Your Guide to Exploring New Hampshire Waterfalls This Season

When the temperatures rise and the sun beats down on you, there are very few things as refreshing as cooling off under a waterfall, especially after getting all hot and sweaty after a hike.

New Hampshire is home to over 100 waterfalls, and in spring, when the snow cover melts and pours into rivers and streams, the cascades are at their most dramatic. 

You can ogle at them simply by taking a drive along scenic Route 302 or the legendary Kancagamus Highway, but our favorite way of enjoying them is rewarding ourselves with a cool plunge at the end of a hike. 

If you’re looking to explore New Hampshire waterfalls, here’s an extensive list that you can work on! 

1. Arethusa Falls

Located in Crawford Notch State Park, Arethusa Falls plunges 160 feet and is one of the tallest waterfalls in New England. To get there, you’ll have to hike about 1.5 miles from the trailhead near the AMC Highland Center just off Route 302.

You can also take the Bemis Brook Trail which parallels the Arethusa Falls Trail for part of the way. This busy trail is a hot favorite, especially during the spring runoff, so you might want to start early. 

3. Flume Gorge and Avalanche Falls

Located in Franconia Notch State Park at the base of Mount Liberty, Flume Gorge is a dramatic, 800-foot-long gorge with magnificent granite walls that rise up to 90 feet, shaped by glaciers over thousands of years.

You can get there by taking a two-mile loop trail through boardwalks, bridges, and woods. As a bonus, you’ll also be able to see Avalanche Falls. 

The start and end of the trail is at the Visitor Center. Note that the season opens on Memorial Day and ends in October. If you go off-season, the boardwalks are removed, hiking comes with some risk, and the park isn’t staffed. 

3. Welton Falls

Located near Alexandria, this 30-foot plunge waterfall is accessed by hiking in about a mile. There are several vantage points like the upper part of the falls where you’ll find an overhanging ledge with safety cables. The lower half of the falls is a 15-foot plunge surrounded by cliff walls, and there is also a wonderful viewpoint from a cliff on the opposite side of the falls. 

To get to the trailhead, get to the end of Shem Valley Road which is off Mount Cardigan Road. Look for the AMC Hut and a large parking area.

4. Rainbow Falls

Located near Plymouth, Rainbow Falls is a 25-foot horsetail waterfall you access by a 1.5-mile loop hike through the woods at a gentle incline. 

To get to the trailhead, get to Cummings Hill Road and look for a parking area at a pull-off on the right about 0.8 miles up the road.

5. Diana’s Bath

Located just outside North Conway in Bartlett, Diana’s Bath is a popular natural attraction featuring pretty cascading waterfalls, pools, and smooth granite boulders. 

You reach the falls by an easy 0.6-mile hike on a wide, well-traveled trail. Fed from the Big Attitash Mountain, Diana’s Bath is a popular spot for families with children. The parking lot is located on West Side Road, North Conway. 

6. Profile Falls

Located in Bristol, Profile Falls is a 30-foot fan waterfall. It is a little 0.3-mile stroll through the woods to the scenic falls where you can swim, dip, and cool off. 

Access the trailhead along Mountain Hill Road in Bristol by taking Profile Falls Road from Route 3A. 

‍7. Cloudland Falls

Cloudland Falls is the reward at the end of the very popular Falling Waters Trail. You get three for the price of one on this 2.8-mile trail, as you’ll pass stairs Fall, Swiftwater Falls, and finally, the fan-shaped, 80-foot Cloudland Falls. 

Although the hike is an easy one, it can be steep and rocky in sections, so you’ll need decent shoes. If you’re up for a proper hike, the Falling Waters Trail leads on to the Franconia Ridge Loop Trail, a moderately challenging 8.6-mile loop. The parking is along the Franconia Notch Parkway or the Lafayette Campground. 

8. Lower Purgatory Falls

Located in Lyndeborough, Lower Purgatory Falls is a little 12-foot high horsetail and plunge waterfall. To get there, you take a little 0.7-mile out-and-back hike through a peaceful forest. 

If you’re up for a little more hiking, you can access the falls from the Purgatory Brook Trail which takes about two hours to complete. 

9. Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves

To do a little caving, head to North Woodstock, where a mile-long trail takes you through a narrow gorge, towering granite walls, and massive glacial boulders. The network of caves gives you endless exploration opportunities, especially if you don’t mind squishing into tight spots, and you’re probably going to get a little muddy.

To get there, take the Lost River Road for about 5 miles till you get to the visitor center. 

10. Sabbaday Falls

The 45-foot, multi-tiered Sabbaday Falls is located just 0.3 miles off the Kanc. This pretty waterfall flows through a narrow gorge and goes over rock ledges into a deep, clear pool.

There are several viewing platforms offering plenty of photo opportunities. To get there, look for the Sabbaday Falls trailhead and go for a 15-minute walk. 

‍11. Glen Ellis Falls

Located along Route 16 in Pinkham Notch, this stunning 64-foot waterfall plunges dramatically into a clear pool. The little 0.3-mile hike in will take around 15 minutes and you’ll enjoy views of the Ellis River along the way.

