Ripley Falls
Worth the drive
Is it plungeworthy?
A horsetail on Avalanche Brook.
The details
- Type
- Horsetail
- Watercourse
- Avalanche Brook
- Coordinates
- 44.16152, -71.39359
About Ripley Falls
Ripley Falls is a 108-foot horsetail in New Hampshire, on Avalanche Brook.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates Ripley Falls 8.3/10 — worth the drive. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
Ripley Falls is a steep, ~100-foot rock slide on Avalanche Brook in Crawford Notch — water sheeting down a granite slab pitched at about 60 degrees, one of the steepest-angled slides in New England. Sources converge near 100 feet even though some listings run higher.
It's the quieter alternative to Arethusa Falls a few miles away: a shorter hike, a smaller lot, and a fraction of the foot traffic, for a waterfall that's arguably as photogenic in good flow.
The approach follows the Ethan Pond Trail (a stretch of the Appalachian Trail) before branching to the falls — a rocky, slick-in-places path that earns its 'moderate' rating despite the short distance.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Ethan Pond/Ripley Falls Trailhead, off US 302 (0.3-mile paved access road, 1 mile south of the Willey House)
- Parking
- Small trailhead lot
- Road
- US 302, then a short paved spur — paved throughout
- Hike
- 1.1 mi round trip, 308 ft of climb (Moderate — short but rocky and slick)
- Heads up
- Day-parking fee status at this specific lot is unclear — bring $5 cash in case, as with other White Mountain trailheads.
When to go
A slide this steep depends on flow — spring and after rain it's a full white sheet; in a dry August it thins dramatically. Pair it with Arethusa for a two-falls Crawford Notch day.
Rules & fees
- Camping
- AMC Ethan Pond Shelter (fee site) further up the trail for overnights
- Warnings
- Wet slab at the base is treacherously slick — the slide angle fools people.
Researched from USFS — Ethan Pond & Ripley Falls Trailhead · World Waterfall Database — Ripley Falls. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Ripley Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Planning a visit? We want your photo.
Ripley Falls doesn't have a photo yet. If you make the trip, send one to hello@plungeworthy.com and we'll publish it here with credit to you.
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 Ripley Falls?
Ripley Falls drops about 108 feet, in New Hampshire.
Where is Ripley Falls?
Ripley Falls is a waterfall in New Hampshire, at 44.16152, -71.39359.
Is Ripley Falls worth visiting?
Worth the drive — Plungeworthy rates it 8.3/10.
Gear for the trip
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