Rattle River Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 12 ft high | New Hampshire
3.4 mi round trip
500 ft
Moderate
Rattle River Falls Hike at a Glance
The Rattle River Falls hike via the Rattle River Trail is 3.4 mi round trip with 500 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 12 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 1,280 ft |
| Trail | Rattle River Trail |
| Distance | 3.4 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 500 ft |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
Your time: about 1 h 25 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 1 h 45 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 780 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 3.4 mi distance and 500 ft of gain for this hike are 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 Rattle River Falls
Rattle River Falls is a waterfall in New Hampshire, about 12 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 Rattle River Trail: 3.4 miles round trip with about 500 feet of elevation gain, from Appalachian Trail parking lot on US 2, Shelburne. Distance from newenglandwaterfalls.com. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Moderate.
Before You Go
- Dogs are allowed. (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 Rattle River Falls?
The Rattle River Trail to Rattle River Falls is 3.4 miles round trip with about 500 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Rattle River Falls hike start?
It starts from Appalachian Trail parking lot on US 2, Shelburne.
How tall is Rattle River Falls?
Rattle River Falls is about 12 feet high.
Are dogs allowed on the Rattle 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 Rattle 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
- newenglandwaterfalls.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 Rattle River Falls.