Coos Canyon
Worth a detour
Is it plungeworthy?
A 4-tier tiered on Swift River.
The details
- Tiers
- 4 drops
- Type
- Tiered
- Watercourse
- Swift River
- Coordinates
- 44.72088, -70.63205
About Coos Canyon
Coos Canyon is a 12-foot tiered in Maine, on Swift River. The water falls in 4 distinct tiers.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates Coos Canyon 6.7/10 — worth a detour. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
Coos Canyon isn't a classic waterfall so much as a sculpted river gorge — the Swift River has carved a 500-yard run of chutes, potholes, and deep pools through solid bedrock, with walls rising about 32 feet on either side and a largest single drop around 15 feet. It's as much a swimming hole and gold-panning destination as a scenic stop.
The gorge sits directly beside Route 17, one of Maine's most scenic byways through the Rangeley/Byron area, with parking pull-offs on both sides of the road and a footbridge overlook.
The distinct draw here is hands-on: recreational gold panning in the Swift River is legal and genuinely productive for persistent panners, and the adjacent rock shop rents gear and gives free lessons — a rare waterfall stop where visitors leave with more than a photo.
Getting there
- Parking
- Roadside pull-offs on both sides of Route 17
- Road
- Route 17, paved, direct roadside access
- Hike
- 0 mi round trip (Easy — no hike required, footpaths along the gorge rim)
- Heads up
- Coos Canyon Rock & Gift Shop (472 Swift River Road) rents and sells gold-panning gear with free lessons, seasonal May to mid-October.
When to go
Open year-round as a roadside stop; the gold-panning shop operates May through mid-October. Swimming and panning are most popular in summer at lower, warmer water levels.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- None — free
- Camping
- Coos Canyon Campground & Cabins adjacent (separate paid business)
- Warnings
- Swimming and jumping into the gorge pools carries real risk from submerged rock and currents.
Researched from UNTAMED Mainer — Coos Canyon · NRCM — Coos Canyon, Swift River · Coos Canyon Rock & Gift Shop. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Coos Canyon recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Planning a visit? We want your photo.
Coos Canyon doesn't have a photo yet. If you make the trip, send one to hello@plungeworthy.com and we'll publish it here with credit to you.
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 Coos Canyon?
Coos Canyon drops about 12 feet across 4 tiers, in Maine.
Where is Coos Canyon?
Coos Canyon is a waterfall in Maine, at 44.72088, -70.63205.
Is Coos Canyon worth visiting?
Worth a detour — Plungeworthy rates it 6.7/10.
Gear for the trip
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