Kezar Falls

3-C1 I Lowell, Maine

Flowing through the deep of Kezar Falls Gorge, the highest reaches of the Kezar River descend gracefully down from the small town of North Waterford until it plunges into the placid Saco River. This gorge is one of the most scenic gorges in southern central Maine and is only an hour and a half from Portland.

This gorge is not too far from the road. The road can be accessed from either side but can get a little dicey at certain times of the year. This canyon is often used as a swim hole in the summer and can be quite popular among the locals. This descent should not take very long at all. From the pullout on the side of the road a trail descends down to the canyon top. From a lookout at the top of the hill there is a scenic overlook into the gorge. If you hike to the north, you can easily access the top of the gorge. From the top of the first drop wrap a tree or boulder than rappel down to the pool below. This pool is a swimmer so come prepared. This swim is one of the most beautiful sections of canyon in the area though, so take a look around as you swim through the pool.

After about a hundred feet the gorge opens up again, but the descent is not over! Hike around the swamp to the left and after about a quarter mile the gorge walls up again. Scramble down or rappel down the second waterfall. After this second waterfall scramble down the gorge to its end. The gorge ends right above a beautiful pond. Before reaching this pond hike out of the canyon to the right and cross back over the stream just above the second half of the canyon.