Located about 90 minutes from Bangor and 35 minutes from Greenville (the main town in the Moosehead Lake region) is Little Wilson Falls: A moderate hike in the woods that leads to a flowing waterfall. The out-and-back hike can be steep in a few places, so wear proper footwear — please don’t be that person attempting to hike the trail in sandals.

Getting to Little Wilson Falls

Full disclosure: This trailhead took a few tries to find. Big Wilson Falls is located near the road that you turn on to access the Little Wilson Falls trailhead. And the first time we drove there, we were so busy gawking at Big Wilson Falls — (which are beautiful and viewable from the road) that we accidentally drove past the Little Wilson Falls entrance. After a few moments of confusion and making a wicked three-point turn on a windy backroad, we found the entrance to the Little Wilson Falls trailhead (woooo!).

Note about accessing the Little Wilson Falls trailhead: You have to drive down a long, gravel, pothole-filled road. This road is narrow, so make sure you drive slowly and with caution. You’ll pass a few campsites — keep going until the road ends. Eventually, it’ll open up to a small parking lot, which is where you can safely park and access the trail.

Hiking Little Wilson Falls

Little Wilson Falls is a 2.5-mile out-and-back hike that takes a little over an hour to complete. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow. Throughout most of the hike, the river is next to you, and there are spots where you can walk down to it to get a closer look or feel the cold water. The hike is a gradual incline until eventually you reach the top, where there’s a beautiful waterfall. The summit area isn’t too large, but when we were there in June, it wasn’t crowded at all. There are a few rocks to sit on, and if the water level is low enough, you can cross to check out the view on the other side of the falls.

In total, we probably spent about two hours here: One hour hiking and one hour enjoying the view at the top of the falls. We also spent time at the bottom of the falls. The river creates a large, calm pool of water — making it a nice place to have a quick snack or rest your legs after the hike. 

Pros vs. Cons: Hiking Little Wilson Falls

Pros: This hike is well-marked and not too challenging. It’s only 2.5 miles long, so it’s a good choice if you want to spend some time outdoors without devoting your entire day to the hike. The area surrounding the falls is nice as well — it’s located in the sparsely populated Northeast Piscataquis area, and there’s no sounds of traffic while hiking. Compared to other trails in the area, I don’t believe this one gets too crowded — we only saw about 5 other people when doing this hike on a Sunday afternoon in June.

Cons: Getting to the trailhead can be a bit challenging as you have to drive down a long and narrow road. We were a tad nervous that another car would come from the other direction and slam into our vehicle the entire time. But once you’re there, the trail is easy to find, and the view of the falls from the top is beautiful. 

Quick Little Wilson Falls Trail FAQs:

Is there a restroom at Little Wilson Falls?

No — There are no facilities at Little Wilson Falls, so make sure to go before you come. (On the plus side, there are plenty of secluded areas in the surrounding forest!

Is there cell service at Little Wilson Falls?

No — We had minimal to no cell service at Little Wilson Falls (Verizon).

Is Little Wilson Falls trail kid-friendly?

Little Wilson Falls is a family-friendly hike. It’s not aggressively steep, and the trail to the top of the falls shouldn’t be too strenuous for children. Just make sure everyone in your group wears appropriate hiking shoes, as the trek to the top of the falls can be challenging at times.

How long does it take to hike Little Wilson Falls?

For a moderately athletic couple, we reached the summit in less than an hour. Most people can complete this hike (out and back) in less than 90 minutes, depending on how much time you spend at the top of the falls.

What is the parking like at Little Wilson Falls?

There is a small parking lot at the base of the trailhead.

Are dogs allowed at Little Wilson Falls?

Yes — You can bring your dog on your hike to Little Wilson Falls. However, dogs must be leashed at all times.