Thoreau Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 80 ft high | New Hampshire
9.6 mi round trip
761 ft
Hard
Thoreau Falls Hike at a Glance
The Thoreau Falls hike is 9.6 mi round trip with 761 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 80 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 2,480 ft |
| Distance | 9.6 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 761 ft |
| Difficulty | Hard |
Your time: about 3 h 35 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 4 h 30 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 2,030 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 9.6 mi distance and 761 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 Thoreau Falls
Thoreau Falls is a waterfall in New Hampshire, about 80 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 Thoreau Falls Trail: 9.6 miles round trip with about 761 feet of elevation gain, from Zealand Trailhead. Distance from newenglandwaterfalls.com; elevation gain from bearfoottheory.com. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Hard.
Before You Go
- A per-vehicle parking fee is charged. (newenglandwaterfalls.com)
- Pets are allowed on leash. (bearfoottheory.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 Thoreau Falls?
The Thoreau Falls Trail to Thoreau Falls is 9.6 miles round trip with about 761 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Thoreau Falls hike start?
It starts from Zealand Trailhead.
How tall is Thoreau Falls?
Thoreau Falls is about 80 feet high.
Is there a fee to hike to Thoreau Falls?
A per-vehicle parking fee is charged.
Are dogs allowed on the Thoreau Falls trail?
Pets are allowed on leash.
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 Thoreau 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 Thoreau Falls.