Texas Falls

Texas Falls is a 10-foot tiered in Vermont, on Hancock Brook. 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 Texas Falls 6.5/10 — worth a detour. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.

Texas Falls is one of the most-photographed roadside waterfalls in Vermont — the Hancock Branch drops through a narrow, sheer-walled rock ravine in three connected steps of roughly 12, 9, and 10 feet, each separated by a round, deep plunge pool the water has carved into the bedrock. A footbridge crosses right over the gorge for a straight-down view.

It reads as classic New England forest waterfall: no big single drop, but a tight, photogenic slot with churning green pools. The Green Mountain National Forest built a full recreation area around it — picnic pavilion, loop trail, interpretive signage — so it functions as a genuine day-use destination, not just a pull-off.

The Forest Service explicitly prohibits swimming at the falls themselves after past accidents; wading is allowed upstream near the picnic area instead, which sets Texas Falls apart from Vermont's swim-hole falls like Warren, Bartlett, and Bingham.

Managed as a day-use picnic and nature-trail site rather than a swim destination; best April through October while the gate is open. Popular with families given the short easy loop and picnic pavilion.

A Forest Service use-restriction alert for Texas Brook was active at last check — worth confirming current conditions with the Rochester/Middlebury Ranger District before a visit.