Road trips through Maine are one of the best ways to truly soak in the state. From forest to mountains to coastal wonders, there’s so much to love about Maine that we often find ourselves on long drives to nowhere just to appreciate it all. One of the reasons this is so easy is that there are wonderful places to pull off the road to explore without putting in much effort. This stop, off of Route 17, is one of the best!

Coos Canyon in Byron is located just off of Route 17, about halfway to Rangeley if you're headed that way.
travelingotter / Flickr
That makes Coos Canyon a wonderful place to break up the drive, or to set your sights on as an actual destination. It's the perfect place to spend a warm summer day.
VisitMaine.com / YouTube
It's also an absolute beauty in the winter time!
binkley27 / Flickr
The canyon, carved by the Swift River, is full of interesting rock formations that make this area feel like an amusement park.
Pernellevoyage / TripAdvisor
The rock formations here almost mimic Maine's rocky coast and playing on them is popular. Just be sure not to slip!
rain0975 / Flickr

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We love how easy it is to access all the fun here. Simply pull off the road into the parking lot (you can't miss it!) and walk about 50-feet down the river. You'll soon come to the waterfall.
floridagal2015 / TripAdvisor
Above and below the falls you'll find areas to swim and on a hot summer day, there's a good chance you'll meet some new friends. Expect it to be busy!
VisitMaine.com / YouTube
But busy or not, this is surely one of the best ways to cool down.
Ray R / TripAdvisor
You'll also find some great places for cliff jumping.
ellensw68 / TripAdvisor
Some areas are tamer, while others a bit further beyond the falls offer more of a thrill.
VisitMaine.com / YouTube
Always be cautious here, but remember to have fun! Coos Canyon is a wonderful, easy place to visit. Even if you're not traveling on Route 17, it's worth going out of your way for a visit.

 

To see more about what a visit to Coos Canyon looks like check out this Maine Tourism video:

Coos Canyon can be visited year-round, but if you plan on swimming we recommend the summer. And if you’re looking for more waterfalls that can be seen without much effort, we have just the thing! Here are 5 gorgeous Maine waterfalls hiding in plain sight with no hiking required.

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Coos Canyon, Byron, ME 04275, USA