Waterfalls Around NH
We have been busy exploring NH’s waterfalls. There are a lot more to discover but you have to start somewhere. We will add them as we discover them, let us know if there are any others you’d like us to cover.
Arethusa Falls
Walter/Newton Natural Area in Plymouth
1.6 mile loop easy/ family friendly
125 feet elevation gain
Small parking lot - free
No bathrooms
Dog friendly
Hike clockwise for the easy part first, could do this out and back for a real easy hike. It gets a little more challenging as you pass the waterfall & feels more like a hike rather than a walk in the woods like the first part, but nothing really hard. This hike is a hidden gem!! They have benches at the waterfall to stop and rest
Walter/Newton Natural Area
Bridesmaids Falls in Franconia Notch
1.1 mile total out & back
150 feet elevation gain
Very limited parking
Moderate/Some steep spots
No bathrooms
Dog friendly
Follow the GPS to the trailhead, there are no signs here. It is located in the Mittersill resort neighborhood by Cannon Mountain. The trail has blue blazes, sometimes blue and yellow sometimes blue and green. The trail can be narrow and single file most of the way.
Pro Tip: Push past the last water crossing for the best views.
Bridesmaid Falls Franconia Notch, NH
Georgiana Falls & Harvard Falls in North Woodstock
2.5 mile total out and back
More challenging/ advanced family friendly due to the steepness and lack of signage
Over 700 feet elevation gain
Parking is a small lot at the end of Hansen Farm road off route 3.
No bathrooms
Dog friendly (for an experience dog)
Start the hike around the fence, there are signs here and most of the trail will have red blazes. Not always easy to find the trail marking. Follow the Harvard Brook for most of the trail, it is beautiful. You will want to stop and take pictures for this entire hike. You get to lower Harvard falls first and then Upper Harvard Falls. The trail goes beyond the Upper Falls Trails, but we didn’t venture pass this part because of the dog, it looked tricky for her to be able to handle.
Lower Harvard Falls
Glen Ellis Falls Gorham NH
Located close to the Pinkham Notch visitor center.
Under 1 mile total out and back easy/ very family friendly all ages
130 feet elevation gain
Steps & handrails.
Charge to park -on season
Bathrooms at trailhead- on season
Dog Friendly
From the parking lot follow the trail under rt 16. The trail is crushed stone and then more of a stone path. You can have two options to view the 64 foot waterfall the upper and lower level. This is a run off from Ellis Falls from Mt Washington!
Glen Ellis Falls
Arethusa Falls Crawford Notch
Tallest waterfall in NH at 160 feet
Moderate hike
Bathroom at trailhead on season
2.8 Miles mostly out and back
885 feet of elevation gain
Dog Friendly
There are two parking lots here the lower lot if bigger and will give you a good way to warm up to the hike as it is at the bottom of the hill. You can take a little side trek on the way up to Arethusa Falls to see Bemis Falls. I suggest doing this way first as it is steep and going down this way (lesson learned by us) was a little tricky.
Pro Tip: hike in the spring after some rainy days
Arethusa Falls (me in the lower right corner I am 5’9” for scale reference)
Ripley Falls Crawford Notch
1 mile
Coincides with the Appalachian trail
No bathroom here
Easy/ moderate Family Friendly
Dog Friendly
308 feet of elevation gain
Start the hike by crossing the train tracks. Easy to follow path with some steep sections, nothing too challenging. Great short hike to do with the family can easily do on the same day as Arethusa Falls or together.
Ripley Falls