Our first stop in New Hampshire was Pinkham Notch State Park in the White Mountain National Forest. The trail to Crystal Cascades starts at the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center off Route 16. This area is very popular with thru-hikers as it is part of the Appalachian Trail.
Something I learned on this trip – the route between mountains is called different things depending on where you are. Notch is common in the northeast, gap is more common in the southern U.S., and saddle or pass are used in the west.
Pinkham Notch separates the Presidential Mountain Range from the Wildcat Mountain Range. Mount Washington forms most of the notch’s western wall.
The Trail
It is free to park at the visitor center and to hike to the waterfall. I would rate this as a moderate trail because there is an uphill climb and the path has rocky terrain. Head around the visitor center to start the trail which shares this section with the Tuckerman Ravine Trail and Appalachian Trail.
You’ll head into the forest on a dirt trail that is mostly flat or has a slight incline. When the route splits with the Appalachian Trail, stay to the left. You will follow the Ellis River which is the water source for this waterfall and Glen Ellis Falls downstream.
After some rushing cascades, there is a bridge over the river. To the right of the bridge, is a small two-tier waterfall.
Cross the bridge and make another right. Here the trail takes a short but steep uphill climb. Then there is a set of stone steps up to a small rock wall overlook.
Crystal Cascades
The waterfall has a combined 100-foot drop – the upper 70-foot section, a shallow pool, and the 30-foot lower section.
Next to the overlook is a mountain wall. At the bottom of the falls, the river makes an almost 90-degree turn to head downstream.
I loved the large boulder sitting precariously atop the brink of the falls.
Crystal Cascades was my absolute favorite waterfall we saw in New England, so definitely check it out if you are in the area!