September is a perfect season for hiking and biking the White Mountains of New Hampshire ~ the days are warm and nights are cool, summer crowds have gone, and just a few leaves are becoming tinged with autumn color. Walks and hikes from easy to challenging abound, and you can return to the inn to…
The Ellis River stretches from the eastern slopes of Mt. Washington through Pinkham Notch and the village of Jackson where it flows past the inn and under the covered bridge, eventually joining the Saco River in the village of Glen. Crystal Cascade, Glen Ellis Falls and Goodrich Falls all are along the Ellis River.
Bridal Veil Falls is reached via the Coppermine Trail off Route116 near Easton, NH, approximately one hour west of the inn. The 80 foot falls are a 5 mile round trip hike of moderate difficulty. The tall main plunge that has the appearance of a bridal veil, and the pool below offers a shady spot…
Thoreau Falls is somewhat remote, but offers both a scenic view and series of cascades and slides dropping 80 feet along the ledges of the North Fork of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River. The 5 mile hike to the top of the waterfall takes the Zealand, Ethan Pond, and Thoreau Falls Trails. The…
Thompson Falls is reached by a hike along the Way of the Wildcat Nature Trail that begins behind the base lodge at Wildcat Mountain Ski Area (12 miles north of the inn on Route 16). Passing through woods with mosses and colorful wildflowers, at the far end of the trail’s loop, a path leads to…
Sparkling Cascade is a ‘forgotten’ waterfall upstream of Ripley Falls on the right fork of the trail. Although it was listed in some old guidebooks, it is not easily reached via a trail, and may involve bushwhacking in steep terrain.
Silver Cascade is a series of waterfalls descending Crawford Notch. Together with the neighboring Flume Cascade, they are easily seen from Route 302 just east of the Notch (about 30 minutes from the inn). You can enjoy the Cascades from the highway, park and hike, or even view them from the Conway Scenic Railway’s Notch…
Sabbaday Falls is located 3.5 miles west of the junction of Bear Notch Road with the Kancamagus Highway (Route 112). The falls flow first through a 5 foot punchbowl into a circular pool; then the water cascades over two plunges of 22 and 8 feet within the gorge. An easy 0.3 mile hike has walking…
Ripley Falls is one of the steepest-angled slides in New England, where Avalanche Brook rushes 100 feet over a smooth rock wall at a 60-degree angle. The 0.6 mile trail climbs up the walls of Crawford Notch from a parking lot off Route 302 in Crawford Notch State Park, about a 25 mile drive northwest…
Pearl Cascade is a 20 foot fan along Crawford Brook, a mountain steam that drains Mount Field. Below the falls, there is a delightful wading spot. The trail begins behind the Crawford Depot Station (20 miles west of the inn on Route 302) and follows the Cascade Loop Trail. You can see both Pearl and…
Paradise Falls at Lost River Gorge is in Kinsman Notch, 7 miles west of North Woodstock on Rt. 112. The 35 foot falls are viewed from a 0.8 mile easy to moderate loop hike with boardwalks that follow along the Lost River as it appears and disappears in the gorge. (These falls on the western…
Nancy Cascades is named for the tragic woman who perished in the 19th century trying to reach her fiance’s camp during a snowstorm in the White Mountains. Nancy Brook plunges through a series of shady cascades into a deep pool The 2.5 mile trail to the falls is moderately difficult and is accessed off Route…
The Wildcat River forms Jackson Falls, a series of flat ledges dropping gradually through the village. In summer, it is a favorite spot for wading and picnicing under the trees that border its banks. Memorial Day Weekend, you’ll find 3000 yellow rubber ducks racing down the falls during Jackson’s Wildquack Festival. To reach the Falls…
Glen Ellis Falls is a jewel in Pinkham Notch. The parking area is a 9 miles drive north from the inn on Route 16 along the Ellis River. Take the well-marked .2 mile trail under the highway and climb down the series of stone steps to reach the vantage point at the base of the…
Franconia Falls a series of slides, pools, and cascades over a bank of Conway Granite, is easily accessed year around by foot, mountain bike, snowshoes or cross-country skis. The falls are located at the end of one of the flattest walking trails in the White Mountains about 3.4 miles from the trailhead along Route 112…
Flume Gorge in Franconia Notch State Park, a little over an hour’s drive from the inn, is well-known for its scenery including Avalanche Falls, Liberty Gorge Cascades, The Pool, glacial boulders, and a covered bridge. All can be viewed from the easy two mile loop hike through the State Park.
The Ellis River rises on the eastern slopes of Mt. Washington. Flowing south, it is joined by the Cutler River and cascades over Glen Ellis Falls at Pinkham Notch before continuing into the village of Jackson and past the inn through a gradually widening valley. South of Jackson the river drops over a dam at…
Diana’s Baths ~ An easy .5 mile walk in takes you to the 200 yards of cascading falls, waterspouts and granite terraces and basins along Lucy Brook. The beginning of the hike is .5 mile from the turnoff to Cathedral Ledge on West Side Road, about 5 miles from the inn.
Crystal Cascade ~ The Cutler River drops 80 feet to form the dramatic and photogenic Crystal Cascade. The 0.3 mile trail is a steady, at times somewhat steep climb that begins behind the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center parking lot, just 12 miles north of the inn on Route 16.
Champney Falls are named for Benjamin Champney, famous White Mountain Artist (1817-1907). The Falls are best seen in spring and early summer when the water is highest. Beautiful ice flows can be seen in winter. The trail begins at a parking lot on Route 112, about 10 miles west of Conway, and follows the easy…
Beaver Brook Falls are some of the farthest away from the inn, located near the Canadian border and the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, but are easily viewed without a hike. The falls are about 70 feet tall, dropping over a jagged ledge of the Waits River Formation, a large dark quartzite. They can be viewed…
The Basin is located in Franconia Notch, not far from the former site of the “Old Man in the Mountain”. Called the “Old Man’s Foot Basin”, it is only .1 mile from the parking area off I-93. The Pemigewasset River flows through a narrow chute, constantly stirring the pool below in a clockwise direction. The…
Avalanche Falls can be found in Franconia Notch State Park on the western side of the White Mountains off I-93. The boardwalk portion of an easy 2 mile loop hike provides excellent views of the beautiful falls. The State Park is reached by a scenic drive of about 75 minutes from the inn.
Arethusa Falls is one of the most scenic waterfalls in NH. Bemis Brook plunges over granite cliffs about 160 feet high, creating the longest single drop in NH. The falls are about a one hour, moderate hike each way, although you can extend the hike to Frankenstein Cliffs for more mountain views. The falls are…