Stepstone Falls Day Trip
Welcome to Stepstone Falls in West Greenwich, Rhode Island
Stepstone Falls is a beautiful, hidden cascading waterfall in the Arcadia Management Area of West Greenwich Rhode Island (RI). It is only one of two natural RI waterfalls and is a peaceful, lush and easy spot to explore; in fact, you can walk right up to the edge of Stepstone Falls as it flows down a series of smooth rock ledges.
How to get to Stepstone Falls in West Greenwich, Rhode Island |
To visit Stepstone Falls, you can drive to a remote part of the RI Arcadia Management Area on Falls River Road in West Greenwich. Plot directions to Stepstone Falls Waterfall and Hiking, and park at a small dirt pull off at a hiking trailhead and directly adjacent to an overpass above the Wood River. This road is dirt and a bit rugged as you get close to parking.
With only room for a few vehicles at most, you may try to park on the other side of the overpass keeping in mind it’s a local road.
What to see at Stepstone Falls
After parking, head just left of the trailhead onto a series of smooth, mostly flat rocks for a few paces to the edge of the Wood River by the flat ledge that it flows over. There are several spots by the shore where you can navigate down through the dense greens (watch your step) as the water gushes by.
There are several stone ledges close to each other that create the “steps” that Wood River cascades down.
Standing at the edge of the flat rock ledges where Stepstone Falls cascades down the river.
After the rain is the best time to see Stepstone Falls close up as the river fans out over the stone “steps” or terraces creating a dreamy, swooshing effect. You can find your way down through the greens just below the initial ledge you’ll first reach to see the full width of the cascade flowing.
MDT Tip: Wear hiking shoes or sturdy sneakers with traction as the handful of (smooth) rocks you walk on to get to the cascades can be wet in spots and if you plan to go onto the edge of the rock ledges right by the flowing river.
The two times I’ve visited Stepstone Falls in the summer, families with young kids were swimming. It’s fairly easy to enter the falls at the river bank just by the top ledge.
If you’re looking for a quiet and beautiful waterfall that is easy to see whether you are a solo hiker, photographer or a family that enjoys being outside, Stepstone Falls is a great Rhode Island day trip destination.
Have you been to this waterfall? What Rhode Island waterfall(s) have you seen?
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