Horseshoe Falls — Attraction in Charlestown

Beautiful man-made waterfall on the Pawcatuck River in the historic mill village of Shannock. There’s virtually no parking in the area, unfortunately, so I drove over to the next bridge and parked on a side street. The walk up to Horseshoe Falls was not great, sidewalks are inconsistent and the road is curvy so some cars will come around pretty fast. The area is very historic at least, so I got a good look at many old houses and a vintage post office.

Once you get to the falls themselves, you can get a good view from the bridge, a nearby hill on the north side of the river, or the grassy area on the south side. Near the hill, there’s an old well that is really beautiful, until you look into it and see it’s filled with litter. There’s also a fish ladder on the south side of the falls, and you can get a good look at how it works through the grates on top.

After walking back to my car, I went down a short boardwalk to the shore of the Pawcatuck. From there I had a nice view of the natural (although much less impressive) Shannock Falls. A stone marker commemorates the site of a battle during the Pequot War, a fascinating chapter in colonial history that had long-lasting implications. There is also some remnants of an old mill, and some informational signs that go into the history of the area.

Overall, a beautiful waterfall with a lot of history around it. Would easily be 5 stars if there was better access and the area around the falls was better...

Great to look at, but no real observation area, and no place to park. Great historical area, that needs to do something to get people to come visit this man made waterfall. Several mills used to fill this valley, and utilize the power of this little valley. Go a little farther down the road, and there is room to stop, and read a little of the history of...

The falls were nice, the scenery around them was not. The area is run down and it doesn't appear anyone is taking care of it. Old buildings falling down, no parking. If it's a few minutes out of the way, it's worth a stop. Any longer than a few minutes is not...