Seasonality is an issue of great importance to the falls of New England. It refers to the fluctuations in the volume of water sources of waterfalls. As seasons change in New England, so does the volume of water flowing down each of these structures. In an ideal world, each waterfall would always look the exact way you wanted it to, never losing any of its attractiveness or appeal.  This just is not the case, though; seasonality is a factor to be considered before embarking on any trip described in this guide.

Our advice is simple: Try to visit the waterfalls during the spring, but if you can't, then visit before the middle of summer to reduce the likelihood of visiting a dried-up waterfall.  Spring runoff from the previous winter can last throughout most of spring and, at times, even into summer. Unless a record-breaking drought has occurred, every waterfall in this guidebook will be flowing; we intentionally did not include those we found to be too highly seasonal. Beyond the middle of June, however, each waterfall’s character begins to change.

Here are some general guidelines that have proven themselves true in our travels.

  • Mountain brooks are likely to dry up faster than lowland rivers.
  • The waterfalls of northern New England survive for longer in summer than do the falls of the south.
  • Falls at the base of a mountain are likely to remain longer than falls located halfway up a trail leading to the summit.
  • Snowy winters mean longer waterfall seasons during the warmer months.
  • If you are hiking along a stream to a waterfall, and there is little water flowing, you run the risk of uncovering a dried-up falls.
  • When there is little volume flowing but the water source is abnormally wide, the falls are still likely to be quite powerful. We have been pleasantly surprised several times.
  • You can expect a normally seasonal waterfall to be roaring with power for up to one week after a day of heavy rain. You are guaranteed a great show if you visit within three days of a storm.

Seasonality is not always a terrible thing; differences in water flow create new sparkling personalities and characteristic changes. Here are the benefits of seasonality.

  • A trip to a dried-up falls can still be rewarding, especially if you have previously visited the waterfall when it was flowing with thundering power. You could witness the power of natural change.
  • A swimming pool at the base of a falls may be too dangerous for swimming in May because of dangerous currents, but quite safe in July.
  • Seasonality can also change major characteristics of a waterfall; for example, a 20-foot-wide mix of cascades during spring runoff can transform into an elusive 4-foot-wide plunge in July.

 

© NewEnglandWaterfalls.com  2002-2003.