The Short And Sweet Arethusa Falls Trail Leads To The Tallest Waterfall In New Hampshire
By Michelle|Updated on January 31, 2024(Originally published August 14, 2020)
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Michelle
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Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
New Hampshire has some of the best waterfalls in New England, not to mention the entire country. Whether tall or small, they’re all worth exploring. But there’s something special about the one that’s considered the tallest in the state. And best of all, the trail to see it isn’t as challenging as you might think. Head out on this family-friendly route and you’ll enjoy a perfectly splendid day surrounded by nature. Arethusa Falls is an epic journey and one of the best hikes we have ever done in New Hampshire.
Arethusa Falls is considered by many to be the most impressive waterfall in the state. While some people are divided about whether it’s truly the tallest, we’ve always considered it to be.
These are both great places to stop to take a break. And for hikers who enjoy appreciating the sights and sounds of nature, these stops are important. They’re a great reminder of what New Hampshire offers in the way of peace and quiet. We love Coliseum Falls for its unique rock formations and the pools that have learned to grown accustomed to in New Hampshire.
Even the winter is something spectacular. In fact, in our opinion, it is one of the best times to go. Traveling through the ice and snow can be a bit tricky at times but the solitude you will find and the sights of a frozen waterfall makes it all worthwhile.
Getting there is relatively easy but here are a few things we have learned to pass on to you before you embark on this grand adventure this winter. A good pair of microspikes are a must while hiking in the White Mountains. If the conditions seem fine just know there is almost always ice in the mountains so it will help with stability. When the trail splits to go down to the stream we would suggest you avoid that section if the trail is particularly icy, because the trail gets very steep in that section. The last leg of the journey getting down to the falls is also steep but unavoidable if you want to see the falls. Take careful steps and with those microspikes, you'll do just fine.
This massive waterfall is truly a breathtaking experience. It remains as one of our top adventures and well worth the trip through a little bit of snow and ice. The cliffside in which the water flows down changes dramatically through the changing weather so every time you visit it can look different. This magical winter wonderland is a great stop to break off a little bit of cabin fever. We would highly recommend taking this hike in the winter to behold this spectacular sight.
The out-and-back trail is about 2.8 miles in its entirety, but with less than 1000 feet in elevation gain, the whole family is likely to find this doable and re-doable!
Arethusa Falls Trail is considered family-friendly, but it does have some slight elevation. You’ll want to make sure everyone is up for it before heading out. We would suggest you download AllTrails before you go and make sure you have the map for Arethusa Falls handy. Many different trails intersect through this part of the forest so having a map is very helpful. Check out our Adventuring in the Moment video as we journey on this epic trail to see one of New Hampshire’s best waterfalls frozen.
And if you want to check out more of New Hampshire’s most impressive waterfalls, we’ve got a great day trip for you. Spend the day exploring the state’s tallest falls on this wonderful waterfall road trip.
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