Chesterfield Gorge Hike
Waterfall | New Hampshire
0.7 mi loop
180 ft
Easy
Chesterfield Gorge Hike at a Glance
The Chesterfield Gorge hike via the Wilderness Loop Trail is 0.7 mi loop with 180 ft of elevation gain.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 790 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Wilderness Loop Trail |
| Distance | 0.7 mi loop |
| Elevation gain | 180 ft |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Your time: about 20 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 25 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 180 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 0.7 mi distance and 180 ft of gain for this hike are verified (trailfinder.info), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Chesterfield Gorge
Chesterfield Gorge is a waterfall in New Hampshire, on land managed by New Hampshire State Parks (Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area).
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Wilderness Loop Trail: 0.7 miles as a loop with about 180 feet of elevation gain, from Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area, 1823 Route 9. Distance from trailfinder.info; elevation gain from hikenewengland.com. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Easy.
Before You Go
- Pets are permitted in the designated area only. (nhstateparks.org)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check New Hampshire State Parks (Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Chesterfield Gorge?
The Wilderness Loop Trail to Chesterfield Gorge is 0.7 miles as a loop with about 180 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Chesterfield Gorge hike start?
It starts from Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area, 1823 Route 9.
Are dogs allowed on the Chesterfield Gorge trail?
Pets are permitted in the designated area only.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Chesterfield Gorge Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- trailfinder.info
- Distance
- trailfinder.info
- Falls location
- en.wikipedia.org
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Chesterfield Gorge.