Thoreau Falls
Grafton County, New Hampshire
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 80 ft (24.4 m)
- Location
- Grafton County, New Hampshire
- Access status
- National forest wilderness trail from a fee trailhead
- The walk
- About 4.8 to 4.9 miles each way
- Ground & access
- Moderate. Long, mostly gentle trail with little climbing, rocky in places. Large flat ledges at the falls; water can spill over them in high flow.
Thoreau Falls is an 80-foot run of cascades and slides on the North Fork of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River, in the Pemigewasset Wilderness of the White Mountain National Forest. From US 302 west of Bretton Woods, turn onto Zealand Road and drive to the Zealand Trailhead at its end. Take the Zealand Trail past Zealand Pond, then the Ethan Pond Trail east through Zealand Notch, then the short Thoreau Falls Trail to the falls. The trail reaches the top of the falls. In low water you can scramble beside the falls to pools above and below; in high water stay on the trail.
Plan your visit
Zealand Trailhead at the end of Zealand Road off US 302, Zealand Trail, Ethan Pond Trail and Thoreau Falls Trail to the top of Thoreau Falls
FranklinSites gives 4.9 miles from the Zealand trailhead to Thoreau Falls; New England Waterfalls gives 4.8 miles one way.
Moderate. Long, mostly gentle trail with little climbing, rocky in places. Large flat ledges at the falls; water can spill over them in high flow.
Where to start
Zealand Trailhead at the southern end of Zealand Road. Forest Service coordinates: 44.224662, -71.47907.
Timing & water
The Forest Service lists Zealand Trailhead as not maintained in winter; check whether Zealand Road is open before you go. The Lincoln Woods Trail, a different approach, is closed through November 2026 for restoration work.
Before you go
Zealand Trailhead is a White Mountain National Forest fee site: $5 per vehicle per day, or a forest annual pass or interagency pass.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
Zealand FallsRoute and parking documented; confirm current conditions.Grafton County, NH2.1 miNW- Ripley FallsShort maintained trail in Crawford Notch State ParkCarroll County, NH4.0 miE
Arethusa FallsMaintained state park trail to a tall waterfall138 ft (42 m) · Carroll County, NH4.3 miE- Flume CascadeRoadside falls in Crawford Notch State ParkCarroll County, NH4.4 miNE
Bemis FallsPartial guide: the route is confirmed, but which drop is called Bemis Falls is uncertainCarroll County, NH4.9 miE- Gibbs FallsNational forest trail from a fee trailheadCoos County, NH5.0 miNE
Coliseum FallsState park trail; short walk on Bemis Brook TrailCarroll County, NH5.1 miE- Fawn PoolShort state park trail to a signed poolCarroll County, NH5.1 miE
- Upper Nancy CascadesPartial: trail to the cascades documented; which upper level this listing marks is not confirmed16 ft (5 m) · Carroll County, NH5.6 miSE