Spring Runoff at Willoughby Falls in Orleans, Vermont

Last Saturday brought one of those early spring moments that reminds you winter is finally loosening its grip. The snowmelt is feeding the rivers, and at Willoughby Falls in Orleans, Vermont, the water is alive—loud, fast and full of energy.

Fed by the Willoughby River as it makes its way from Lake Willoughby toward the Barton River, the falls take on a different character during the spring runoff. Water surges over the dark rock ledges, carving its way downstream with a force that feels both wild and refreshing after a long Northeast Kingdom winter.

In the midst of it all, there are quieter moments too—like sitting along the rocks, taking it in and letting the sound of rushing water slow everything else down. It’s a place where movement and stillness meet.

These images capture a bit of both—the power of the spring runoff and the calm that can be found beside it.

Early spring in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom may be muddy and unpredictable, but it has a beauty all its own if you’re willing to step outside and look for it.

Spring at Willoughby Falls

The photographs below capture Willoughby Falls during the spring snowmelt, when the Willoughby River rushes through Orleans on its journey toward the Barton River.