Falling Water Trail, New Hampshire  

Waterfalls, waterfalls, and more waterfalls! A visit to New Hampshire wouldn’t be complete without hiking one of the area’s most popular hikes, the Falling Water Trail. Not only is it a gorgeous, dog-friendly trail that goes through three waterfalls, but it is also the first or last part of the Franconia Ridge Loop, another popular trail that is way more challenging.  

In this blog post, we’ll share some information about what to expect on the Falling Water Trail, safety tips, and also touch a little on the Franconia Ridge Loop so if you don’t want to turn back, you can just keep going!

Falling Water Trail

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 2.8 miles out-and-back

Elevation Gain: 900 feet

In a nutshell, this pleasant 2.8-mile out-and-back trail goes mostly along a river and crosses three waterfalls, eventually reaching the summit of Little Haystack Mountain. This is where you’ll turn back or keep going for the Franconia Ridge Trail.

The trail starts from the Franconia Notch Parkway which is also an AMC shuttle stop. You’ll take the Old Bridle Path and share the first 0.2 miles with the Green leaf Hut and Mount Lafayette trails.

At the split, turn right at the clearly marked Falling Water Trail and you’ll soon get to the first waterfall: Stairs Fall. Several hundred feet above is Swiftwater Falls, a 60-foot mix of small plunges and cascades. The trail will cross Dry Brook in front of Swiftwater, and if it's a busy day, this area can be crowded.  

At Swiftwater, the trail steepens for about half a mile and you’ll get to the last waterfall, the 80-foot Cloudland Falls and the main attraction of the trail. This impressive waterfall is about two feet at the top and up to 25-feet at the bottom, creating a pretty, fan-like cascade.

This is where you decide whether you turn back and return to the parking lot, or continue along the Franconia Ridge Trail, a challenging hike that should only be attempted in good weather. We’ll talk a little about this trail later.

Terrain

While this is a relatively easy hike, the terrain can be challenging at times and go through rocks and streams. Sturdy hiking shoes or boots are recommended.

Weather

Depending on the time of year, you still might have snow both on and off the trail. Microspikes aren’t necessarily required and anyway, they don’t work very well on rock.

In spring, you’ll almost definitely have to deal with mud and in summer, there are going to be throngs of mosquitoes so do not leave home without your bug spray.

This trail isn’t suitable for rainy days, as the rocks can get slippery and negotiating wet, steep rock slabs doesn’t sound very fun!

Summer temperatures in New Hampshire are typically 80 F to 90 F so bring loads of water. Better yet if you have a water filter to drink all that gorgeous free water around!

Trail Etiquette

This is an extremely popular trail which means you’re going to run into plenty of people, especially during peak periods.While most of you are already well-versed in hiking etiquette (feel free to skip this part!), we thought we’ll include some basic information to help out the newcomers (and make life more pleasant for us all!)

Leave no trace - Needless to say, pack out what you pack in.ALWAYS.

Right of way - Generally, hikers going up have right of way and those going down should yield on narrow parts, but some nice people also yield when going up.

Stick to the trail - Going off-trail can damage sensitive ecosystems and contribute to erosion. Stick to the trail even if it's easier to go around.

Leash your dogs - If you’re bringing your pooch, LEASH THEM. A loose dog can disrupt someone’s hiking rhythm, get underfoot, or worse, cause them to fall.

Noise levels - Nothing irks us more than the peaceful sound of the water getting disrupted by loud chatter or worse, music. If you want to enjoy your tunes while hiking, use headphones, and when you’re talking to your bud, keep your voice down.

Greetings- It might be difficult on this trail because of the number of people, but it is good custom to greet someone you pass with a simple hello.

Rest stops - If you need a break, be sure to stay off the trail and pick a spot with no vegetation.

Franconia Ridge Loop Trail

Remember that at Cloudland Falls, the top of Falling Water Trail, you can keep going along the Franconia Ridge Loop? That’s another popular trail known for its sweeping views and varied terrain. However, this trail isn’t for the faint-hearted and you’ll need to start way earlier in the day.

The trail features exposed, difficult terrain that should only be attempted in good weather conditions. Winter conditions like ice, snow, cold, and high winds can make it extremely dangerous.

Difficulty: Hard
Distance: 8.6-mile loop
Elevation Gain: 3,825 ft

As you leave the Falling Water Trail at Cloudland Falls, you’ll go up to Franconia Ridge, with spectacular views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness. With forests as far as you can see without a single building or road in sight, it is an excellent place to stop for a breath.

The ridge is relatively wide but it has drop offs on both sides of the trail which makes it dangerous in bad weather conditions. You then reach Mt. Lincoln at 5,089 feet, and from there, the trail gets rockier with large boulders that you have to scramble over to get to Mt.Lafayette. The section from Lincoln to Lafayette is a short but intense one that can sap your energy, so hang in there!

Once you’ve reached Mt. Lafayette, you can breathe a little easier and start your descent on the Greenleaf Hut Trail. Along the way, you’ll pass AMC’s Greenleaf Hut where you can get more water, snacks, and baked foods. Note that the hut is only full service from May 30 to October 19.

Keep going and you’ll eventually find your wayback to Old Bridle Path and the parking lot. Franconia Ridge Loop Trail is well, a loop! Which means alternatively, you can also start from the Greenleaf Hut Trail and finish down the Falling Water Trail.

Conclusion

The Falling Water Trail is a relatively easy hike that can be enjoyed by many of all ages and fitness levels. However, hiking always carries an element of risk so be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. Enjoy yourself and we wish you happy and safe hiking!

P/S: If you are looking for more information on the trails around NH or accommodation during your hiking holiday, we at GidanaGetaways are here for you!

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