The following falls in New Hampshire (and some just across the border in Maine) were brought to my attention by various people. These are all falls that I have not yet seen myself. As I visit these falls, I will take them off this list and add them to my main list. The information here may overlap somewhat with my list of White Mountain waterfalls.
The following notes were sent to me by Dean Goss on June 27, 1997. Thank you, Dean for this information! Dean has also sent me information about some Vermont waterfalls as well.
The following falls are all located in northern New Hampshire (above the White Mountains). These were brought to my attention by Kim Nilsen. He is the president of the Cohos Trail Association. All of these falls are on the proposed Cohos Trail -- a 140 mile trail system that the Cohos Trail Association is in the process of planning and building. If you are interested in joining the association, write to Kim Nilsen, Cohos Trail Association, 252 Westmoreland Rd, Keene, NH 03431.
Note that the two falls in Dixville are also mentioned in Dean Goss's notes above.
Kim also mentioned Moose Falls directly off Route 3 on the right, running away from the road, in the vicinity of Deer Mountain Campground in Pittsburg.
In a later note, Kim added:
"There are also some very remote falls in the backcountry, most of which are very difficult to get to, in terms of time and access."
"In the Second College Grant and Pittsburg/Clarksville area in New Hampshire there are two "squeeze hole" falls, which were well known in the days of the river drive loggers. They are Hells Gate Falls and Little Hells Gate Falls, both of which are narrow passages and brief drops in the Dead Diamond River. These falls used to hang up the log drives in some years because it was easy for logs to jam into the narrow passes."
"There are also several remote mountain gorges through which water descends. They are not falls, but they are beautiful areas with steep or cliff-like walls. One is accessed through a gate just off Route 16 a few feet before it passes into northern Maine from New Hampshire. This is the access road to the Second College Grant. By walking in a mile, you arrive at a beautiful gorge."
"The other is Canyon Gorge on the so-called Canyon Trail in the farthest northeast region of Pittsburg hard by the Canadian Border and in Indian Stream, at its very source. I have yet to see it, as it takes a terrible amount of time to get there. Yet it is one of the very few natural features in the far north that has ever had a trail cut in to it."
The following notes were sent to me by Roy Sunter on June 22, 1998. These are falls in south western New Hampshire.
Pulpit Falls
From the intersection of Rts 119, 10, & 78 in Winchester, NH, travel S on Rt 10 (towards Northfield, MA). After about 2.6 miles, the road will be winding downhill, curving to the right. Look for a pull-off on the right immediately after the curve, and a jeep trail on the left. Park in the pull-off and take the jeep trail on foot.
There are one or two signs painted on rocks pointing out "Falls Trail", or some such; but I have never had any luck following these; they always seem to peter out, and I end up bushwhacking. The falls are easy enough to find this way; just follow the sound of running water to the brook's edge and head upstream.
The falls themselves are not particularly high (maybe 10-15 ft total drop), but if you're bushwhacking upstream along the brook's edge, their sudden appearance is quite dramatic. The undergrowth you've been pushing through suddenly opens up at a bend in the stream, affording an unobstructed view of the falls. Depending on the time of year, there can be up to three separate, parallel cascades, the middle one in free space, the others following the rock bed.
A trail continues upstream through some interesting rock ledges and ends at a small beaver pond.
This is a rather modest little waterfall, and may not warrant a day trip of itself; but it's worth adding to your itinerary if you've planned a trip to some of the other nearby falls already mentioned on your page (Royalston Falls, Doanes Falls, Spirit Falls).
Fay Falls
From the center of Walpole, NH take Prospect Hill Road, and about 0.2 mi later bear right onto County Road. Follow County Road through some very scenic country for about 3.5 miles.
The falls are not visible from the road, and the landmarks I use to find them are somewhat subtle. After you've traveled for about 3.5 miles on County Road, you should be bearing uphill and turning rather sharply to the left. Look for a white farm gate on the left and a jeep trail on the right. I have not visited the falls since I was a teenager, and the jeep trail was not there at that time, so I cannot say for sure if it leads to the falls; but it will certainly take you near enough the water to hear it, from which point anyone with any experience hunting waterfalls should be able to find them.
Alternatively, you might continue on County Rd for a few more tenths of a mile. The road crosses the stream just as the woods give way to open field and a gorgeous open-topped drumlin on your left. There's enough room to squeeze your car off the road. Bushwhack downstream from there to the falls. Be forwarned, though, that you may pass through or near private property along the way.
The falls themselves drop perhaps 20-25 feet, and during the summer may slow to a trickle. Their most interesting feature for me were the talus caves large enough for a chubby 13-year old to squeeze into and emerge from behind the cascade. That same 13-yr old gave no thought to the fact that wild animals resentful of his intrusion might call those caves home, and take unkindly to his sudden appearance. With that caveat (pun intended) in mind, these falls are worth including in a day trip to the unsung wild places in the Monadnock Region of N.H., if not justifying a trip in themselves.
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