Hermit Falls is located in near the North Chatham/Beans Purchase town border. It is tucked a mile northwest of the Basin Campground, which is operated by the U.S. Forest Service. A seasonal falls, the best time to visit Hermit Falls is before the end of June, or after a substantial rainstorm. In high water conditions, Hermit Falls is pretty 30-foot horsetail within a remote, moss-surrounded ravine. In low-water, the falls turns into a powerless slide down dark wet rock. The falls are an easy walk from either the campground or from the picnic area at Basin Pond. Do not go out of your way to visit the falls, unless, of course, you are a waterfall fanatic. Rather, check out Hermit Falls if you happen to be vacationing at the campground, or if you are visiting other nearby waterfalls. The falls may not be spectacular enough to visit on their own, but it makes a fine addition to other local attractions. You can add to the fun of visiting this waterfall by combining it with Basin Trail Cascades, also accessible by the Basin Trail. The best way to do this is to do a car-spot between both trailheads of the Basin Trail (the other one being along Wild River Rd; see chapter on Basin Trail Cascades for additional information).

The trip to Hermit Falls follows the Basin Trail, a yellow-marked trail that first parallels the southern edge of Basin Pond. The trail begins near the parking area restrooms behind a brown sign for the “Basin Trail.” For the first 0.5 mile, you will hike along the southern edge of Basin Pond, with several gaps providing scenic views to the north. Soon after passing the eastern edge of the pond, the trail markers will become less obvious and, in several stretches, the trail becomes narrow due to overgrown plants. Continue to look aggressively for trail blazes, and the trail will soon return to its original width after crossing several streams. The remainder of this 1.3 mile walk is rated easy for difficulty but watch out for occasional muddy patches.

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.

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