Waterfalls of New Hampshire - Agassiz Basin | Ammonoosuc Inn & Restaurant

Waterfalls of New Hampshire - Agassiz Basin

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The falls from the base

Details:

Agassiz Basin is a tight plunge into a very deep pool surrounded by sheer granite walls. Moosilauke Brook has cut a scenic gorge through a layer of granite bedrock, and a large boulder has wedged itself at the top of the drop. The falls are located behind Govoni’s Italian Restaurant. Parking is allowed in the restaurant parking lot until 4PM. The falls are about 100 feet off the road. There are two bridges over the gorge, the lower bridge being directly above Agassiz Basin, and the upper bridge being just below the upstream waterfall, referred to as Indian Leap. Scrambling down to the falls is somewhat tricky as the granite bedrock is a bit polished. Any confident scrambler with decent and gripping shoes (ie, sneakers, not street shoes) shouldn’t have problems.

Geology and Bedrock Structure:

The falls and gorge cut through the Kinsman Quartz Monzonite.

History:

This formation is named for noted Swiss scientist Louis Agassiz, who obseved and described evidence of glacial activity which suggested the Ice Age.

Photography Notes:

There are many photo opportunities here. The waters have sculpted the granitic bedrock into some unusual shapes. Granitic rocks are polished by water, hence, very shiny. Glare is a big issue so a polarizing filter is indispensible. The lighting around the falls tends to be a bit uneven, so an overcast day is recommended. Also, given the cooler tones around the area, a warming filter is suggested. Mornings and late afternoons are likely the best times to shoot. You won’t need any long focal lengths here, 28-80mm should cover it nicely.

Directions:

The falls are located behind Govoni’s Italian Restaurant, which is about 1.7 miles from Woodstock on Route 112.

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