Arethusa Falls — 160ft Horsetail in New Hampshire

Arethusa Falls is a 160-foot horsetail waterfall in Grafton County, New Hampshire, reached by a moderate hike over 2.7 miles.

Arethusa Falls is the tallest waterfall in New Hampshire — a 160-foot single-drop ribbon waterfall in Crawford Notch State Park, accessible via a 2.7-mile out-and-back trail from the AMC parking area on Route 302. The trail climbs gradually through hardwood forest and ends at the base of the waterfall, where Bemis Brook tumbles off a sandstone cliff into a small pool. The waterfall is most spectacular in late spring (May-June) when snowmelt feeds the stream; by August the flow can drop to a trickle. The Crawford Notch area is one of New Hampshire's most-photographed mountain corridors.

What to expect

Drive Highway 302 through Crawford Notch (south of Mt. Washington Hotel). Park at the AMC Crawford Notch trailhead lot. The 2.7-mile out-and-back to Arethusa Falls is moderate with about 800 feet of elevation gain. Add the loop via Frankenstein Cliff (4.7-mile total) for a full half-day hike. In winter the trail is snow-covered and requires microspikes or snowshoes. Pair with the Mt. Washington Cog Railway or the Conway Scenic Railway.