Imagine a mile-long stretch of a brook with several named waterfalls and dozens of large, unnamed cascades. This is Cascade Brook as seen from the Basin-Cascades Trail. Over a stretch about one mile in length, the wide brook drops a total of six hundred vertical feet. Even though the trail that runs parallel to the brook is one of the most popular in the White Mountains region, there are enough sun-exposed cataracts, cascades, and slides for everyone to be able to claim themselves a private spot for hours. The major tourist drawing feature is a small waterfall located in “The Basin.” Only a few feet tall, this small fall travels sideways down through narrow chute into a deep whirlpool. There is almost always at least one visitor to the falls at the Basin during all hours of sunlight. This high visitation is far from surprising; access to the Basin could not be easier. The area is marked by large signs on a major interstate, there is ample parking, and it is located just south of the other tourist-crazed features of Franconia Notch State Park, such as The Flume and Cannon Mountain. Kinsman Falls, Rocky Glen Falls, and a mile of the Basin-Cascades Trail lie beyond the waterfall at the Basin. Kinsman Falls, a narrow 15-foot plunge into a swimmable pool, is the first officially named waterfall of the Basin-Cascades Trail. Before Kinsman Falls, the trail is blessed with unnamed cascades and plunges, many worthy of their own name and recognition. Rocky Glen Falls is the final waterfall of the trip. Here, Cascade Brook falls roughly 35-feet over two segments of jagged steps between narrow gorge walls into deep, yellow-colored pools. Of all the falls along this trip, Rocky Glen is our top pick. For a complete day in the sun with waterfalls, add the waterfalls of the Basin-Cascades Trail to the Falls of the Flume-Pool Loop and the less popular Georgiana Falls (see separate chapters). All are within several driving minutes of each other. Also consider trekking beyond Rocky Glen Falls an additional 1.8 miles to Lonesome Lake. This small but beautiful lake is very well-regarded and also has an AMC backcountry hut.

If you are parked on the southbound side of I-93, walk down the paved path to a set of waterslides and a bridge. If you wish to view the area referred to as “The Basin,” take a left before the bridge and follow the crowds a few feet down a flat dirt trail to a staircase. If you are parked on the northbound side of I-93, you will need to follow signs to “The Basin” and cross under I-93 via a tunnel. After you cross through the tunnel, take a right and continue following a well-defined path for a few hundred feet and the The Basin will soon become evident. Both the Baby Flume and the cascades and waterfalls of the Basin-Cascades Trail can both be accessed from The Basin. If you wish to visit the 6-foot drop of Baby Flume, continue downstream along the river for 0.25 mile along the Pemi Trail and the cascades will be on your left. If you wish to visit the cascades & waterfalls of the Basin-Cascades Trail, look for a large sign about 125 feet west of The Basin for the “Basin-Cascades Trail.” This sign is visible from The Basin, but it can be somewhat difficult to spot. This trail will steadily climb in elevation past many sets of lovely unnamed cascades, to a very short spur trail leading down a 25-foot embankment to an unobstructed view of Kinsman Falls, about 0.6 mile from the parking area. Take care when crossing the brook. During periods of high water, we have seen several people slip into the shallow brook when making this crossing and end up with a few scratches and bruises. While not abnormally difficult, crossing the brook often requires balance and patience. Trekking poles come in handy for such a task. Once you cross the brook, it is an additional 0.5 mile of moderate hiking before you reach a review of the last waterfall of the trip, Rocky Glen Falls, on your right. Only the bottom half of Rocky Glen Falls is directly viewable from the Basin-Cascades Trail. You must continue hiking upstream along the trail for 150 feet, at which point you will reach a bridge over the stream. To see the top segment of these falls, bushwhack a short distance downstream from the bridge. The Basin-Cascades Trail is a popular, well-marked, moderate uphill walk past dozens of cascades. The further you continue on the trail, the less crowded the trail will become, and this is especially true for the last 0.6 mile, as most visitors turn back after reaching Kinsman Falls.

Directions for this particular waterfall are not posted online. Please see directions in our published guidebook, New England Waterfalls: A Guide to More Than 400 Cascades And Waterfalls, or you can email us and we will happily provide them to you.

Lonesome Lake and the AMC Hut located there are both additional highly worthwhile objectives that are within reasonable distance of the falls of the Basin-Cascades Trail. To reach these remote places, keep climbing up the Basin-Cascades Trail for 0.1 mile beyond Rocky Glen Falls to its junction with the Cascade Brook Trail. Cross Cascade Brook over a bridge and from here it is 1.6 miles to the lake and an additional 500 feet left along the Around-The-Lake Trail to the Hut. This hut offers snacks, meals (in season), and lodging (reservations are required).