BACKPACKING NEW ENGLAND'S WATERFALLS

shelter near Falls on Pecks Brook, Massachusetts

Zealand Falls Hut above Zealand Falls, New Hampshire

Looking to take a backpacking trip in New England that includes staying at or near a waterfall? I've put together a comprehensive list of all known waterfalls that you can backpack to. If you know of any other waterfalls that you can backpack to, please let me know!

Follow New England Waterfalls on Facebook!

MASSACHUSETTS

Here is a list of all known backpacking opportunities near waterfalls in Massachusetts.

STATE	WATERFALL	PARK / LOCATION	TYPE	NOTES / DESCRIPTION
MA	Bear Rock Falls	Laurel Ridge Campsites	Tentsites	backpack-in campsites along on the Appalachian Trail in the southwestern corner of the state; designated campsites (some sites are on tent pads) are just south of the falls; easiest access is via trail from East Road and then turn north onto Appalachian Trail
MA	Deer Hill Falls	Sperry Rd. Backpacking Campground	Tentsites	backpack-in campsites in Mt. Greylock State Reservation; falls are 0.5 mile away from campsite; easy walk along old road to backpacking sites (former car campground); combine with nearby March Cataract Falls; trailhead is found on main park road
MA	Falls on Pecks Brook	Pecks Brook Shelter	Lean-to &Tentsites	lean-to (free; first-come, first-served) on eastern slopes of Mt. Greylock State Reservation; the lowest and most impressive of falls require a difficult scramble to reach
MA	March Cataract Falls	Sperry Rd. Backpacking Campground	Tentsites	backpack-in campsites within Mt. Greylock State Reservation; the falls are 0.8 mile away from the campsites; to reach the backpacking sites, you'll walk along Sperry Road, which is now closed to traffic; combine your trip to these falls with a trip to nearby Deer Hill Falls; the trailhead is located on the main park road, across from the entrance to Sperry Road
MA	Money Brook Falls	Wilbur Clearing Lean-to	Lean-to	backpack-in lean-to site (free; first-come, first-served) within Mt. Greylock State Reservation; the lean-to is about 0.5 mile away from falls; trailhead is located on the main park road
MA	Race Brook Falls	Race Brook Campsites	Tentsites	access to these five waterfalls is via the Race Brook Trail from MA 41; the tentsites are found above the uppermost of the five falls; if you have the time and energy, consider hiking up to the fine views from open ledges on Mt. Race
MA	Royalston Falls	Royalston Falls Shelter	Shelter	this shelter (free; first-come, first-served) sleeps 12 and is found 0.3 miles north of Royalston Falls along the yellow-blazed Tully Trail; you must keep fires within the designated fire pit in front of the shelter
MA	Sages Ravine (Upper Falls)	Sages Ravine Campsites	Tentsites	backpack-in campsites along the Appalachian Trail in southwestern corner of the state; easiest access is via trail from East Road and then you must turn north onto Appalachian Trail

MAINE

Here is a list of all known backpacking opportunities near waterfalls in Maine.

STATE	WATERFALL	PARK / LOCATION	TYPE	NOTES / DESCRIPTION
ME	Cooper Brook Falls	Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to	Lean-to & Tentsites	backpacking sites on the Appalachian Trail between the East Branch and Potaywadjo Spring lean-tos
ME	Grand Falls	Maine Huts & Trail's Grand Falls Hut	Hut	this is a relatively new hut on the ever-expanding Maine Huts & Trails trail system; the falls are approximately 1.2 miles away from the hut; reservations to stay in the hut are required
ME	Logan Brook Falls	Logan Brook Lean-to	Lean-to &Tentsites	backpacking site on the Appalachian Trail between the Carl A. Newman and East Branch lean-tos
ME	Poplar Stream Falls	Maine Huts & Trail's Poplar Stream Falls Hut	Hut	reservations are required to stay at this hut; full meals are served; the falls are 0.3 mile away from the hut; the hut is heated in winter

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Here is a list of all known backpacking opportunities near waterfalls in New Hampshire.

