Arethusa Falls: Crawford Notch, NH
June 22, 2003

Following my short hike up Mount Willard in the early morning, I decided my legs had not been sufficiently worked out and the day was still young.  I drove down through Crawford Notch and decided to do a long awaited hike to New Hampshire's highest waterfall, Arethusa Falls.

The trail begins gently and a side path branches off toward Bemis Brook Falls.  I took this longer and more challenging option and soon came upon Fawn Pool as pictured to the left.  Bemis Brook slides gently over this smooth granite into the Fawn Pool waiting below.  One can walk along the brook up to Coliseum Falls, or return back to the hiking path for the short hike to the next attraction along Bemis Brook.

Just below Coliseum Falls is this "stairs" like cascade that leads to the waterslide pictured above.  This symmetrical appearance almost has a man-made look to it!  Nature can do some interesting things over time as this strangely pleasing mini-cascade shows.  Bemis Brook as a whole presents a unique show from the parking lot through Arethusa Falls.  Few brooks in New Hampshire have such continuously intriguing and interesting features.

Coliseum Falls presents itself next along Bemis Brook.  I had to duck under many downed trees to get this not-co-clear shot of the falls.  There were so many trees blown over the brook that the falls were not even visible from the trail!  After taking this picture, I became very rather afraid as I looked up to see about a dozen trees criss-crossed above me.  They didn't seem to be going any where, but I didn't want to take any chances.  I removed myself from my precarious position without really having any time to enjoy the falls.

Pictured above is Bemis Falls with it's three tiered drops.  I ventured in for a closer look which required some climbing over, under, and around several trees and rocks.  I was rewarded for my efforts with an excellent close up of Bemis Falls.  I enjoyed a few quite moments at Bemis Falls before starting up an incredibly steep incline that reconnected the Bemis Brook Trail to the Arethusa Falls trail.

I pressed on for Arethusa Falls and did not stop until I reached the final destination of the trail.  I was impressed by the degree of difficulty this trail presented.  While not even "moderate" by my standards, it was a lot steeper and rougher than I had imagined it would be.  I can only imagine what some of the families and out of shape tourists were thinking en route to what I consider one of the more "touristy" waterfalls in New Hampshire (which is why I had neglected to visit it until this time!).

The Falls are not nearly dramatic as the cliff itself; however, it made for a pleasant spot to enjoy some lunch.  Several other groups were also enjoying the grandeur of the Falls, including two younglings venturing close to the falls and throwing rocks into it.  The hike out was quick and uneventful besides a few rain drops.  Overall, this was an excellent way to spend a day that begin and concluded with questionable weather.

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