The hike to the summit, however, does include some rocky and steep climbing, in addition to hopping across boulders in streams and traversing large, slippery slabs of rock. The very popular route has long stretches of maneuverable terrain and takes hikers past a series of fantastic waterfalls - including the smaller Stairs Falls, the 60-foot Swiftwater Falls, and the 80-foot Cloudland Falls. Length: Six miles round-trip or nine-mile loopĪbout: This lovely but tricky trail takes you to the summit of Little Haystack Mountain, a 4,840-footer in the White Mountains. The hike out to Nancy Cascades is relatively short and easy however, the more you add on (to the ponds and summit), the trickier the terrain and navigation becomes. The trail connects to Mount Nancy Trail for those looking to summit the 3,926-foot mountain. Many hikers opt to continue on, as beautiful Nancy Pond can be found another mile up the trail, and Norcross Pond yet another mile from there. The trailhead can be found off of Route 302, and the lower cascades and pool are a bit less than 2.5 miles into the hike on Nancy Pond Trail. For those who want to escape the crowds, however, there are just under 10 miles of additional hiking past the waterfalls on the Moat Mountain and Red Ridge trails.Ĭathryn McCann Nancy Cascades | LivermoreĪbout: Between the main upper and lower falls, Nancy Cascades trickle through chutes, slides, plunges, and horsetails for up to 300 feet, fed by water from Nancy Pond (another worthwhile destination). The path to Diana’s Baths is flat and easy, and it’s less than a mile to the base of the falls. The site’s original Abenaki name meant “water fairies’ spring” - and on a warm summer day, with the sun shining between the trees and reflecting into the rushing water, one can certainly imagine how it could be a fairies’ paradise. Length: One-mile round-trip or up to 10 milesĪbout: At Diana’s Baths in the White Mountains, both kids and adults can enjoy easy hiking, scrambling over smooth rocks, wading in natural pools, and viewing plunging 12-foot waterfalls. There are also more trails at the nature preserve for those looking to do some additional hiking. Although the hike is short and the waterfall consists of just two shorter plunges, the area is beautiful and there are benches for sitting and relaxing or enjoying a snack. Hikers can get to the falls by walking up the road from the parking area to the trailhead kiosk on the right and following the Walter Trail up to the waterfall. Fed by Grove Hollow Brook, the waterfall is best visited in spring when the water is rushing most heavily. New Hampshire Waterfalls | Arethusa FallsĪbout: Found in Plymouth’s Walter-Newton Natural Area, Rainbow Falls is a pretty 20-foot waterfall that doesn’t require trekking into the White Mountain National Forest. Despite the steep trail and tricky terrain you must traverse to get here, some say Arethusa Falls is the best in New England. There’s also the option, before or after checking out the waterfall, to hike the Frankenstein Cliff Trail, which forms a loop with the Arethusa Falls Trail, for a total distance of about five miles. From the parking area off Route 302 in Hart’s Location, hikers can take the Bemis Brook Trail to the Arethusa Falls Trail and out to the waterfall, for a total distance of 1.5 miles (one way). Length: Three miles round-trip or five-mile loopĪbout: Tucked away within Crawford Notch State Park in the White Mountains, this waterfall from the headwaters of Bemis Brook plunges along a granitic cliff to a rocky pool beneath. Although estimates of the falls’ height vary from 125 to 200 feet, the water rushing from the top seems to be coming right out of the sky. The trailhead can be reached off of I-93 via the Basin parking areas (on either side) in Franconia Notch State Park. The easy, short trail ascends subtly and is a segment of the famous Appalachian Trail. There are unnamed cascades and fun water features throughout the trail, so it’s possible (despite the route’s popularity) for all hikers to find a fine private area where they can enjoy the water and view. The trail runs parallel to Cascade Brook and leads to several popular features, including a small waterfall located in the Pemigewasset River basin that chutes into a whirlpool, Kinsman Falls, a 15-foot fall that plunges into a swimmable pool, and Rocky Glen Falls, the largest of the bunch at 35 feet. Here are some of our favorites: Basin-Cascades Trail | LincolnĪbout: The Basin-Cascades Trail is less of a single destination and more of a mile-long display of beautiful waterfalls and cascades. Love trails? Love waterfalls? New Hampshire is a great place to find both. New Hampshire Waterfalls | Arethusa FallsĬathryn McCann 10 Worthwhile Hiking Trails to New Hampshire Waterfalls
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