Waterfalls in Rhode Island at a glance
Rhode Island has 11 named waterfalls on our map, 42nd among the states. That is a short list: much of Rhode Island lacks the steep terrain and hard rock ledges that make waterfalls, so the ones here are mostly small drops on creeks and rivers, many of them best after rain.
For bigger falls, the nearest waterfall country is New Hampshire and Vermont. New Hampshire's best-known falls include Arethusa Falls, The Flume, Diana's Baths. Search your town on the map above and set the radius to 100 or 200 miles to see which are within a day trip; the map crosses state lines.
Small falls like these are at their best in spring and in the day or two after heavy rain, when the creeks feeding them run high; in dry spells many shrink to a trickle. See the best time to see waterfalls.
Rhode Island by the numbers
The map shows 11 named falls in Rhode Island. 5 of them are in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, the federal register of official place names, and 6 more are named falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap. 2 have a height recorded by OpenStreetMap mappers, which is what the height filter above uses. ProvidenceCounty has the most, with 3.
Tallest recorded waterfalls in Rhode Island
Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap, converted to feet. Guidebooks may list different figures, usually because they count every tier of a fall or only the biggest drop. Why heights differ.
| Waterfall | Height | County | |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Greenwich Falls | 25 ft | not recorded | |
| Payne's Pond Falls | 7 ft | not recorded |
Counties with the most waterfalls
From the USGS record, which gives each fall's county.
| County | Named falls |
|---|---|
| Providence | 3 |
| Washington | 2 |
Every named waterfall in Rhode Island
Alphabetical within each county. Tap a name to centre the map above on it.
Providence County (3)
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Washington County (2)
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County not recorded (6)
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Before you go
The map shows where falls are, not whether they are open or safe to reach. Check the land manager, usually a state park or national forest, for closures, fees and permits, and stay on the trail near the water. Our waterfall safety guide covers the hazards, and waterfall hikes near me explains how to pick a trail.
Waterfalls near cities close to Rhode Island
Every named fall within driving range of the city, nearest first: waterfalls near Boston, waterfalls near Hartford, waterfalls near Albany.
Waterfalls in nearby states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont. Or see waterfalls in every state.