Description
Diana’s Baths is a beautiful waterfall located in Bartlett, New Hampshire. The waterfall features a total drop of about 80 feet and it can be found along Lucy Brook. Lucy Brook flows strongest during spring when the snow melts. Although it is best to explore the waterfall in the spring to see it roaring, Diana’s Baths is a great spot to visit year-round. The waterfall itself drops in a unique formation consisting of many plunges, cascades, and slides. The tallest drop of them all is a 12-foot plunge.
Diana’s Baths is located within the White Mountain National Forest and it is one of the more popular waterfalls in the state. To access the waterfall, a 0.6-mile hike is required. The trail is well-maintained and very family-friendly. During the summer months, swimming is a popular activity at the small pools. Swimming at the falls is rated as very good and many people refer to Diana’s Baths as “nature’s waterpark.”
The waterfall has more history than most. The waterfall and five acres of land were purchased by George Lucy in 1863. Lucy and his family first build a house and barn on the banks of the brook. They then realized that a sawmill would be optimal for the site considering the strong cascading waterfall. The site Lucy had developed was very beautiful and tourists began seeking out the mill. In 1890, George Lucy decided to have a 12-room boarding house built for visitors to the site. The boarding house was not as successful as George had hoped. The lack in demand was due to the more established hotels nearby attracting overnight visitors. Additionally, portable mills were introduced in the 1930s, which led to the mill being abandoned in favor of newer technologies. The property then changed hands in the 1950s and was eventually sold to the government to become national Forest land. As the abandoned buildings deteriorated, they were removed in the 1960s.
Be sure to check out the Cathedral Ledge Lookout which is only 2 miles from the waterfall! Looking for more great New Hampshire spots to explore? Check out goxplr.com/map/new-hampshire/
Waterfall Specs
- Height: Tallest plunge is 12 feet; the total drop is 80 feet
- Type: Plunges, cascades, and slides
- Water source: Lucy Brook
- Swimming: Very Good
Diana’s Baths Location
- Park: White Mountain National Forest
- Address: West Side Rd
- Town: Bartlett
- State: New Hampshire
- GPS: Lat 44.07136 Lng -71.17041
- Parking Notes: There is a large dirt parking lot off West Side Road for visitors to Diana’s Baths. In total, there are about 50 parking spaces. Parking is free.
- Parking Directions: HERE
- Location Directions: HERE
External Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recreation/recarea/?recid=74963&actid=70
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.