DIRECTIONS

From Franconia Notch, take RT 3 east onto RT 302 at Twin Mountain. Continue east on RT 302, then: (holes are in order from west to east on RT 302)



LOWER AMMONOOSUC FALLS [LOWE]: A small falls in the Ammonoosuc River into a very large pool makes for a fine family swimming place. (A much gentler place to swim than at the Upper Ammonoosuc Falls, below.) Sliding place in falls, rocks to sun and jump. LAT, LON lat=44.26982, lon=-71.48334 Source: Measured Accuracy: Exact To get there: Continue on RT 302 about 3.5 miles beyond Twin Mountain to the street sign on the left for Old Cherry Mtn. Rd. and the sign for "Lower Ammonoosuc Falls". Turn onto Old Cherry Mtn Road and turn quickly left again into the parking area. Walk about 5 minutes down the gravel road to the small falls and huge pool below. PHOTO Very Confident. Verified 8/2006. Updated 03/04/2007. Link to Google Ma p



UPPER AMMONOOSUC FALLS [UPP2]: Deception Brook is a tributary of the Ammonoosuc River that runs alongside Mt. Washington Cog Railway Base Station Rd just off RT 302 near Bretton Woods. There are several places to swim along here, including the popular Upper Ammonoosuc Falls. There are chutes and pools at the bottom of these falls that are safe to swim in at lower water levels, usually in later summer. Do not attempt to swim at the base of the falls during high water levels when currents can be very strong here. LAT, LON lat=44.26580, lon=-71.41671 Source: Measured Accuracy: Exact Link to Google Ma p



DON'T SWIM HERE IN HIGH CURRENTS; VERY DANGEROUS!



Following info thanks to Dennis Friedman 8/02: "Is now public property and 100% legal swimming/diving. One guidebook claims it's the most dangerous swimming spot in the state. After heavy rain or in early season, when currents are high, I've seen powerful whirlpools that would be fatal. But this time of year, it looked pretty tame."



"Extremely interesting spot with jumping/diving from many different heights, underwater passages, slideable waterfall, accessible cave behind/under waterfall and other features but with some caveats:1) Water flows can be extremely hazardous / lethal. First timer's should observe others first. I'd never go there unless there were several others around. 2) Litter can be a problem sometimes. 3) Property is privately owned and owners have been lukewarm to swimming, afraid of lawsuits. Sometimes posted, sometimes not. 4) Jumping is possible (locals do it lots, we've done it some) but you've got to know where the obstacles are. An error would probably be fatal. DON'T DO IT!"



To get there: Continue on RT 302 east about 1.4 miles more to the sign for the Mount Washington Cog Railway on the left. Follow the directions toward the Railway, turning north here onto Base Station Rd. Go about 2.2 miles to a parking area on the right where there is a mound of dirt blocking the end of the parking area. Park and walk the path upstream toward the roar of the falls. There are multiple swimming places. BE CAREFUL OF THE CURRENTS! PHOTO1 PHOTO2 PHOTO3 Very Confident. Verified 8/2006. Updated 03/04/2007.



RIPLEY FALLS [RIPL]: Swimming holes and pools above 100 foot high Ripley Falls. BE SURE THIS IS SAFE BEFORE SWIMMING! While not as tall as the nearby Arethusa Falls (see below), they are also a cool place to sit after a summer hike. The swimming holes are above the falls but DON'T CLIMB UP THE FACE OF THE FALLS, SLIPPERY ROCKS. Take a trail to the top. Can be disappointing during times of low water. Spectacular views form the top of the falls. LAT, LON lat=44.16124, lon=-71.39480 Source: Measured Accuracy: Exact Link to Google Map



To get there: Continue east on RT 302 and park where the Appalachian Trail crosses the road in the parking lot on the west (right) side of the road. Follow the AT (also known here as Ethan Pond trail) to the west and the trail signs to Ripley Falls. Camping at Dry River campground in the White Mtn. N. F. nearby. PHOTO1 PHOTO2 Very Confident. Verified. Updated 03/04/2007.



THE POOL [POOL]: A 16 mile round trip hike to a great swimming hole with a natural water slide. LAT, LON lat=44.1338, lon=-71.4706(source: Topozone ) (accuracy: approximate) To get there: Access the AT as in Ripley Falls directions above but continue on the AT west (also known here as Ethan Pond trail) about 5 miles to the junction with Shoal Pond Trail. Turn left on Shoal Pond Trail and go another approximate 3 miles to "The Pool" swimming hole and campsite. If you get to "Swiftwater Junction" (where several trails come together) you have gone about 1 mile too far. Uncertain. Not verified. Updated 11/17/2002. Link to Google Map



ARETHUSA FALLS [ARET]: Arethusa Falls are the largest waterfalls in the state of New Hampshire. The water is extremely chilly year 'round and feels great after a summer hike. LAT, LON lat=44.148, lon=-71.386(source: Topozone ) (accuracy: exact) To get here: Continue east on RT 302 and, just after the Dry River Campground and the Willey House, park at the Arethusa Falls parking area on the right. Pull off the road to the right and drive up the big hill and park near the railroad tracks, if possible. If the parking lot on the hill is full, there is another one on your right when you pull off the road to go to Arethusa Falls. Cross the railroad tracks and go to the left of the wooden house. Be aware that the house is on private property, even though the trail runs close to it. Hike up the Arethusa Falls trail. This trail leads also to Bemis Falls and Coliseum Falls, see below. Very Confident. Not verified. Updated 11/17/2002. Link to Topozone Map Link to Google Map



BEMIS BROOK [BEMI]: Three swimming places - Fawn Pond, Bemis Falls and Coliseum Falls - are all on the Bemis Brook Trail, which forks to the left off the Arethusa Falls Trail pretty close to the parking area. The first you encounter, FAWN POND [FAWN], isn't very deep (less than 4 feet during the summer of 2002), but there is a good bit of flat bedrock to sunbathe on. The second, BEMIS FALLS [BEMI], I don't have detailed information for. The third, COLISEUM FALLS [COLL], is said to be a very fine swimming hole and is further on the Bemis Brook Trail. LAT, LON lat=44.14667, lon=-71.37344 (source: Topozone) (accuracy: general area) Link to Google Map



The Bemis Brook trail junctions with the Arethusa Falls trail again further up the mountain. If one were hiking FROM Arethusa Falls TO the parking lot, the hike off the main Arethusa Falls trail down to the other two sites (Fawn and Coliseum) is steep at first. Due to erosion, the trail is steep with many roots exposed. However, if you are up for some careful stepping, it is worth hiking down to see Coliseum Falls on the left. Stepping off the Bemis Brook trail to actually get in the small pool below the falls is not tricky with just a little rock scurrying. Very Confident. Not verified. Updated 11/18/2002.