Avalanche Falls
Grafton County, New Hampshire
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Grafton County, New Hampshire
- Access status
- State park paid loop trail; closed for the season
- The walk
- 2-mile loop (only the full loop is open)
- Ground & access
- Packed gravel path and boardwalk with moderate uphill walking and many stairs. Spray from the falls wets the boardwalk.
Avalanche Falls is the 45-foot waterfall at the top of the Flume, a narrow granite gorge in Franconia Notch State Park. It formed in a storm in 1883. The self-guided Flume Trail starts at the check-in booths in front of the Flume Building, crosses the Pemigewasset River on the covered bridge, follows Flume Brook past Table Rock and climbs the boardwalk through the gorge to a close view of Avalanche Falls. The loop continues on Ridge Path back to the Flume Building. It includes uphill walking and many stairs and takes about 1.5 hours.
Plan your visit
Flume Gorge visitor center in Franconia Notch State Park, Flume Trail loop through the gorge to Avalanche Falls
NH State Parks gives the Flume Trail as a 2-mile loop from the check-in booths; the Short Trail/Rim Path is closed, so the full loop is the only option.
Packed gravel path and boardwalk with moderate uphill walking and many stairs. Spray from the falls wets the boardwalk.
Where to start
Flume Gorge visitor center, 852 Daniel Webster Highway, Lincoln, in Franconia Notch State Park.
Timing & water
Closed for the season as of October 26. Out of season the boardwalks are removed and the gorge is closed to hikers. Check the NH State Parks page for next season's opening.
Before you go
Paid entry with timed reservations. May to October entry was $18 online or $21 at the ticket window for ages 13 and over, and $16 or $19 for ages 6 to 12; ages 5 and under free. Reserve a specific arrival window in advance.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Kinsman FallsState park trail; about half a mile from The Basin20 ft (6.1 m) · Grafton County, NH1.8 miNW
- Harvard FallsGrafton County, NH2.2 miSW
- Georgiana FallsWell-used path in a state forest to a lower fallsGrafton County, NH2.4 miSW
- Swiftwater FallsGrafton County, NH2.5 miN
- Stairs Falls16 ft (5 m) · Grafton County, NH2.5 miN
- Cloudland FallsPartial: trail rerouted at the falls in September 2026; new distance not published79 ft (24 m) · Grafton County, NH2.7 miN
- Franconia FallsLincoln Woods approach closed through November 2026Grafton County, NH4.6 miE
- Gordon FallsPartial: falls on a mountain trail; lower trailhead parking blocked; distance to the falls not statedGrafton County, NH4.8 miSW
- Bridalveil FallsForest trail from designated parking on a private roadGrafton County, NH5.0 miNW