Ripley Falls Trail: A Gorgeous New Hampshire Waterfall Hike

With as much nature as we have in New Hampshire, those looking for outdoor fun and “waterfalls near me” are never far from an adventure. While that’s great, it can be easy to do the same things over and over again once you know what you like. This year, we’ve challenged ourselves to try new things, see new places, and experience under-the-radar spots. The Ripley Falls Trail is a great option for a gorgeous waterfall in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest!

The Crawford Notch area is known for quite a few beautiful natural attractions including spots like Arethusa Falls and Mount Willard. But the little trail leading to Ripley Falls is worth an afternoon as well.

The route, which is about a half-mile each way isn't terribly long, which makes this an activity you can do in the morning or afternoon.

Though the route is short compared to the nearby Arethusa Falls Trail, there are a few steep areas with roots and rocks. But it still won't take long, even if you choose to take a few breaks along the way.

It's absolutely gorgeous year-round, but fall foliage makes things extra lovely.

If you visit after a rainfall, there's a good chance you'll hear the falls before you arrive.

You're likely to find the trail quiet compared to the more popular nearby routes, but when you arrive you'll be surprised at just how stunning it is.

It's huge and the surrounding forest makes it feel like a hidden oasis.

Check out the people in this photo for a good shot of perspective. If you're feeling extra ambitious there are many other trails that intersect with this one where you can head on up to the Frankenstein Cliffs or even head on over to Arethusa Falls.

In the winter, things get very quiet around here and the falls take on a whole different look.

When we did this trail we went in the spring, which makes for a great season to see Ripley Falls. We found that the perfect time to visit is right after the snow starts to melt and the weather is warm. You won't be too cold hiking and the melting snow and spring showers make for a spectacular show when you arrive at the waterfall.

Ripley Falls is an impressively large waterfall that flows down the smooth rock for 100 feet. We were pretty happy that this waterfall only took us an easy half-mile hike to get to and the scenery was picture-perfect.

We also found that the rocks in the stream made for a fun way to enjoy the area. We hopped across the different rocks as the water churned and guggled beneath our feet. This is also a great spot to bring a snack and find a smooth flat rock to sit and relax on.

Ripley Falls Trail is best between March and October, but you can’t really go wrong any time of year. Bring the pups along, but make sure they stay on a leash. You can learn more about this hiking trail by downloading the map of the Ripley Falls Trail on your AllTrails+ app. Which other “waterfalls near me” in New Hampshire should we write about? Let us know. If you would like to know more about our journey to this amazing waterfall then check out this Adventuring in the Moment video to watch us hike to Ripley Falls.

If you are looking for the best waterfall hikes in New Hampshire, we’ve got you covered. You’ll want to check out this secret waterfall in New Hampshire that most people don’t know about.

Which other hiking trails with waterfalls in New Hampshire have you done? We would love to hear your remarks. Let us know by dropping a comment below.

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Luke | April 07, 2022

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Ripley Falls, Hart's Location, NH 03812, USA

This Simple, 1-Mile Trail Leads To Ripley Falls, One Of New Hampshire's Most Underrated Waterfalls

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