The Texas Falls Nature Trail at Green Mountain National Forest in Hancock, Vermont is a moderate 1.2-mile loop hike that leads along a tranquil forest path to a scenic gorge waterfall, Texas Falls, in Hancock Branch Creek.
Trail names: Nature Trail
Location: Texas Falls Observation Site, Texas Falls Road, Hancock VT, Green Mountain National Forest
Permitted uses: Hiking,Foot traffic only, Nature Study
Prohibited uses: No Swimming, No overnight camping, No horses, No bicycles, No Motor vehicles
Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Fees and Parking: There is no fee to park or use the trail. There is a sign and a box containing envelopes next to a steel donation box if visitors wish to make a donation to assist with maintenance of the site. There are three parking areas with ample parking.
Pets: Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on a leash. Please remove all dog waste from the trail. Do not leave the waste in a bag on the trail.
Accessibility: This trail is not wheelchair accessible.
Hiker amenities: There are 3 picnic areas: the one near the trailhead has a small viewing area of the falls and only one picnic table and a bench. There used to be a bridge here to cross the falls, but it has been replaced and only the stairs remain. There is a vault type gender neutral bathroom at the first parking area closest to the trailhead, but there is no water or trash bins. There are two larger picnic areas just past the first parking area with lots of tables and a covered pavilion. There is access to the Nature trail across the street from the second parking area. There is no water and no trash bins at any of the parking areas and we did not see the restrooms at the other two parking areas, but the map at the kiosk indicates that there are restrooms there too. The information Kiosk can be found at the bridge at the trailhead. The Kiosk has a posted map as well as information about how the falls were formed.
Length and Trail information: This hike was done as a 1.2 mile loop and is easy-to-moderate. The Trail is marked by a blue blaze.The elevation gain is ~230 feet (70 meters). The trail substrate includes a beautiful bridge to view the falls and stream below but is mostly a narrow footpath that is full of rocks and roots. There is a small viewing area where the old bridge used to be, located to the right of the new bridge. Use caution when descending here, as the footing is very rooted and it’s a bit steep. After a quick look at the falls from this area, we chose to hike the loop keeping the creek to our right side. There is an engraved wooden trail sign posted at the start of the trail along with another map. We took a short detour to descend to the Lower viewing area (as shown in the route provided). It’s a short walk that brings you closer to the falls. Visitors will be able to see a view of the rocks that have been carved by centuries of water flowing through this gorge. There are some steps to ease access, but the footing is still pretty rooted and rocky, so use caution especially if there has been rain or fallen leaves to make the path more slick. From the lower viewing area, the trail ascends through the mixed forest. This part of the hike is nice, but is a typical walk in the woods. There are no great views or spectacular features but it is an opportunity to explore the area and get a bit of exercise. The main attraction of this hike is the area along the falls. We did come across a bench or two along the river side of the Nature Trail so hikers can rest if they need to. There are lots of signs posted reminding visitors that swimming is not allowed, but access to the river is not hampered, so it is possible to get close to the river for photos. It’s a beautiful spot, a nice place to have a picnic with great waterfalls and rock features with a short, fairly easy hike added in.
