Dry River Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 45 ft high | New Hampshire
11 mi round trip
Dry River Falls Hike at a Glance
The Dry River Falls hike via the Dry River Trail is 11 mi round trip.
| Falls height | About 45 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 2,940 ft |
| Trail | Dry River Trail |
| Distance | 11 mi round trip |
Your time: about 3 h 40 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 4 h 35 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 2,080 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 11 mi distance for this hike is verified (newenglandwaterfalls.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Dry River Falls
Dry River Falls is a waterfall in New Hampshire, about 45 feet high, on land managed by White Mountain National Forest. Its height is from newenglandwaterfalls.com.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Dry River Trail: 11 miles round trip, from Dry River Trailhead. Distance from newenglandwaterfalls.com.
Before You Go
- Dogs are allowed. (newenglandwaterfalls.com)
- Swimming is only safe in low water because the Dry River is known for its turbulence. (newenglandwaterfalls.com)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check White Mountain National Forest for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Dry River Falls?
The Dry River Trail to Dry River Falls is 11 miles round trip.
Where does the Dry River Falls hike start?
It starts from Dry River Trailhead.
How tall is Dry River Falls?
Dry River Falls is about 45 feet high.
Are dogs allowed on the Dry River Falls trail?
Dogs are allowed.
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 Dry River Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- newenglandwaterfalls.com
- Distance
- newenglandwaterfalls.com
- Falls height
- newenglandwaterfalls.com
- Falls location
- worldwaterfalldatabase.com
- 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 Dry River Falls.