Cantwell Cliffs

Overview

Remote, rugged, and moody, Cantwell Cliffs trades crowds for scenery. High-rim views drop into a cool, shadowed gorge carved in Blackhand sandstone, with towering walls, rock shelters, and seasonal waterfalls. It’s one of the park’s most challenging areas, but also one of the most peaceful.

Trails & Highlights

• One-way loop system from the main lot: a red-blazed Rim Loop and a yellow-blazed Gorge/Bottom Loop, each roughly a mile if done separately (just over two miles if you do both). Expect roughly 150–200 feet of elevation change and lots of stairs.
• Signature features include tight passages like “The Squeeze” (also called “Fat Woman’s Squeeze”) and the amphitheater-like cliffs around Buck Run Falls, which drops from a high cliff and forms a shallow rock-shelter scene after rains.
• Surfaces can be slick, especially on sandstone steps, wet leaves, or ice. Follow the one-way arrows and blazes—signage can feel sparse in spots, but routes are marked.

Geology & History

Cantwell’s cliffs are Blackhand sandstone—hard caps over softer middle layers that erode faster, creating the overhangs, recesses, and fused textures you see (often stained reddish-brown by iron). The landscape traces back hundreds of millions of years to ancient seas and relentless stream erosion thereafter. New Deal–era crews improved access here: trails, stairs, and bridges were built in the 1930s, and a CCC-era picnic shelter from 1934–1937 still anchors the trailhead.

Facilities & Logistics

You’ll find a large parking area, restrooms, picnic tables, and a picnic shelter at the trailhead; the area is dog-friendly (leash required). The site is open year‑round, dawn to dusk. Trail maps are available.

Nature Notes

In spring, the gorge floor wakes up with wildflowers like trillium, columbine, jack‑in‑the‑pulpit, and foamflower beneath hemlock, beech, and mixed hardwoods. Waterfalls are best after sustained rain; winter can produce striking ice formations.

Rules & Safety

This area has exposed drop-offs—keep dogs leashed and stay on marked, one-way trails. No wading or swimming in creeks or falls. Wear grippy footwear and bring water; trekking poles help on the endless, uneven steps.

Best Time to Visit

Cantwell is typically less crowded than the park’s headline areas, but weekends still draw more people. Aim for early or later in the day on weekends, or visit weekdays for quieter loops. For waterfalls, target spring or any stretch right after a good rain; winter brings a different kind of beauty with ice.