Texas Falls

Texas Falls

Green Mountain National Forest

Official Website

About this Location

Located between Vermont’s Lake Champlain Byway and the Scenic Route 100 Byway, the Texas Falls Recreation Area offers opportunities for viewing cascading falls along scenic gorges, a loop trail for hiking and snowshoeing, a large picnic pavilion, and dispersed recreation, including fishing, along Hancock Branch and Texas Brook.

Texas Falls began to form at the close of the ice age some 12,000 years ago when ice melting from the glacier began to cut through the glacial till and bedrock. During the thousands of years that followed, high volumes of water enlarged weak points in the bedrock. These points were further enlarged and smoothed by the swirling of rocks and debris to form the potholes that are now visible at this site. The footbridge crosses what remains of a large glacial pothole. Geologically the area is part of the Green Mountain Anticlinorium, a major structural arch that was formed during the closing of the Iapetus Ocean some 460 million years ago and runs the length of Vermont. Texas Falls is located on the Hancock Branch, which drains east into the White River and eventually into the Connecticut River.

Notable Trails

Texas Falls Nature Trail
The trail meanders through the forest along Texas Brook toward the Texas Falls Picnic Area. To loop back to the falls area bear right before crossing the paved road to reach the upper section of the nature trail. The trail loop length is 1.2 miles, with a 70-foot elevation change. The average hike time is 1 hour.

Hancock Trail
The trail follows along the Hancock Branch of the White River, and crosses the river three times on bridges. There are several views of the mountain stream as the trail climbs gradually to its end at 1.3 miles. Max. elevation change is 320 feet. The average hiking time is 1-1.5 hours round trip. Please practice Leave No Trace ethics, such as carrying out what you carry in.

The TrailFinder website has a description and map of a hike at Texas Falls.

Features

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from Official Website

Last updated October 8, 2023