About this spot
Knife Shop Falls is a three-tiered waterfall (roughly 35-55 feet total) in Humaston Brook State Park, in the Northfield section of Litchfield — created by a 19th-century mill dam that once powered the Northfield Knife Company; locals still call the pond above it Knife Shop Pond. Park along Knife Shop Road near the small pull-off and take the short marked trail down; access is free year-round. Swimming is good in the pools at the upper and lower tiers, but the middle drop is not swimmable. Slick rock around the plunge pools and submerged remnants of the old dam are the main hazards — check depth before jumping. Quiet most of the year, busier on summer weekends.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.