Billings Falls
Maine • 15 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrainBefore you go
Vehicle access is through the KI-Jo Mary checkpoint, which charges a per-person day-use fee (cash or check only). The trail from the Gulf Hagas Parking Area fords the West Branch of the Pleasant River, which can be unsafe in high water; use the Head of the Gulf Parking Area then.
Photo Credits (3)
Difficulty
Hard
Trail Length
8.6 miles
Trail Type
Loop
About Billings Falls
Billings Falls is a plunge of about 15 to 20 feet on the West Branch of the Pleasant River near the upper (western) end of Gulf Hagas, a slate gorge in Maine's Hundred-Mile Wilderness. Vertical rock walls surround the falls. It is on the Rim Trail, part of the Appalachian Trail corridor, and the Gulf Hagas trails are maintained by the Maine Appalachian Trail Club.
The Setting
Billings Falls sits at 1,109 feet within Appalachian National Scenic Trail, in the foothills of Maine. The falls drop 15 feet.
Height: 15 feet
Trail & Hike Details
Trail Description
Billings Falls is on the Rim Trail, which follows the gorge for about 3 miles. Most hikers walk a loop of the Rim Trail and the Pleasant River Tote Road, about 8 to 9 miles from either parking area. From the Gulf Hagas Parking Area (east, with a ford of the West Branch) the falls are about 3.5 miles in, just past Buttermilk Falls; from the Head of the Gulf Parking Area (west, no ford) it is about 1.7 miles to the Rim Trail near the Head of the Gulf.
What to Expect
The falls drop a gentle 15 feet. Dogs are welcome.
Accessibility
The trail involves steep, uneven terrain with significant elevation change and is not accessible to mobility devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Billings Falls?
✅ Dogs are allowed
Dogs are allowed on the Gulf Hagas trails but should be leashed and kept under control, especially along the cliff edges of the Rim Trail.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🤑 Fees are required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Billings Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Spring and early summer are the best times to visit, as the waterfall is likely to have the strongest flow during these seasons.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited. Check the National Park Service website for current conditions.
Safety Information
Do not attempt the West Branch ford in high water after heavy rain or snowmelt. The Rim Trail runs close to cliff edges, and the rocks at the falls are slippery.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Sebec River, 19 miles away, not on Billings Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
836 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 71 years of record
3.67 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year.
About This Gauge
This gauge is on a regional waterway. Conditions at the falls may differ, especially after local rain.
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge Sebec River at Sebec, Maine (31 km away).
Today
Strong
903 cfs
8/10Tomorrow
Strong
877 cfs
10/10Fri
Strong
927 cfs
7/10Sat
Strong
1022 cfs
7/10Sun
Strong
1060 cfs
7/10Mon
Strong
1013 cfs
10/10Tue
Strong
891 cfs
10/10Best window: Tomorrow — strong flow, partly sunny (trip score 10/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from mid March to early June, peaking in April.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Brownville Junction hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Billings Falls Frozen?
Updated about 4 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately strong flow slows freezing
Billings Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 40°F to 33°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 844 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in Maine.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
Here the descent is spread out: 1-meter lidar measures about 81 feet of drop through Billings Falls, stretched along the creek rather than stacked in one wall. That is more than the listed 15 feet because the gorge keeps dropping below the falls themselves. The brink sits at about 1,110 feet above sea level.
The ground changes about 46 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 18 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face southeast and catch soft morning light.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 1,110 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 81 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- Southeast
- Catches soft morning light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading southeast).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
From Route 11 about 3.5 miles north of Brownville Junction, turn left onto Katahdin Iron Works Road and drive about 6.5 miles to the KI-Jo Mary checkpoint to register and pay. Cross the bridge, turn sharply right, drive about 3.5 miles, bear left at the fork following Gulf Hagas signs, and continue 2.9 miles to the Gulf Hagas Parking Area on the right. For the west trailhead, continue 4.4 more miles to the Head of the Gulf Parking Area on the left.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
Two lots serve Gulf Hagas: the Gulf Hagas Parking Area (east) and the Head of the Gulf Parking Area (west). Use the west lot when the West Branch is too high to ford.
Elevation
1,109 feet above sea level
Coordinates
45.494491° N, -69.338939° W
Land Management
Managed by NPS
Visitor Tips & Gear
Bring cash or a check for the checkpoint fee and sandals or water shoes for the river ford. The trails are busiest on summer and fall weekends from mid-morning to late afternoon.
Where to Stay
Abbot Trailside Lodging
Waterfront home on Moosehead Lake
Leisure Life
All-Season Sanctuary: Steps to Moosehead Lake
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Additional Information
Nearby Attractions
Screw Auger Falls, Hammond Street Pitch, The Jaws, Buttermilk Falls and Stair Falls are along the same Rim Trail, which ends at the Head of the Gulf.
Wildlife
The area is home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, deer, and small mammals. Be respectful of the natural habitat.
Cities near Billings Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
LiDAR
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