Guide
When to visit New Hampshire waterfalls
Last checked 2026-11-01 · How we check
Agencies rarely name a "best" season, so we stick to what they publish: open dates, fees and seasonal hazards.
Seasonal sites
- Lower Falls (Swift River) and Rocky Gorge: mid-May to mid-October (Forest Service).
- Flume Gorge: ticketed May to October; the trail closed for the season on October 26 this year.
- Sabbaday Falls: fees spring through fall, none in winter.
Year-round
- Diana's Baths: a year-round fee site with a lot maintained for winter. Wikipedia notes flow is strongest in spring snowmelt.
- Beaver Brook Falls (Colebrook): always open unless posted, but unstaffed off season.
Seasonal hazards
- Spring melt and heavy rain: high water makes the river ford at Winniweta Falls unsafe.
- Winter: the Frankenstein Cliff route near Arethusa Falls runs below ledges that form large amounts of ice; NH State Parks warns falling ice can cause injury or death.
- Fall: days are shorter. NH State Parks warns that in Crawford Notch "darkness falls quickly." Carry a light.
Foliage timing: Not verified. We don't publish peak-color dates.
Falls in this guide
Diana's BathsBartlett · White Mountains
Lower Falls (Swift River)Albany · White MountainsFlume GorgeLincoln · White Mountains
Arethusa FallsLivermore · White MountainsSafety
- Wet rock near waterfalls is very slippery, even when it looks dry. Stay back from edges and off the tops of falls.
- High water after rain or snowmelt makes crossings and pools dangerous. Turn back if a crossing looks deep or fast.
- Daylight is not a safety guarantee. Plan your time around the route, the weather and your group, and carry a light.
- Check the managing agency for closures and current conditions.
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