10 Tallest Waterfalls In New Hampshire (100+ foot drops)
New Hampshire has so much natural beauty and some of the greatest sights to see in the state are waterfalls. There are dozens of waterfalls that can be found throughout the state and they include plunges, horsetails, cascades, slides, and more unique formations. If you are seeking out the tallest waterfalls in the Granite State, this blog post is for you. This post includes the 10 tallest New Hampshire waterfalls, all of which drop over 100 feet! (Heights are based on publically available data and estimates)
If you end up checking out one of these waterfalls, be sure to upload it to GoXplr!
#1 – Beaver Brook Cascades
Approximately 1,000-foot total drop
- Type: Plunges, horsetails, cascades, and slides
- Town: Woodstock
- Park: White Mountain National Forest
- Directions: Here
Beaver Brook Cascades are located in Kinsman Notch and drops for an impressive 1,000+ feet – this makes it the tallest New Hampshire waterfall. The cascades last for nearly a mile along the Beaver Brook Trail. To access the cascades, a half-mile walk from the trailhead is all it takes.
#2 – Kedron Flume
Approximately 600-foot total drop (About 150 feet of vertical drop is viewable from the trail)
- Type: Cascades and slides
- Town: Harts Location
- Park: Crawford Notch State Park
- Directions: Here
Kedron Flume can be found along the Kendron Flume Trail in Harts Location, NH. The falls can be accessed after only about 1 mile of easy hiking. Kedron Flume consists of a long series of cascades with an estimated total drop of about 600 feet. Approximately 150 feet of the Kendron Flume can be easily viewed from the trail.
#3 – Dryad Falls
Approximately 300-foot total drop (55 feet are visible from the trail)
- Type: Horsetails and slides
- Town: Shelburne
- Park: None
- Directions: Here
Dryad Falls in Shelburne is an impressive waterfall that is often thought to be the tallest waterfall in New Hampshire. Although it is not quite the tallest waterfall in New Hampshire, it is close! The Dryad Falls Trail will take you to a flat spot in the middle of the waterfall (near the top), where you can enjoy about 55 feet of it.
#4 – Silver & Flume Cascades
Approximately 300-foot drop visible from the road
- Type: Plunges and cascades
- Town: Harts Location
- Park: Crawford Notch State Park
- Directions: Here
Silver and Flume Cascades are located right next to one another in Hart’s Location, NH along Route 302. They both are essentially the same height (at roughly 300 feet) and can be seen from the road. The falls consist of both cascades and plunges which lead into the Saco River. These are two of the tallest New Hampshire waterfalls and are some of the easiest to view!
#5 – Arethusa Falls
Approximately 160 feet
- Type: Horsetail
- Town: Harts Location
- Park: Crawford Notch State Park
- Directions: Here
Arethusa Falls is often considered to be the tallest waterfall in New Hampshire because it consists of one, continuous drop. If you’re on the hunt for a waterfall with some serious force, Arethusa is calling your name! The waterfall is located off Route 302 in Livermore, New Hampshire, and the shortest trail to get to the falls is about 1.5 miles long. It is well-worth the hike!
#6 – Sentinel Pine Bridge and Pool
Approximately 130-foot total drop
- Type: Cascade
- Town: Lincoln
- Park: Franconia Notch State Park
- Directions: Here
The Pool and the Sentinel Pine Bridge are located about a half-mile from the Flume Gorge and Avalanche Falls, in Franconia Notch, New Hampshire. It was formed at the end of the Ice Age 14,000 years ago by a silt-laden stream flowing from the glacier. The Pool is 40 feet deep and 150 feet in diameter and is surrounded by cliffs 130 feet high. A waterfall, pool, and a covered bridge…. It doesn’t get better than that!
#7 – Chesterfield Gorge
Approximately 120-foot total drop
- Type: Horsetails, cascades, slides, and small plunges
- Town: Chesterfield
- Park: Chesterfield Gorge State Wayside Area
- Directions: Here
Chesterfield Gorge is a beautiful and tall waterfall located in the Chesterfield Gorge State Wayside Area. The waterfall drops a total of 120 feet and consists of horsetails, cascades, slides, and small plunges. The gorge can be accessed via a 0.7 mile moderately trafficked loop trail.
#8 – Jackson Falls
Approximately 100-foot total drop
- Type: Cascades and small plunges
- Town: Jackson
- Park: None
- Directions: Here
Jackson Falls in Jackson, NH has an approximate total drop of 100 feet and seemingly goes on forever. In the summer season, you will likely find a lot of people swimming in small pools that can be found along the falls. There are also plenty of places to set up for the day and enjoy the waterfall. In the off-season, the falls are less crowded and just as beautiful!
#9 – Crystal Cascade
Approximately 100-foot total drop
- Type: Horsetails and a block
- Town: Pinkhams Grant
- Park: White Mountain National Forest
- Directions: Here
Crystal Cascade in Pinkham Notch is a breathtaking waterfall consisting of horsetails and a block. The trail to access the falls can be found at the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and is about 0.6 miles roundtrip. Seeing a 100-foot waterfall after just 0.3 miles is amazing and this is a New Hampshire waterfall that should be sought out by every traveler!
#10 – Ammonoosuc Ravine
The falls above Gem Pool are 35 feet; upper falls are 100 feet
- Type: Plunges, horsetails, and cascades
- Town: Sargents Purchase
- Park: White Mountain National Forest
- Directions: Here
The Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail passes by two awesome waterfalls. The first waterfall that hikers come upon is a 35-foot set of cascades. Continuing on the trail are the upper falls which have a 100-foot drop into a deep pool. And even further along the ravine trail, you will find the Lake of the Clouds hut!
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