Hike Location: Crawford Notch State Park
Geographic Location: northwest of North Conway , NH (44.14803, -71.36684)
Length: 3 miles
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate)
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate)
Dates Hiked: August 2004, August 2015
Overview: A rocky, steady, occasionally steep climb to the highest waterfall in New Hampshire .
Directions to the trailhead: From North Conway , head west on US 302 into Crawford Notch. Continue west on US 302 in the town of Bartlett where Bear Notch Rd. turns left. 8.5 miles west of Bartlett , turn left onto the park entrance road, which is marked by a sign for Arethusa Falls . There are two parking areas, the lower parking area immediately to the right after entering the park and the upper parking area which is located uphill further from US 302. The upper parking area is closest to the trailhead, so try to park there first, retreating to the lower one if the upper parking lot is full.
The hike: There was a time when Bemis Brook babbled peacefully from the mountains to the west into the Saco River on its journey to the Atlantic Ocean . That time ended several thousand years ago when the glaciers advanced south and scoured the walls of this once-shallow valley. When the glaciers retreated, what remained was a deep rut flanked on either side by steep granite walls. Today, Bemis Brook flows over these granite walls and plunges into Crawford Notch on its eastward route to the Saco River . This plunge forms the tallest waterfall in New Hampshire , named Arethusa Falls .
The waterfall’s unusual name comes from that of a Greek mythical water goddess. One visit and you will know why this waterfall deserves deistic nomenclature. Since this is the tallest in the state, you will likely not be alone during your visit to the waterfall. Also, the trail to the falls is not easy, as numerous sections are rocky, a few are steep, and the total elevation gain is 1050 feet. Still, for those who are willing and able to put forth the effort, the reward is more than worth the climb.
Trailhead: Arethusa Falls Trail |
The Bemis Brook Trail follows directly along Bemis Brook, which is on the left, while a steep hillside ascends to the right. 0.4 miles into the hike, pass pretty Bemis Brook Falls , which is actually a series of cascades on your left. Past Bemis Brook Falls , the trail ascends rather steeply for a short distance to reach a bluff overlooking the creek. A brief descent brings you to the base of Coliseum Falls, another small ledge-type waterfall in Bemis Brook. The view is partially blocked by some trees, so you will have to leave the trail and enter the rocky streambed to get a good view.
Bemis Brook Falls |
Climbing toward Arethusa Falls |
The trail ascends the opposite ridge via a pair of broad switchbacks before dropping gently to cross another tributary to Bemis Brook on a wooden bridge. One final moderate climb brings the hiker to the highest point on the hike, some 1050 feet above the trailhead. At this point, the trail comes to a T-intersection with trails going left and right. The trail to the right leads to Ripley Falls and Frankenstein Cliffs. Both of these destinations are worthy sites to see, and Frankenstein Cliffs can be seen from below from the lower parking area. However, the trail to these attractions is lengthy and difficult, so it should only be considered by people with adequate preparation and conditioning.
Arethusa Falls |
No comments:
Post a Comment