We are in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest along the eastern edge of Mount Washington. There is so much to see and do, but today we will explore the Ellis River from Pinkham Notch to Jackson, NH. The Ellis River conveniently parallels NH-16, and we’ll head south to explore three different waterfalls. So grab your gear and let’s go.
Our first stop, Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. Behind the Center is Tuckerman Ravine Trail which we’ll walk for 3/10 mile along the Ellis River to Crystal Cascade. Near the waterfall, however, the the trail begins to gain elevation. In a little over 4 miles you reach the summit of Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the Northeastern U.S., reaching 6,288 feet. Considering we parked the car at 2050 feet, anyone walking from the Center to the Summit will walk up over 1,000 feet a mile and some of that through the tight ravine with waterfalls running down its walls. Luckily the steepest areas have switchbacks. Even luckier, our walk to the falls is only 10 minutes.
Ahead the trail turns to cross that bridge and we’ll begin our short climb to Crystal Cascade Overlook.
It is great to take pictures from a bridge. You don’t get wet and there is not much in the way. Looking downriver.
Looking up river.
OK, this is steeper than anticipated, but the overlook is ahead and we can hear the falls. Oh yes, Crystal Cascade’s 100 foot drop is absolutely gorgeous and this is the only location from which to see this falls. Let’s just enjoy for a while.
We climbed up rock stairs to get here, so watch you step going down.
Walking closer to the river on the way down we see a huge glacial erratic–the big rock–on the river’s edge.
Well, we may be wimps, but we are walking in the tracks of many people making it to the top all times of the year. We even saw someone carrying skis hoping to catch the last snow on the mountain. This rock says it all–BRAVO!
It is certainly a beautiful early morning walk. Wait, what’s that on the side of the road.
A beautiful Painted Trillium (Trillium undulatum) and there are many in the woods here. The flowers are about two inches across, and as with all trillium, have three large green leaves, three green sepals with red edges, and three petals. They are a member of the lily family. Trillium are also called Wakerobin because they bloom about the same time robins return in spring.
We will drive down about a mile to the trailhead of Glen Ellis Falls Trail. This is another short walk, about a mile roundtrip, on a stone walkway, stone stairs, with the Ellis River along the east edge of the trail.
It has been raining on and off, so there is still water running down the mountains creating lovely small waterfalls at river’s edge.
We just walked down a set of stairs, so there must be a waterfall drop ahead–oh yes!
There’s the drop to the falls behind that rock mid-stream. Glen Ellis Falls here we come!
That’s a pretty steep down and it is getting breezy and damp the lower we go.
Glen Ellis Falls is generating wind making it misty and wet. Luckily I can jump behind the big rock on the left because my camera is getting wet.
Six tries later and I have a clear shot. It is so windy down here this is the picture I got time and time again. What I do for you! 😉
Let’s head back to the car, we have one more waterfall to visit.
Now this is an interesting bird box. How did we miss it on the way in. See the face?
We have followed the Ellis River about nine miles further south on NH-16. We turn left to pass through Jackson’s Honeymoon Covered Bridge . This one-lane covered bridge with a pedestrian walking lane takes us over the Ellis River. I never realized how difficult is is to photograph covered bridges. I certainly found out on this New England trip.
Jackson Falls is on the Wildcat Brook, sometimes called the Wildcat River. The falls drops 120 feet over granite ledges for a 1/4 mile before joining the Ellis River very near this covered bridge. When the water is as high as it is this May, we must stay to the edges of the brook making our pictures more challenging. In the summer you can walk out onto the rocks and even swim in the pools and potholes along the upper falls, although the water is quite chilly.
The Wildcat Brook travels about 10 miles from the high mountain pass know as Carter Notch, drops down the rock ledges known as Jackson Falls, then joins the Ellis River.
How is this little guy surviving on these rocks. A New England violet (Viola novae-angliae QQQ) was an unexpected find walking the rock ledges near the falls.
Be careful, the stairs to the parking lot are currently part of the falls. We’ll find another way.
Walking back to the car we find Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus), sometimes called Tetterwort. Lovely along the wooden fences, a member of the poppy family.
What a glorious day sharing three waterfalls in New Hampshire’s beautiful White Mountains. We have a few more places to visit in New Hampshire, so stay tuned.
Until next time my friend . . .
