Seasonality of Waterfalls

Seasonality is an issue of great importance to the falls of New England. It refers to the fluctuations in the volume of water. In an ideal world each waterfall would always look the same, never losing any of its attractiveness or appeal. This just is not the case; seasonality is a factor to be considered before embarking on any trip described in this guide.

My advice is simple: To reduce the likelihood of visiting a dried-up waterfall, visit it before the middle of June. 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; I intentionally did not include other waterfalls I found to be extremely seasonal. Beyond the middle of June, however, each waterfall’s character begins to change.

Here are some general guidelines that have proven themselves true from extensive traveling:

Mountain brooks are likely to dry up faster than lowland rivers.
The waterfalls of northern New England remain powerful 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 a 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 discovering a dried-up falls.
If a wide stream with little running water is narrowed significantly enough, a waterfall can still become quite powerful and scenic. I have been pleasantly surprised many times over.
You can expect a normally seasonal waterfall to be roaring with power for up to one week after a day of heavy rain (greater than 0.5 inches). You are essentially guaranteed a fine display if you visit within two or three days of a storm’s passing.

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 a thundering torrent of whitewater. You could witness the power of natural change and uncover beautiful rock formations behind the waterfall.
A dangerous swimming hole at the base of a waterfall in May could be safe to visit for all by July.
Less water can lead to more artistic photographs when using proper technique.
Each trip you make to the same waterfall will likely result in photographs with significant differences. It is quite rare to frame identical photographs taken on separate days.

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