Peter Marteka
To Get Away From It All, Visit Roaring Brook Falls
October 31, 2008
When I heard the rain gurgling down the downspout a few nights ago, I knew I had to go. With the northwest wind rattling the buoy bell chimes and stripping the leaves from the trees, I knew now was the perfect time to visit.
I had been hearing about Roaring Brook Falls ever since I started writing about some of the state's waterfalls. I also heard the best time to visit what is believed to be the state's highest waterfall is after a heavy rainstorm when autumn begins to turn toward winter.
Nestled in the southwest corner of Cheshire near the town's border with Prospect, Roaring Brook Falls is the main attraction of a 75-acre preserve by the same name. And with its 80-foot drop from the top of a talus slope to a deep, rocky pool below, it narrowly beats out Kent Falls' 70-foot plunge.
But the area's beauty is not just limited to the single-drop waterfall. There are dozens of waterfalls in all shapes and sizes plunging over the boxy basalt boulders along the picturesque and aptly named Roaring Brook. The beauty of Roaring Brook is that it seems as though you're in the middle of nowhere, and that infernal parking lot that detracts from so many other waterfall locations is nowhere to be seen here.
At places like Kent Falls, you park your car, take a short walk and there's the falls. At Wadsworth Falls in Middlefield, same thing. At Chapman Falls in East Haddam, you can practically drive your car across the falls. At Roaring Brook, there's no sense of civilization nearby.
Visitors leave civilization behind almost immediately after leaving the trail head's parking area. The last vestige of humankind is a fieldstone chimney sitting in the middle of nowhere. I ran into a similar chimney after visiting Crescent Lake in Southington a few weeks ago. But it serves as a convenient talisman here because the trail forks off and the chimney provides a sort of signpost.
The first sight of the waterfall is a white sheet of water in the distance, mixed in with the changing foliage. A mossy spur trail under some oaks and hemlocks provides a nice resting spot and a view of the falls. And a rest is needed, because it's a strenuous and at times treacherous climb to the top along a rocky trail, especially with the wet fallen leaves. It's also hard to concentrate on the trail because you want to keep looking at the beautiful waterfall.
But once at the top, visitors are not only rewarded with a view of the surrounding hillsides of Wallingford, Durham and Meriden, but with even more waterfalls. The preserve's path eventually connects with the 24-mile-long Quinnipiac Trail, a portion of the state's 825-mile blue-blazed trail system. Walking along the trail takes visitors to — guess what? More views and more waterfalls.
Although some visit Roaring Brook for cool relief during the scorching summers, others have seen its charms in the autumn splendor or after a spring freshet. No matter what time of year, this is one waterfall everyone should fall for.
•To reach the falls, follow Route 10 through downtown Cheshire to Route 42. Take a right on Mountain Road and a second left on Roaring Brook Road. The trail head is at the end of the road. Those looking for an easier path to the falls should continue on Route 42 and park at a lot for the Quinnipiac Trail and walk north.
Column ideas and suggestions are welcome. Peter Marteka can be reached by phone at 860-343-5239; by mail at The Courant, 373 E. Main St., Middletown, CT 06457; and by e-mail at pmarteka@courant.com.
For video of Roaring Brook Falls in Cheshire, visit courant.com/marteka
E-mail:
pmarteka@courant.com
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