Where to see New Hampshire’s frozen waterfalls this winter

11 New Hampshire frozen waterfalls to visit this winter. 

Wouldn’t it be magical if we could freeze the most breathtaking moments we encounter when getting out into nature during this frosty season? Well, that’s a reality in New Hampshire, where there’s plenty of opportunity to see the fantastic spectacle of frozen waterfalls. Here are 11 of the crystalized cataracts in the state.

1. Sabbaday Falls

Location: Kancamagus Highway, Waterville Valley

Details: 35-foot waterfall,  0.7-mile, 30-minute round trip

With the gravel path at Sabbaday Falls, this short loop makes for a great family hike to see the 35-foot fall, arched over a craggy flume, frozen in time and space. In the winter, the frozen falls take on an otherworldly appearance.

2. Thompson Falls

Location: Route 16, Gorham

Details: 15-foot waterfall, 1.1-mile round-trip

This is another easy hike where you can view the frozen Thompson Falls at the base of Wildcat Mountain. Start at the Wildcat Mountain parking lot and follow the Wildcat Trail until you see signs for the falls.

3. Crystal Cascade

Location: 361 NH-16, Gorham

Details: 100-foot waterfall, 0.7 miles one-way (30-40 minutes round trip)

Crystal Cascade is a quick hike or snowshoe trip to the falls on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to the cascades, which have a dramatic 90-foot drop.

4. Rainbow Falls

Location: 1035 Cumming Hill Road, Plymouth

Details: 20-foot waterfall, 1.6 miles round trip

The level, but picturesque, trail at Rainbow Falls, part of the Walter-Newton Conservation Area, is a perfect hike for children as well as adults. The White Mountains Attraction Association labels the cascade “one of the easiest and most rewarding waterfall winter hikes in New Hampshire.”

5. Glen Ellis Falls

Location: Route 16, Gorham

Details: 64-foot waterfall, less than 1 mile hike (30-minute round trip)

If you’ve never seen a wall of sky-blue ice, then make the short hike to Glenn Ellis Falls on the Ellis River in the White Mountain National Forest, one of the most popular waterfall sights in the Whites.

6. Diana’s Bath

Location: 3872 West Side Road, Bartlet

Details: 70-foot waterfall, 1-mile round trip

While Diana’s Bath might be the coolest place ever to swim in the summer, it’s truly magical in the winter. The series of small falls, with a total vertical drop of about 70 feet, looks like a fairyland when they’re frozen. Snowshoes would help to hike this trail in the winter.

7. Ripley Falls

Location: Crawford Notch State Park, Hart’s Location

Details: 100-foot waterfall, 2.4-mile round-trip hike

Caught in icy suspended animation, the 100-foot Ripley Falls in Crawford Notch State Park cascades from Avalanche Brook and is considered to be the best waterfall in the state, according to the World Waterfall Database.

8. Bridal Veil Falls

Location: Route 116, Franconia

Details: 80-foot waterfall, 5-mile round trip

You can get to Bridal Veil Falls by following the Coppermine Trail in the Western White Mountains. This is a moderate hike, but well worth the view of chilled brooks and the breathtaking 80-foot fall, which, true to its name, presents like an icy veil frozen in time and space.

9. Arethusa Falls

Location: Route 302, Harts Location

Details: 160-foot waterfall, 3 miles round trip

With its 160-foot single drop, Arethusa Falls is considered the tallest waterfall in New Hampshire. It’s terrific to see the water running from Bemis Brook into a colorful pool in the warm months, but when it’s frozen, this monumental cascade is awe-inspiring. Light blue and white ice, mystical curves and turns, and sheer height live up to the meaning of its name. Arethusa, a Naiad nymph in Greek mythology, turned into a freshwater spring to escape a river god who was pursuing her. There is everything mythical and magical about these cascades in winter. This is a moderately difficult climb, and snowshoes are recommended.

10. Cloudland Falls

Location: Franconia Notch State Park, Lincoln

Details: 80-foot waterfall, 5.6-mile round trip

This cataract is on the popular Falling Waters Trail in the White Mountains. That trail has five waterfalls, with Cloudland Falls being the third and biggest, popping up about 1.3 miles from the trailhead. This is a little bit harder than some other waterfall hikes, so a winter climb is best pursued by experienced hikers.

11. Jackson Falls

Location: Carter Notch Road (Route16B), Jackson

Details: (total) 100-foot waterfall, .5 miles round trip

Jackson Falls is actually a meandering series of smaller waterfalls, pools, and cascades on the Wildcat River near Jackson Village. It has a total drop of 100 feet. The river was added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers program in 1988, and it’s only a short hop to check out the falls’ icy curtain from the road.

Safety

According to the U.S. Forest Service website, winter hiking in the White Mountains and throughout the state requires careful preparation and planning for extreme weather conditions, including snow, wind, and icy rain. The site states that skis or snowshoes are almost always necessary, and if hiking above the tree line, axes and crampons are a must. It also suggests that before someone begins winter hiking, it’s best to have experienced hiking in warmer seasons. The service also stresses that your plans should be discussed in detail with family or friends before setting off for your winter hike.

For more information on the state’s waterfalls, go to the World Waterfall Database and this list of waterfalls in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.