The shortest waterfall hike in New Hampshire on this list is Sabbaday Falls, 0.7 miles round trip off the Kancamagus Highway. The easiest for strollers and wheelchairs is Diana's Baths, on a 6-foot-wide gravel path. For a real hike, Arethusa Falls in Crawford Notch is 2.8 miles round trip.
Below are eight White Mountains waterfalls with the distance, fee and dog rules for each, taken from the land manager or a trail database and linked so you can check them.
At a glance
| Waterfall | Round trip | Difficulty | Fee | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glen Ellis Falls | 0.2 mi listed | Easy–Moderate | Day-use fee | Leash |
| Sabbaday Falls | 0.7 mi | Easy | $5/car | Leash |
| Crystal Cascade | 0.8 mi | Moderate | None | Leash |
| Ripley Falls | 1.0 mi | Steady climb | None | Leash |
| Diana's Baths | 1.2 mi | Easy | $5/car | Yes |
| Flume Gorge | 2 mi loop | Easy | Admission | No |
| Arethusa Falls | 2.8 mi | Moderate | None | Leash |
| Zealand Falls | about 5.4 mi | 650 ft climb | None listed | See note |
Fees and dog rules are from the sources linked in each section below.
Short walks (under 1.5 miles)
Sabbaday Falls (Kancamagus Highway)
0.7 miles round trip, rated Easy, from the Sabbaday Falls Picnic Ground on the Kancamagus Highway. The day-use fee there is $5 per vehicle and dogs are allowed on leash. The path is not accessible all the way to the main viewpoint. Source: Trail Finder.
Diana's Baths (North Conway)
1.2 miles round trip, rated Easy, on an ADA-accessible gravel path about 6 feet wide with benches along the way, which makes it the best pick here for strollers and wheelchairs. The trailhead is at 3872 West Side Road, 2.4 miles north of North Conway village; parking is $5 per vehicle and roadside parking is prohibited. Dogs are allowed. Source: Trail Finder. See our Diana's Baths trail guide.
Glen Ellis Falls (Pinkham Notch)
A short walk, listed at 0.2 miles, from the Glen Ellis Falls scenic area on Route 16. The path goes down a series of wide stone steps and over some boulders, so you climb back up to the car. A day-use fee is paid at the kiosk, and dogs are allowed on leash. Source: Trail Finder.
Crystal Cascade (Pinkham Notch)
0.4 miles each way (0.8 round trip) up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail from the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, rated Moderate. The falls drop about 100 feet in two sections. No fee; dogs on leash. Source: Trail Finder.
Ripley Falls (Crawford Notch)
0.5 miles each way (1.0 round trip), climbing steadily from the Ethan Pond / Ripley Falls trailhead at the Wiley Station Road parking lot, 0.1 miles up Wiley House Station Road off US-302. No fee; dogs on leash. Source: Trail Finder.
Half-day hikes
Arethusa Falls (Crawford Notch)
2.8 miles round trip from the Arethusa Falls trailhead on US-302 in Crawford Notch State Park; the trail climbs steadily to the falls (source; Trail Finder calls it a moderate 3-mile hike out and back). No fee; dogs on leash. You can also link it with Ripley Falls on the Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail: from the Ripley Falls trailhead, Trail Finder lists 0.5 miles to Ripley Falls, 1 mile to the Frankenstein Cliff Trail junction and 1.2 miles down to Arethusa Falls (Trail Finder). See our Arethusa Falls trail guide.
Flume Gorge (Franconia Notch)
A 2-mile loop from the Flume Visitor Center that takes about 1.5 hours. The gorge runs 800 feet along the base of Mount Liberty, with walls 70 to 90 feet high and 12 to 20 feet apart. Admission is $18 for ages 13 and over when booked online ($21 at the ticket window), $16 for ages 6–12 ($19 at the window) and free for ages 5 and under. Entry is timed and the park says to reserve online, since walk-up availability isn't guaranteed. Pets are not allowed in the gorge. The visitor center opened May 8 and the park closes for the season on October 25 (2026 dates). Source: NH State Parks.
Zealand Falls (Zealand Road)
Zealand Falls is beside the Appalachian Mountain Club's Zealand Falls Hut, 2.7 miles one way from the Zealand Road trailhead with about 650 feet of climbing, so plan on about 5.4 miles round trip. In winter Zealand Road is closed, which AMC says adds 3.5 miles of road walking. Source: Appalachian Mountain Club. Check the White Mountain National Forest rules for dogs before you go.
Before you go
- Flow: many White Mountains falls run strongest during spring snowmelt and after heavy rain, and much lower in late summer.
- Footing: rock near falls is wet and slippery; stay on the trail and off the ledges at the top of a drop.
- Parking: the small lots at Diana's Baths, Sabbaday and Arethusa fill on summer weekends. Arrive early, and pay the posted day-use fee where there is one.
- Winter: some approach roads close (Zealand Road, for one), and paths to the falls can be icy; bring traction.
Planning more of the state? See the best hikes in New Hampshire, with every trail in one sortable table, or the highest mountains in New Hampshire.
Questions
What is the easiest waterfall hike in New Hampshire?
Sabbaday Falls on the Kancamagus Highway is 0.7 miles round trip and rated Easy. Diana's Baths in North Conway is a little longer at 1.2 miles round trip, but its path is ADA-accessible gravel about 6 feet wide.
Which New Hampshire waterfall hikes cost money?
The Flume Gorge charges admission ($18 for ages 13 and over online). Sabbaday Falls and Diana's Baths charge a $5 per-vehicle day-use fee, and Glen Ellis Falls has a day-use fee paid at the kiosk. Arethusa Falls, Ripley Falls and Crystal Cascade list no fee.
Can I bring my dog on New Hampshire waterfall hikes?
Dogs are allowed on leash at Sabbaday Falls, Glen Ellis Falls, Crystal Cascade, Ripley Falls and Arethusa Falls, and allowed at Diana's Baths. Pets are not allowed in the Flume Gorge.
Do you need a reservation for the Flume Gorge?
NH State Parks says to reserve a timed entry online in advance, because availability at the ticket window isn't guaranteed. Online tickets are also cheaper ($18 instead of $21 for adults).
How long is the hike to Arethusa Falls?
About 2.8 miles round trip from the Arethusa Falls trailhead on US-302 in Crawford Notch State Park, climbing steadily to the falls. There is no fee and dogs are allowed on leash.
