15 Best Waterfalls in New Hampshire (2026 Updated)
Of the 51 named waterfalls in New Hampshire, these 15 earn the strongest visitor ratings, led by Glen Ellis Falls, Beaver Brook Falls, and Sabbaday Falls. The list spans the Eastern White Mountains and the North Country, Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset, and Southern Uplands and the Merrimack Valley.
How We Picked
We ranked the 25 publicly accessible New Hampshire waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands. Every waterfall links to a full page with coordinates, maps and nearby falls.
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1. Glen Ellis Falls
Gorham, NH · Coos County · Eastern White Mountains and the North Country
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.9-star Google rating and is the 2nd most reviewed in the state, with 240 reviews. 90% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Serene, 64-foot high waterfall on the Ellis River in White Mountain National Forest." Older records also call it Pitcher Falls. It is one of 19 named falls in the Eastern White Mountains and the North Country region. The nearest town is Gorham, about 11 miles to the north.
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2. Beaver Brook Falls
Colebrook, NH · Coos County · Eastern White Mountains and the North Country
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.9-star Google rating and is the 7th most reviewed in the state, with 46 reviews. 91% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 19 named falls in the Eastern White Mountains and the North Country region. The nearest town is Colebrook, about 2.3 miles to the southwest.
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3. Sabbaday Falls
Tamworth, NH · Grafton County · Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset
Why it made the list
It is the most reviewed waterfall in New Hampshire, holding 4.8 stars across 420 Google reviews. 88% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Gentle, paved trail to a sequence of narrow waterfalls in a forest renowned for its fall foliage." Older records also call it Church Falls. It is one of 19 named falls in the Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset region. The nearest town is Tamworth, about 11 miles to the southeast.
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4. Arethusa Falls
Deerfield, NH · Grafton County · Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 3rd most reviewed in the state, with 175 reviews. 87% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "The state's 2nd tallest, this picturesque waterfall is reached by a 1.5-mile, uphill hiking trail." It is one of 19 named falls in the Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset region. Ripley Falls is only 1.1 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Deerfield, about 13 miles to the northwest.
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5. Ripley Falls
Deerfield, NH · Carroll County · Eastern White Mountains and the North Country
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 5th most reviewed in the state, with 57 reviews. 84% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 19 named falls in the Eastern White Mountains and the North Country region. Arethusa Falls is only 1.1 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Deerfield, about 12 miles to the northwest.
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6. Welton Falls
Alexandria, NH · Grafton County · Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 22 reviews. 82% of reviewers give it five stars. Reviews most often mention rocks, no bridge, water crossing, and river. It is one of 19 named falls in the Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset region. The nearest town is Alexandria, about 4.0 miles to the southeast.
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7. Bridalveil Falls
Deerfield, NH · Grafton County · Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 21 reviews. 86% of reviewers give it five stars. Older records also call it Bridal Veil Falls. It is one of 19 named falls in the Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset region. The nearest town is Deerfield, about 7.2 miles to the northeast.
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8. Garfield Falls
Colebrook, NH · Coos County · Eastern White Mountains and the North Country
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 11 reviews. It is one of 19 named falls in the Eastern White Mountains and the North Country region. The nearest town is Colebrook, about 21 miles to the southwest.
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9. Georgiana Falls
Woodstock, NH · Grafton County · Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.7-star Google rating and is the 10th most reviewed in the state, with 31 reviews. 84% of reviewers give it five stars. Older records also call it Harvard Cascade and Harvard Fall. It is one of 19 named falls in the Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset region. Gordon Falls is only 2.7 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Woodstock, about 6.9 miles to the south.
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10. Livermore Falls
Plymouth, NH · Grafton County · Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.7-star Google rating and is the 9th most reviewed in the state, with 38 reviews. 84% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Waterfall along the Pemigewasset River with swimming, kayaking & a state forest with hiking." It is one of 19 named falls in the Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset region. The nearest town is Plymouth, about 2.2 miles to the southwest.
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11. Beede Falls
Sandwich, NH · Carroll County · Eastern White Mountains and the North Country
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.7-star Google rating and is the 6th most reviewed in the state, with 51 reviews. 78% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 19 named falls in the Eastern White Mountains and the North Country region. The nearest town is Sandwich, about 4.9 miles to the southeast.
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12. Sumner Falls
Lebanon, NH · Sullivan County · Southern Uplands and the Merrimack Valley
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 8 reviews. It is one of 13 named falls in the Southern Uplands and the Merrimack Valley region. The nearest town is Lebanon, about 8.4 miles to the northeast.
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13. Thompson Falls
North Conway, NH · Carroll County · Eastern White Mountains and the North Country
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 14 reviews. It is one of 19 named falls in the Eastern White Mountains and the North Country region. The nearest town is North Conway, about 2.7 miles to the east.
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14. Thirteen Falls
Deerfield, NH · Grafton County · Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.4 stars across 9 reviews. Older records also call it Number Thirteen Falls. It is one of 19 named falls in the Western White Mountains and the Pemigewasset region. Hawthorne Falls is only 2.1 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Deerfield, about 4.7 miles to the north.
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15. Packers Falls
Newmarket, NH · Strafford County · Southern Uplands and the Merrimack Valley
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.2 stars across 5 reviews. Older records also call it Packer's Falls. It is one of 13 named falls in the Southern Uplands and the Merrimack Valley region. The nearest town is Newmarket, about 1.7 miles to the southeast.
When to Visit New Hampshire's Waterfalls
The best water in New Hampshire usually comes from April through early June, when snowmelt in the White Mountains combines with spring rain. Lower elevations peak first; high brooks in the notches keep running hard into June. Summer flows can drop sharply during dry spells, though thunderstorms refresh them quickly, and swimming holes become popular in July and August. Late September through mid-October brings famous foliage, especially along the Kancamagus Highway, along with heavy traffic and full trailhead lots on weekends. Winter turns many falls into ice formations and climbing objectives, but approach trails are icy and some forest roads close for the season. Black flies can be bothersome in late spring.
Before You Go
Most of the state's notable falls lie within the White Mountain National Forest or state parks such as Franconia Notch and Crawford Notch. Many national forest trailheads require a recreation parking pass, and state park fees apply at some sites. On autumn weekends, parking along the Kancamagus Highway and in the notches fills early. The main hazard is wet granite: smooth, algae-covered ledges near falls are extremely slippery, and slips into potholes or over drops cause injuries every year. Spring runoff makes crossings dangerous, and water stays cold well into summer. White Mountain weather can turn severe quickly at higher elevations, so even short hikes call for layers and rain gear.
Read our waterfall safety rules and packing list before heading out.
Explore More New Hampshire Waterfalls
See all 51 waterfalls in the New Hampshire waterfall guide, or browse by town: Gorham, Colebrook, Tamworth, Deerfield, Alexandria, Woodstock, Plymouth, Sandwich.
More New Hampshire Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best waterfall in New Hampshire?
Glen Ellis Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.9-star rating from 240 Google reviews. It is near Gorham in Coos County.
How was this list made?
We ranked the 25 publicly accessible New Hampshire waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands.
How many waterfalls are in New Hampshire?
Our directory lists 51 named waterfalls in New Hampshire. See them all, sorted by town, in the New Hampshire waterfall guide.
What is the easiest White Mountains waterfall to visit?
Sabbaday Falls off the Kancamagus Highway is reached by a short, gentle path, and Glen Ellis Falls in Pinkham Notch is a short walk from the road with stairs to the viewpoint. Beaver Brook Falls near Colebrook is visible from roadside parking.