Last Friday I was in North Conway, taking care of a couple errands and meeting friends for lunch. It was a bright and hot summer day, and I was thinking about finding a short hike to take on the way home. The previous night I briefly looked at the trail guide for Arethusa Falls, which is right off US Route 302 in Crawford Notch State Park. It’s advertised as a “One Hour Hike- One Way” on a sign by the roadside, and seemed a good fit for the time I had left that afternoon. Readers of this blog know that I like waterfalls.

After an excellent lunch at Delaney’s Hole in the Wall, I headed back up into the notch to the parking lot for the trail. This is part of the NH State Park, so there’s a fee for parking. I stuffed $5 in the envelope, dropped it into the collection pipe, threw on the slack pack and headed up the road to the trailhead.

At the end of the pavement is the Willey House Post Office, and the trail to the Falls begins just across the railroad tracks, immediately ascending alongside Bemis Brook.

Very quickly I came upon a junction in the trail, where Bemis Brook Trail broke off to the left from Arethusa Falls Trail. Bemis Brook Trail brings you by Coliseum and Bemis Falls before rejoining Arethusa Falls Trail further up the ridge. I stayed on Arethusa, figuring that I could come back along Bemis if I had the time after visiting the main attraction.

While a short trail, I wouldn’t classify Arethusa Falls Trail as easy. I logged an elevation gain of almost 1000 feet in just over 1 ½ miles. The trail ascends consistently, with only one brief level spot I recall, and then descends significantly to the falls at the end of the trail. 

There was only one blowdown obstructing the trail, and the bugs weren’t bad at all. 

After crossing a couple of very well-made bridges, and easily passing over a small mud bog, I arrived at the junction with the Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail. 2/10ths of a mile to the left was Arethusa Falls, and that’s the way I went.

It was downhill all the way from the junction to the falls. And when I got there, it was amazing- I had no idea these falls would be this spectacular!

The water in the brook was fairly low, but there was a decent volume coming over the falls, falling about 150 feet or so to the streambed below. I can just imagine what this must look like in early spring when the snowpack is still melting off. I’ve made a note to return next spring to see for myself.

There were only four other people there when I arrived. I worked my way down into the streambed and climbed up to the base of the falls. Here’s what I saw.

Awe inspiring stuff, right there. I sat down on a rock and enjoyed the show for a while.

When it was time to depart, I carefully worked my way back to the trail over the boulders and rocks, and proceeded the upward trek towards the Arethusa Falls Trail. I made very good time scooting down the hill, and decided to pass on looping over Bemis Brook Trail- I’ll save seeing those other waterfalls for another time. 

This was probably the best “short” hike I’ve done in quite a spell, and I am very glad to have chosen it. Further proof that you don’t have to go too far to see wonderful things in the mountains.

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