It was a pretty amazing site in the winter. ( Log Out /  Free Shipping over $200. We planned this trip about a month earlier, looked forward to it the whole time and were all anticipating a fun, exciting day. Here’s to another adventure and future endeavors. The lower parking area is larger. No day use fee is required, however donations are appreciated to help maintain the trail. I chose to tackle Frankenstein Cliff first. The Falls were amazing; tons of people there. Look for a sign for the Frankenstein Cliff Trail. The Arethusa Falls Trail is located within New Hampshire’s Crawford Notch State Park, which itself is contained within the larger White Mountains National Forest. Would you agree with this? Hiking back uphill, you’ll continue straight back down to the bottom of the Arethusa Falls Trail to a trailhead parking lot. I scurried around for a bit refusing to believe we couldn’t find some way to the top that didn’t involve technical rock-climbing. Coupon Code: SAVE10TODAY. Hike uphill through open woods until you come to an easy stream crossing with a sign pointing left for the falls (Arethusa Falls) and right for the cliff (Frankenstein Cliff). We reached the base of the cliffs after a little over two hours of immensely difficult and dangerous climbing. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "acffd313111a10e6cf6bf6e21683b49f" );document.getElementById("je705695a8").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); I have read and accepted the Privacy Policy *. It’s always easier to climb steeps instead of descending them. Hello Philip – we were planning to do this hike along with Mt Willard, but I read a review that said the views from Mt Willard and Frankenstein Cliffs are much the same. The trail gets quite steep here and is slippery in places when wet. WeRmudfun 5,203 views. The typical hiking time for this loop is about 3 hours 30 min. The Frankenstein Cliff Trail ends at the three-way junction with the Arethusa Falls Trail and the Arethusa-Ripley Trail, which runs north to Ripley Falls another famous waterfall nearby. Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide, 30th ed. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. While many, mistakenly, refer to Arethusa Falls as the highest waterfall in New Hampshire, it is, actually, second to Dryad Falls. The trail is not as rocky as some others in the area, and only has a few steep sections. The Whites, at more modest elevations, say, below 3,000 or 4,000 feet, rarely have switchbacks: they often shoot in the straightest line to the top of the mountain. There are two parking areas. Continue to the left for Arethusa Falls, climbing a steeper set of steps before descending to the falls. Did this hike a few years back, and added a little distance by hiking to the starting point from my campsite in Dry River Campground. I started this trail with the hard part first, which is the path to Frankenstein Cliffs, but most people recommend going the opposite direction and starting with the falls first. No…they are at two different ends of Crawford Notch. The first 20 minutes of the hike were easy. The Frankenstein Cliff Trail heads north, while the Arethusa Falls Trail heads west — but if you have about 4-6 hours, you can hike them both in one big circuit. Trailforks ranks trails with a combination of user ratings and raw trail usage data from rides. The way we went up was not maintained (at all) and the whitewash lichen looks too much like the white blazes used to mark the actual trail. Free Shipping and Returns. How to Build a Home: Taste the Rainbow Part Two – The Write Inspiration, https://alterredperspective.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/hidden-brain_habit.mp3. There’s even a view of distant Arethusa Falls visible as you continue along the trail which travels along the cliff top. Clearly, we were not alone in losing our way. While you can just hike 1.2 miles up the Arethusa Falls Trail to see this great cascade, it’s also easy to do a more challenging loop hike that … The rest of the day was pretty much uneventful. All six of us ended up off-trail, even though they had a map. (That last part is not actually true, but I thought it helped build the drama.). On our way to the cliff base I encountered more than a few lost or abandoned water bottles, canteens, and even some gear, such as a strap, shoe laces and even a sneaker, some of which did not appear to be very old. Combining a loop with Frankenstein (not the monster) Cliff and an out and back to Ripley Falls should make for a full agenda. ( Log Out /  AllTrails describes this trail as follows: “Arethusa Falls and Frankenstein Cliff Trail is a 4.2 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Bartlett, New Hampshire that features a waterfall and is rated as difficult.”  It’s uncertain what their guidelines are for the phrase “moderately trafficked” and it’s almost certain that they’re talking about the Falls trail rather than the Cliffs trail. Trails in the Kearsarge Region around Sunapee and New London can be found HERE. There was no way around. thenortheasthiker.com/2018/03/08/hike-to-frankenstein-cliff-and-arethusa-falls The trail starts at the kiosk on the far end of the lot across from the bathroom, with a sign indicating the Frankenstein Cliff Trail. That was about my limit then, but hard would have been defined as long or strenuous, not dangerous, technical climbing/hiking. For comparison, the day-use fees for most New Hampshire state parks is $3.00, and the day-use fee for most White Mountain National Forest recreation areas is $3.00. round trip, 1650-ft. elevation gain). Tate, Black Snout and Mt. This is a moderate to difficult loop trail to Arethusa Falls in White Mountain National Forest. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Just need to keep moving and not dilly dally for too long as it is supposed to rain this afternoon. Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to pray in and play in, where Nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike. HYPERLITE-MOUNTAIN-GEAR: Shop our Bestsellers. Fee Update: There is still no fee to use the Arethusa Falls Trail, but as of the summer of 2007, there is a box for voluntary contributions. Logan didn’t say much; he hiked; he rested; he hiked some more: a real trooper. There are two parking areas. By this point we had thrown our lot in with the girls, or they with us. The forest went silent; an eerie calm entered the woods; and we all looked at each other with a feeling of uncertain expectation. At 200 feet, Arethusa Falls is the highest waterfall in the state of New Hampshire. Logan had never been to Quincy Quarries, a popular climbing spot only minutes from Brad’s house, and knowing there would be no one there at this early hour, we decided to make a quick pit-stop to take advantage of what was sure to be a desolate quarry. AMC White Mountain National Forest Map Set, White Mountains Map: New Hampshire and Maine, Ultralight Backpacking Double-Wall Tent Guide, Sea-to-Summit Ascent Ac II Sleeping Bag Review (15F Degree), Snowshoes, Postholing, and Winter Trail Etiquette, Water Bottle Insulation for Winter Hiking, Foam Sleeping Pads vs Inflatable Pads on the Appalachian Trail, Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest Backpack, Sea-to-Summit Etherlite XT Ins. BACKCOUNTRY.COM: New Year's Discounts: Save up to 60% Off Best-Sellers at Backcountry.com! The Frankenstein Cliff trail-head is located in Crawford Notch State Park and parking is right off the highway directly on 302. After a short walk and climb, we were on the road and heading to Crawford Notch in the White Mountains to hike Arethusa Falls and Frankenstein Cliffs. Then I came upon this sign, that said it’s only 6/10 of a mile from the trailhead to the cliff. After doing a little bit of research, some of which included a painfully outdated, not to mention faded, guidebook, we chose the 6 mile loop that led to the Arethusa Falls, … This was pretty much it. Thanks for the comment and taking the time to read this. The southern Appalachian Trail at Clark’s Ferry does not compare to the rugged landscape of the White Mountains, whose humble altitudes bely their ruggedness. I chose to tackle Frankenstein Cliff first. Getting back into the swing after two broken arms. Located in Crawford Notch, the trailhead is located off Rt 302 within easy reach of the other attractions along that scenic route. Coming from the west: Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Only the trails with photos are active. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Trees and rocks tenuously clung to the side of the mountain and every step was an effort not to tumble down the side of it. The Frankenstein Cliff Trail officially begins at the upper parking area (right side), but a connecting path from the lower parking area can also be used. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. When I started this journey in August of 2017, I don’t think I could say I had done a really difficult climb/hike. Thankfully my ribs broke my fall. 2) adding on either of the other trails will put you on very steep inclines. The Frankenstein Cliffs – Arethusa Falls trail is approximately a 5.7 mile loop (includes trip to the falls) with some slippery steep inclines when covered with fall leaves. After lunch at the falls, proceed on the Arethusa-Ripley trail as it winds south of a brook, crosses it, and comes back around, then continues north, later east to the Frankenstein Cliff Trail. With leaf season officially over I think it is safe to hit one of the tourist attractions in the state, Arethusa Falls. The Frankenstein Cliff Trail officially begins at the upper parking area (right side), but a connecting path from the lower parking area can also be used. The typical hiking time for this loop is about 3 hours 30 min. HYDRO-BLU WATER FILTERS: Save 10% OFF siteiwde at HydroBlu.com with code 'SAVE10TODAY'. Yes, there are roots and rocks, but go at a comfortable place and you'll be fine. A favorite location for winter ice climbers, there are several jaw-dropping viewpoints on this 5.0-mile loop, but the going is rather steep and slippery in places, so not for the faint of heart. Perhaps the five miles I section-hiked on the AT would have been it. On our way to the top we encountered another group of hikers, three young women (Rhea, Turida and the third whose name is now lost to history) who had also decided to try the Cliffs trail. You can click on the title or photo to get to the page describing each trail. Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery : Just need to keep moving and not dilly dally for too long as it is supposed to rain this afternoon. Read, write, hike, repeat. Back on the Arethusa Falls Trail, which gets its girth by following old woods roads. The most recent trip I made in which I bagged Mt. The weather on Saturday, 30 June 2018, called for periods of sun with temps in the 90s. Towering over 100 feet in height, the great Arethusa Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in the White Mountains. I caught myself between my left armpit and my ribs on a tree that just happened to have a decent hold on the hillside. This hike only trail can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating. but due to my arthritic condition it took about almost 6 hours, but the views made the trip well worth the pain. Especially considering the difficulty of the first couple miles. What many people don’t post is the everyday stuff we all do: time in the office, or at work, paying bills, bringing kids to and from school, fighting kids to do homework, the struggle to make ends meet, etc. Shaw in a single push is a great example. Would you recommend the Frankenstein hike for 7- and 9-year-old girls who rarely hike but are athletic? 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