Photo: Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 4.0Billings Falls
Worth a detour
Is it plungeworthy?
A punchbowl on West Branch Pleasant River.
The details
- Type
- Punchbowl
- Watercourse
- West Branch Pleasant River
- Coordinates
- 45.49461, -69.3389
About Billings Falls
Billings Falls is a 18-foot punchbowl in Maine, on West Branch Pleasant River.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates Billings Falls 6.5/10 — worth a detour. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
Billings Falls is a 20-foot drop encountered about 2.8 miles into the Gulf Hagas Rim Trail, one stop in a sequence that also passes Stair Falls, Buttermilk Falls, and Screw Auger Falls, all threaded through the same National Natural Landmark slate canyon.
Unlike the famous punchbowl at Screw Auger Falls further along, Billings Falls is a mid-hike scenic waypoint — a clean drop viewed from the rim with the canyon's 150-foot walls as backdrop, rather than a swimming destination in its own right.
It only makes sense as part of the full Gulf Hagas experience: anyone driving out to the KI-Jo Mary gate is doing the loop, not visiting Billings Falls alone.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- West Branch Pleasant River trailhead — same as the Gulf Hagas Rim Trail
- Parking
- Same North Maine Woods-managed lot
- Road
- Same private KI-Jo Mary Forest road system as Screw Auger Falls (Gulf Hagas)
- Hike
- 8.6 mi round trip, 1,046 ft of climb (Moderate — full Rim Trail loop)
- Heads up
- Reached 2.8 miles into the Rim Trail; the route begins on the Appalachian Trail before following the Pleasant River Tote Road.
When to go
Same seasonal and gate-hour constraints as the rest of Gulf Hagas. Plan for a full-day loop given the mileage and elevation gain, not a quick stop.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- North Maine Woods KI-Jo Mary day-use gate fee (see the Gulf Hagas Screw Auger Falls entry)
- Hours
- Gate hours 6am-9pm daily
- Camping
- Designated North Maine Woods sites available
Researched from Northeast Hikes — Gulf Hagas Hiking Guide · The Maine Mag — Into the Gulf. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Billings Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
How tall is Billings Falls?
Billings Falls drops about 18 feet, in Maine.
Where is Billings Falls?
Billings Falls is a waterfall in Maine, at 45.49461, -69.3389.
Is Billings Falls worth visiting?
Worth a detour — Plungeworthy rates it 6.5/10.
Gear for the trip
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