The parking lot is on the west side of Route 16, 11.2 miles south of Gorham and 11.3 miles north of the Route 16/302 intersection in Jackson. 

12. Gem Pool

In the mood for a real hike? Jump on the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail and climb Mount Washington. This challenging hike is about 4.5 miles one way, and you’ll get to Gem Pool before the Lake of the Clouds hut which is just before the Mount Washington summit. 

Surrounded by mossy boulders and dense, lush forest, Gem Pool is a pretty cascading waterfall that flows into a shallow basin, where you can dunk your feet and take a break before pushing onwards. 

Once you get to the summit, there are many ways to get down including the Cog Railway, but we like hiking down on one of the many trails that lead up and down Mount Washington. 

15. Gibbs Falls

Located in Crawford Notch State Park, this small, beautiful cascade drops about 20 feet into a rocky basin surrounded by mossy boulders. To get there, park at the AMC Highland Center on Route 302 and hike up about 0.3 miles along the Crawford Path. 

If you want to continue hiking, you can hop on one of the many other trails around like Mount Avalon, Field, or Tom. 

Fun fact: Created in 1819, Crawford Path is the oldest maintained trail in the US! 

15 Crystal Cascade

Crystal Cascade is a stunning two-tiered waterfall located just behind the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. Within a magnificent granite gorge, the upper falls plunge about 70 feet while the lower section adds another 30 feet. 

To get there, take the Tuckerman Ravine Trail from the visitor center for about 0.3 miles then branch off to the viewing platform. 

15 Jackson Falls

Jackson Falls, like the picturesque village it is named after, is a beloved, charming waterfall consisting of a series of cascading falls over smooth granite boulders, creating shallow wading pools. 

To get there, take Route 16A through Jackson Village and turn onto Carter Notch Road. You can see the falls from the road, no hiking required! 

16. Franconia Falls

Franconia Falls near Lincoln is a lesser-known spot featuring some cascades, rock slides, and swimming holes along the Pemigewasset River. Seclusion doesn’t come cheap, and the round-trip hike is approximately 7 miles but relatively flat and gentle. 

To get there, park at the Lincoln Woods trailhead off the Kanc and hike the relatively flat trail for about 2.9 miles before turning onto the Franconia Falls Trail for another half a mile. 

17. Cascade Falls

Located in Woodstock, this scenic little waterfall is a multi-tiered gentle cascade that flows through a narrow, rocky gorge. 

To get there, head north on Route 3 from North Woodstock, and turn onto Cascade Park Road. The trail to the falls is an easy 0.3-mile round trip. 

18. Georgiana Falls

This multi-tiered waterfall located near Lincoln is about a 1.5-mile hike in. Beginning near Hanson Farm Road off Route 3, the Georgiana Falls Trail goes through mossy boulders, wooded terrain, and numerous streams. You’ll get to the lower falls about a mile in, and the upper falls are another half mile in. 

19. Ripley Falls

Ripley Falls is a dramatic, mesmerizing waterfall that plunges 100 feet down a polished granite wall into a rocky pool below. 

The approximately one-mile hike to the falls is moderately steep and goes through rooty, rocky sections. To get to the trailhead, drive along 302 and turn onto Willey House Station Road and follow the signs to Ripley Falls.

20. Garfield Falls

Located in Pittsburg, this gorgeous 35-foot waterfall plunging into a rocky pool is nestled deep in the Great North Woods. 

To get there, travel north on Route 3 to Magalloway Road, a well-maintained dirt road. After about 12 miles, turn onto Garfield Falls Road and continue until you reach the marked parking area. A short 0.2-mile trail leads through the woods directly to the falls.

Although easily accessible, the drive is long and rugged, so if you’re looking to get off the beaten track, head to this one.

Reminders For Exploring Waterfalls 

We don’t want to nag, but there have been a few incidents so here’s a quick reminder on keeping safe on your waterfall adventures. 

1. Wear decent shoes. Trails might be easy, but polished, granite slabs can be slippery, especially when wet. 
2. Be extra careful around ledges.
3. Stay on trails. Not only is it safer, but the vegetation doesn’t need to get stomped on. 
4. Don’t climb on the waterfalls. Again, slippery rocks. 
5. Be aware of the dangers of swimming. Currents and underwater hazards can lurk under deceptively calm waters. 
6. Respect all signs, barriers, or closures, they’re there for a reason. 
7. Check weather conditions with the locals. Waterfalls aren’t a place you want to be near in the event of a flash flood or heavy thunderstorm. 
8. Keep your cellphone charged and if you’re heading out alone, tell a trusted person the approximate time you’ll text or call when you’re back. 
9. Supervise kids and keep pets on a leash. Or the other way around. 
10. As always, pack out what you pack in, even fruit peels. Leave no trace. Muddy footprints forgiven. 

Final Thoughts

So much exploring to do! Even we New Hampshire locals haven’t been to ALL the waterfalls that our beloved Granite State has to offer. 

If you want more information or have any questions, come visit us at Gidana Getaways. We look forward to meeting you! 

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