Ammonoosuc Ravine Falls, Mt Washington NH
• 4-star hikes
• 3 to 4 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 1,100 to 1,300 feet
• Sargent's Purchase, NH | White Mountains
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Hikers taking in the views at the Gem Pool.
If you'd like to experience some Mount Washington hiking but don't want to venture all the way to the summit, a trip to the waterfalls on the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail can be a rewarding compromise. Located on the western flanks of the mountain, this hike begins either at or close to the base of the Mount Washington Cog Railway.
Our preferred option is to begin a 4.3 mile out-and-back hike from the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead which has a large lot and a small parking charge. Alternatively, if you're already parked at the mountain for the cog railway trip then you can tackle a 3.1 mile out-and-back journey via the Ammonoosuc Link that starts behind the base station restaurant. Note that without a ticket for the railway, hiker-only parking at the cog railway station is a per-person charge.
The first of the falls is at Gem Pool, a shallow and wide pool that provides a highly scenic setting for its 35-foot cascade. Fed by a fork of what becomes the Ammonoosuc River, more waterfalls can be found above it along the trail, though none so accessible as this one.
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4★ Ammo Ravine Trailhead
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions GPX? |
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4★ Cog Railway Trailhead
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions |
Continue up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to the junction marked on our map that signifies a light spur trail leading to an overlook. From this overlook you have views towards the spectacular two-tier upper falls that must total more than 100 feet in height. We lack good photographs of these falls, but hope to return and spend more time at this location soon.
The hike to the summit of Mount Washington can be hard for many hikers due to rocky terrain, elevation gain, occasional rock scrambles and difficult conditions in wet and wintry weather. However, the hard stuff is mostly located beyond the waterfalls so expect only moderate trail conditions on the hikes plotted on this page.
If you would like to explore the increasingly difficult terrain past the falls, you could continue to the Lakes of the Clouds Hut (5.8 mi & 2,600 ft). We describe and map out the continuing route in our Mount Washington trail review that's linked in the 'Trailspotting Nearby' section at the foot of this page.
The falls at Gem Pool | Harder trail beyond the falls.
Tangents:
• Official: Mt Washington Cog Railway
• AllTrails Public: Lake Of The Clouds
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