Arethusa Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire makes for a relatively short hike, but the reward is a front–row seat to the tallest single-drop waterfall in New Hampshire.

The falls are typically in full throat in spring, but there’s really never a bad time to visit. Fall offers the addition of brilliant foliage to the experience. In winter, the falls is a popular destination for snow-shoers. Note that the trail is quite popular and can be crowded during summer and fall. Also, use caution near the base of the falls, as the rocks are very slippery!

From the trailhead and parking area at Arethusa Falls Rd. off Crawford Notch Rd. (Rte 302), the falls can be reached via the well-marked Arethusa Falls-Bemis Brook Trail. Additionally, the Bemis Brook trail offers a look at the smaller Bemis and Coliseum Falls. It’s a roughly 3.1 miles to Arethusa Falls and back, and the elevation gain is around 850 feet.

Note that there are two parking lots: the upper lot is adjacent to the railroad tracks and trailhead, while the lower, overflow lot is down the hill a bit and closer to Rte. 302.

If you’re looking for a longer, more challenging hike, take the 5.3-mile Frankenstein Cliff loop trail that takes you past Arethusa Falls, up to Frankenstein Cliff then back to the parking area. This hike normally takes the average hiker around 3 ½ hours to complete.