Upper Nancy Cascades
Carroll County, New Hampshire
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 16 ft (5 m)
- Location
- Carroll County, New Hampshire
- Access status
- Partial: trail to the cascades documented; which upper level this listing marks is not confirmed
- The walk
- About 2.4 to 2.5 miles one way to the base of the cascades, then a further steep climb beside the upper levels
- Ground & access
- Long steady climb on a rough trail with two crossings of Nancy Brook. Above the base of the cascades the trail is very steep and rough with switchbacks and is harder on the descent.
Follow Nancy Pond Trail from the small parking area on US 302, which crosses Nancy Brook two times, to the base of Nancy Cascades. Only the lower drop is visible there. The trail then climbs steeply beside the cascades on switchbacks; after the first switchback it gives a view of the next level. New England Waterfalls says the trail shows about 80 more feet of falls directly above the lower falls, and a bushwhack is needed to see the rest. This listing is named Upper Nancy Cascades; which upper level it marks is not confirmed. Return the same way.
Plan your visit
Nancy Pond Trail from US 302 to the base of Nancy Cascades, then the steep switchbacks beside the upper cascades
A Kaibab.org trip log lists Nancy Cascades at 2.4 miles from the Route 302 parking area. New England Waterfalls says the lower falls are 2.5 miles into the trail. No source gives a separate distance to the upper cascades.
Long steady climb on a rough trail with two crossings of Nancy Brook. Above the base of the cascades the trail is very steep and rough with switchbacks and is harder on the descent.
Where to start
Small dirt parking area and trailhead for Nancy Pond Trail on the left side of US 302 when driving west from Bartlett, shortly after Sawyer River Road and before the Davis Path parking area.
Timing & water
Brook crossings can be a problem in moderate or high water. The trail climbs to about 2,750 feet at the cascades, so expect snow and ice in winter.
Before you go
White Mountain National Forest. No fee or reservation is stated by the sources.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Middle Nancy CascadesPartial guide: national forest trail; which section is called Middle Nancy Cascades is not confirmed33 ft (10 m) · Carroll County, NH0.1 miE
- Lower Nancy CascadesForest Service trail to the base of a tall cascade82 ft (25 m) · Carroll County, NH0.1 miE
Arethusa FallsMaintained state park trail to a tall waterfall138 ft (42 m) · Carroll County, NH2.2 miN
Bemis FallsPartial guide: the route is confirmed, but which drop is called Bemis Falls is uncertainCarroll County, NH2.3 miN
Coliseum FallsState park trail; short walk on Bemis Brook TrailCarroll County, NH2.3 miN- Fawn PoolShort state park trail to a signed poolCarroll County, NH2.3 miN
- Ripley FallsShort maintained trail in Crawford Notch State ParkCarroll County, NH3.2 miN
- Thoreau FallsNational forest wilderness trail from a fee trailhead80 ft (24.4 m) · Grafton County, NH5.6 miNW
- Flume CascadeRoadside falls in Crawford Notch State ParkCarroll County, NH6.5 miN