STATE	WATERFALL	PARK / LOCATION	TYPE	NOTES / DESCRIPTION
NH	Ammonoosuc Ravine	AMC Lakes of the Clouds Hut	Hut	the AMC Lakes of the Clouds Hut is located a few miles above the falls; be prepared for a steep and challenging trail; also be prepared for poor weather as you near the hut; the hut can be used as base to climb Mt. Monroe and/or Mt. Washington; advance reservations are required
NH	Appalachia Waterfalls	AMC Madison Spring Hut	Hut	several waterfalls can be visited along the way up to, or down from, the hut, including: Duck Fall, Tama Fall, Salmacis Fall, Salroc Falls, and Gordon Fall; many of the waterfalls of Appalachia are directly visible from the Brookside Trail
NH	Appalachia Waterfalls	RMC properties (Crag Camp, Gray Knob, Log Cabin & The Perch)	Lean-to, cabin, and/or hut	several different waterfalls are en route to the Randolph Mountain Club's backcountry lodges and lean-tos depending on which one you visit, including: Spur Brook Falls, Chandler Falls, Cascade Ravine, Cold Brook Falls, Mossy Falls
NH	Beaver Brook Cascades	Beaver Brook Shelter	Lean-to &Tentsites	backpacking site on the Appalachian Trail on the shoulder of Mt. Moosilauke; 1.5 miles from NH 112; lean-to plus 2 tent platforms are available
NH	Bridal Veil Falls	Coppermine Shelter	Lean-to &Tentsites	lean-to shelter on the Coppermine Trail; the falls are an easy 0.2 mile away; there are a few unofficial overflow tentsites here as well
NH	Dry River Falls	Dry River Trail	Lean-to &Tentsites	several backpacking sites deep in Dry River Wilderness between 3.0-5.2 miles from US 302; there is also a lean-to about 0.9 mile above the falls, but at some point it will be removed from the wilderness area
NH	Eliza Brook Cascades	Eliza Brook Shelter	Lean-to &Tentsites	backpack-in campsites on the Appalachian Trail along the Kinsman Ridge Trail; a lean-to shelter sleeps 8 plus there are several tent sites; easiest access is via the Reel Brook Trail from NH 116
NH	Rattle River Falls	Rattle River Shelter	Lean-to &Tentsites	backpacking sites on the Appalachian Trail; lean-to plus several tent sites; access is via US 2; the swimming hole is only a few hundred feet from the lean-to
NH	Thirteen Falls	13 Falls Tentsite	Tentsites	these popular backpacking sites are managed by the AMC (and so a per person fee is charged); 8.0 mile hike one-way; 9 tent sites; all five sets of falls here are within 0.3 mile of the campsites; make sure to visit Franconia Falls en route (adds 0.4 mile each-way); visit in summer during warm weather so you can enjoy the swimming holes
NH	Zealand Falls	AMC Zealand Falls Hut	Hut	backpacking hut; the falls are located a few hundred feet below the hut; the falls are seasonal and are thus best seen in high water (typically April-June)

RHODE ISLAND

Here is a list of all known backpacking opportunities near waterfalls in Rhode Island.

STATE	WATERFALL	PARK / LOCATION	TYPE	NOTES / DESCRIPTION
RI	Stepstone Falls	Arcadia Management Area	Lean-to & Tentsites	there is supposedly an overnight shelter and a few tentsites about 0.3 mile downstream of the falls at the "Stepstone Falls Backpacking Area"; I have not officially confirmed this yet; it may also be possible that you must obtain a permit ahead of time and pay a fee; I'm not 100% sure, but I believe this is a different shelter than "Frosty Hollow Shelter" which is also within the Arcadia park

VERMONT

Here is a list of all known backpacking opportunities near waterfalls in Vermont.

STATE	WATERFALL	PARK / LOCATION	TYPE	NOTES / DESCRIPTION
VT	Duck Brook Cascades	Unknown	Lean-to & Tentsites	the cascades are a short distance below the lean-to and tentsites; the only problem is that the Long Trail was rerouted in 2015 and the trail to this shelter from Stage Road is already very overgrown; it may be possible to take the Long Trail and then head southwest on the Old Long Trail to reach the shelter
VT	Falls of Lana	Moosalamoo National Recreation Area	Tentsites	there are at least two official tentsites near the top of the Falls of Lana; they are both first-come, first-served

PHOTOGRAPHS

AMC Zealand Falls Hut lies only a few hundred feet above Zealand Falls (New Hampshire)

first-come, first-served shelter near Falls on Pecks Brook, Mt. Greylock State Reservation (Massachusetts)

The AMC Lakes of the Clouds Hut sits a few miles above the waterfalls of Ammonoosuc Ravine (New Hampshire)

the first-come, first-served Coppermine Shelter that sits 0.2 mile below Bridal Veil Falls (New Hampshire)

one of the tent platforms at Thirteen Falls (New Hampshire)

the Royalston Falls shelter, which sits 0.3 miles north of Royalston Falls along the Tully Trail (Massachusetts)

BACKPACKING IN NEW ENGLAND

Newenglandwaterfalls.com has created backpacking guides to most of the New England states. Those pages can be found here:

GOING BACKPACKING?

Here is a comprehensive backpacking checklist to help you prepare for a safe & fun trip. I have spent many hours compiling this checklist, so hopefully you will find it helpful.

EXPLORE MORE OF NEW ENGLAND!
Connecticut / Maine / Massachusetts / New Hampshire / Rhode Island / Vermont
Home Page / About the Book / Book Updates / Top 40 Waterfalls / Swimming Holes / How To Use This Guide / Contact Us
Waterfall Photography / Top 25 New England Hikes / 4000 Footers of NH / Bigroads.com
© newenglandwaterfalls.com
photographs/images may not be used without permission

Waterfalls, swimming holes, and hiking can be extremely dangerous. Hundreds of people have been injured or killed in the waterfalls and swimming holes of New England over the years. Never swim in strong water currents. Don't jump into a swimming hole without scouting it first. Do not climb up or along the side of waterfalls. Be wary of slippery rocks. Never swim in pools above waterfalls. Use of this website and all of its information is at your own risk! Newenglandwaterfalls.com will not be held liable for your actions. Be safe out there - and always use common sense!

As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any links, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or come highly recommended by trusted peers.