Devilishly Handsome
Chapman Falls, East Haddam
I am all-too aware that my pictures of Chapman Falls are some of the weakest on the internet. I know that hundreds of people visit Devil’s Hopyard State Park every day and take better pictures of these falls.
I’ve been to the state park, one of the more popular in the state, several times. In fact, this page about a hike I did with both of my sons in 2016 is pretty great.
But I won’t apologize. CTMQ is what it is. While I certainly care about quality a great deal, quantity is a bit important too when you are trying to do everything I’m trying to do. Sigh. I’ll stop yapping. Chapman Falls is called Chapman Falls even though everyone probably calls it “the waterfall at Devil’s Hopyard.”
And all anyone cares about is why it’s called Devil’s Hopyard. Spoiler: No one really knows. One of the most popular of these stories is about a man named Dibble, who had a garden for growing hops used in the brewing of beer. It seems that through usage, Dibble’s Hopyard became Devil’s Hopyard. Maybe.
Clearly the work of the devil.
But park with this 3-tiered, 60-foot high falls over Scotland schist deserves a better story than that. For another explanation, let’s turn to the ignorant puritanical settlers and their weak explanations for natural phenomena:
Another tale focuses on the potholes near the falls, which are some of the finest examples of pothole stone formations in this section of the country. Perfectly cylindrical, they range from inches to several feet in diameter and depth. These potholes were formed by stones moved downstream by the current and trapped in an eddy where the stone was spun around and around, wearing a depression in the rock. When the rock wore itself down, another would catch in the same hole and enlarge it. We know this now, but to the early settlers the potholes were a great mystery that they tried to explain with references to the supernatural. They thought that the Devil has passed by the falls, accidentally getting his tail wet. This made him so mad he burned holes in the stones with his hooves as he bounded away.
Yes! that’s what I’m looking for.
These falls are very popular, as you can almost park above them. Plus, when the water is high – not shown in my pictures here – they are quite beautiful.
Here. Found a Justin Coleman shot to prove it.
CTMQ’s Waterfalls & Cascades
CTMQ Hikes Devil’s Hopyard State Park
Padraic says
December 24, 2018 at 10:52 amDevil’s Hopyard also has a surprisingly good (from what I remember) overlook view somewhere on one of the trails. Not Hanging Hills good or anything, but for such a flat area, a nice view and a surprise if you’re not expecting it.
Emily Cappitella says
October 11, 2024 at 1:21 pmIt’s called Devils hopyard based off old rumors and fables that the devil camped here, and when he was found he jumped off the cliff into the abyss. that is what I grew up thinking Devils Hopyard is called. I live very close by.