, until you see the yellow Cascades Restaurant. Turn left at the traffic light, and then turn left again at the sign leading to the Cascades cottages. The beginning of this drive is paved, but after the split quickly becomes gravel. Bear to the right at the branch, and watch for the trailhead on the right. The trailhead cannot be seen from the road, and there are no road signs indicating a trail or waterfall.

Step Falls Preserve is located in Newry. The trail is about 2 miles round trip. The Nature Conservancy’s first Maine acquisition in 1962, the area covers 24 acres. The water sheets smoothly over the rocks reminiscent of a huge water slide, with pools between the falls. We had a great time climbing the rocks here, but a spot to find a good photo op was not to be had. The view down river is unique with the mountain in the background.

The trail is under reconstruction; unfortunately the old and new are both blazed with yellow so the trail is at times confusing to follow, but do not let that deter you from visiting this unique waterfall. Both trails travel within earshot of the river. I will refer to one as the upper or ridge trail and the other the lower trail. Upper and lower may interweave a bit as you walk, but the destinations are the same spots along this wonderful waterfall. The 30-minute climb covers about .9 miles or 1.8 miles total.

Finding the entrance to Step Falls was tricky. Head west of Bethel on Route 26. When you see a large white farmhouse on the right, and just before the Wight Brook sign, turn right into the preserve. The dirt road opens to a parking area, and then you can see the trailhead and sign for Step Falls. There is no road sign for the trail or falls. If you reach Grafton Notch State Park, you have gone too far west.

Roadside waterfalls: Popular, easy to reach, touristy locations.

Lewiston/ Auburn Great Falls is located between the two cities, on the Androscoggin River. The Great Falls can be seen from the bridge. The best viewing area can be reached on the Auburn side of the river. Park behind the Hilton Gardens Inn and walk to West Pitch Park. There is a fenced-in area directly over the falls for a close-up view. You can feel the spray here if the falls are really rushing. The path to the falls is paved to the corner, then becomes gravel. For a longer hike or walk, follow the paved path south to the railroad trestle bridge, cross to Lewiston and loop back to the falls area.

Rumford Falls are located on the Androscoggin River, off Route 2 in Rumford. Watch for the information center. There is a large parking area here. Walk down to the flat rocks to view the falls. There are also metal art sculptures representing Native Americans as they may have fished at this spot in earlier times. There is also a compelling memorial to Edmund S. Muskie, who served as secretary of state under President Jimmy Carter and as Maine governor and as a U.S. senator. On our recent visit, there was not much water coming over the falls, but a prior visit had given us a beautiful view of the power of the river. We stopped at the information center to find a spot to have lunch. We were directed to find Scoops at the top of the falls. We enjoyed delicious sandwiches and a cone of one of their 100 ice cream flavors. Friendly staff.

Snow Falls is located at a rest area off Route 26, about 6 miles north of the center of South Paris. This 300-foot gorge lies on the Little Androscoggin River. We were very impressed with the area and the nice paths, which are fenced in to keep the wee ones safe. The falls squeeze into a narrow cleft between the rocks. There is a pathway crossing a wooden bridge leading to more views on the other side. There are many picnic tables scattered about on both sides of the falls. Note that we found the rest facility to be unclean. The pathway is about .4 miles around.

We made a two-day tour south then west to visit all of these falls for an update for you, with the exception of the Hallowell Falls, which we have seen many times in the past. Note that we whisked through; you can easily make a leisurely visit of just one or two at a time. Plan to spend some time dangling your feet in an ice-cold stream, have a picnic beside the rushing water and soak in the sparkling sun-dappled views. Enjoy the wild side of Maine.

Footnote: Distances given are approximations I measured with my pedometer and are, therefore, not scientifically precise.