Glen Ellis Falls
Worth the drive
Is it plungeworthy?
A horsetail on Ellis River.
The details
- Type
- Horsetail
- Watercourse
- Ellis River
- Coordinates
- 44.2443, -71.25224
About Glen Ellis Falls
Glen Ellis Falls is a 64-foot horsetail in New Hampshire, on Ellis River.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates Glen Ellis Falls 7.8/10 — worth the drive. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
Glen Ellis Falls drops 64-66 feet in a single clean plunge on the Ellis River, just south of Pinkham Notch — one of the most classically proportioned waterfalls in the White Mountains, viewed from a stone-walled path and stairs built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
The approach is half the charm: a pedestrian tunnel under Route 16 leads from the parking lot to a path along the river, arriving first at the brink and then descending stairs to a straight-on view from the base.
It's the best big-payoff-for-minimal-effort waterfall on the eastern side of the Whites — a genuine 60-plus-foot plunge less than half a mile from the car.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Glen Ellis Scenic Area, Route 16, about two-thirds of a mile south of Pinkham Notch Visitor Center
- Parking
- Lot on the west side of Route 16; $5/vehicle recreation fee
- Road
- Route 16 — paved
- Hike
- 0.6 mi round trip (Easy — stone steps down to the base viewpoint)
- Heads up
- Pedestrian tunnel under Route 16 from the lot. No restrooms on site. The lot doubles as the Glen Boulder and Wildcat Ridge trailhead.
When to go
Strong flow spring through early summer; the plunge holds up better than most in late summer thanks to the Ellis River's drainage. The CCC stonework is at its most photogenic against fall color.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- $5/vehicle, self-pay; federal passes accepted
- Warnings
- Stay on the walled path — the rock beside the falls is steep and slick.
Researched from USFS — Glen Ellis Scenic Area · World of Waterfalls — Glen Ellis Falls. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Glen Ellis Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Planning a visit? We want your photo.
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Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
How tall is Glen Ellis Falls?
Glen Ellis Falls drops about 64 feet, in New Hampshire.
Where is Glen Ellis Falls?
Glen Ellis Falls is a waterfall in New Hampshire, at 44.2443, -71.25224.
Is Glen Ellis Falls worth visiting?
Worth the drive — Plungeworthy rates it 7.8/10.
Gear for the trip
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