Welton Falls
Grafton County, New Hampshire
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Grafton County, New Hampshire
- Access status
- State forest trail from AMC Cardigan Lodge; stream crossing
- The walk
- About 1 to 1.5 miles one way
- Ground & access
- Woodland trail with a descent, one significant stream crossing and steep drop-offs near the falls. The crossing can be hard in high water.
Welton Falls is a 30-foot drop on the Fowler River in Welton Falls State Forest, Alexandria. The lower half is a 15-foot plunge surrounded by cliff walls. From the AMC Cardigan Lodge parking lot, take the Lower Manning Trail, which starts opposite the portable toilet. It passes through campsites, follows a brook and descends, with one significant stream crossing, to a sign for Welton Falls. A side path on the left leads to a fenced ledge above the falls. The main trail continues along a big drop-off to a viewpoint in front of the falls. Return the same way. The Weirs Times also describes a short walk of about a quarter mile up the Lower Manning Trail from the end of Welton Falls Road; parking at that end is unknown.
Plan your visit
AMC Cardigan Lodge parking, Lower Manning Trail down along the brook to Welton Falls in Welton Falls State Forest
The Weirs Times gives 1.5 miles from AMC Cardigan Lodge. A 2023 hiker blog says the trail reaches the falls after just over a mile. Return the same way.
Woodland trail with a descent, one significant stream crossing and steep drop-offs near the falls. The crossing can be hard in high water.
Where to start
AMC Cardigan Lodge main parking area, used by both overnight guests and day visitors. Park only in designated spaces; there is no parking along the road. The lot can fill.
Timing & water
Stream crossings are harder after heavy rain or snowmelt. The route description dates from 2023.
Before you go
AMC lists no parking fee for the lodge lot. New England Waterfalls says the falls are not on private property.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Elizabeth FallsPartial guide: distance is an estimate and lodge parking rules are not confirmedGrafton County, NH1.8 miSW
- Sculptured RocksShort state natural area trail to a bridge over the gorgeGrafton County, NH3.5 miN
- Profile FallsPartial guide: authorized parking for the walk was not confirmedGrafton County, NH9.0 miSE
- Livermore FallsPartial guide: state forest trail to a beach below the falls; view of the falls from there not confirmedGrafton County, NH13 miNE
- Big Dog FallsPartial guide: conservation area trails pass two waterfalls, but the exact location of Big Dog Falls on the trail is not published33 ft (10 m) · Grafton County, NH14 miW
- Litte Dog FallsPartial guide: conservation area trails pass the falls, but the exact location on the trail is not published13 ft (4 m) · Grafton County, NH14 miW
- Waternomee FallsSigned spur off the Carr Mountain Trail; faint final sectionGrafton County, NH16 miN
- Beede FallsRoute and parking researchedCarroll County, NH22 miNE
- Lower FallsPartial: town park trail; this listing is probably the lower Beede fallsCarroll County, NH22 miNE