If you find yourself driving through Machias, Maine, be sure to take a moment to visit the Bad Little Falls. In fact, the name Machias comes from the Passamaquoddy word that roughly translated means “Bad Little Falls.” But don’t let the name fool you, these falls aren’t bad at all, and instead powered the industry in the area for centuries. From the sawmills of the early European settlers to the Machias Electric Company established in 1902, these falls have been good to the town of Machias.

When we visited, it took me a moment to get my ears accustomed to the turbulent crashing of the water over the rock ledges. Asa, on the other paw, immediately began to imagine this must be what the roar of the crowd sounds like at a concert. After pausing while crossing the pedestrian bridge over the falls, and marveling at the raging waterfall from the observation platform, we continued on our journey to another interesting site in Machias. But that is a story for another day.

Dogs are allowed on-leash at Bad Little Falls Park. Located in downtown Machias, there is limited parking available in a dirt lot off of Route 92. Picnic tables are available, if you’d like to pick up a delicious treat at one of the local restaurants. For more scenic places to visit in Maine, please see our Dog Friendly Places recommendations.