Waterfalls of New Hampshire - Jackson Falls | Ammonoosuc Inn & Restaurant

Waterfalls of New Hampshire - Jackson Falls

Jackson , Carroll County, NH , USA

The western segment of the lower part of the cascades

Details:

This is the type of waterfall you arrange a day trip for, rather than merely visit. In terms of size (not height, but rather length) this is a very large waterfall. The stream has acres of rock to spread out over. The smaller falls are at the top, so are the larger pools. As the stream makes its way along the long granite bank, it gathers momentum for the steep cascades at the end. The waterfall starts out more level than vertical. Some small drops are interspersed with long, wide pools. The formation gets steeper the further downstream you go. At the end of the formation, more than 2/10 of a mile downstream, the real falls begin to show themselves. This is a long slanted, fractured bank of granite that just so happens to have a river running upon it. Opportunities for exploration are vast. I climbed up and down this quarter mile stretch of granite banks with pools and cascades for hours. Bring swim trunks to this one!

Geology and Bedrock Structure:

The falls take place over a long and ledgey section of Wildcat Brook. The bedrock here is porphyritic quartz syenite, a long red granitic formation.

History:

Photography Notes:

This is a very long formation, more even in pitch at the upstream end, steeper towards the lower end. The falls offer a myriad of angles and compositions. First things first…you’ll want footwear that is appropriate for scrambling around on rock surfaces. There is a great deal of reflectivity here, so a polarizer is indispensible. The abundance of reddish rock here negates the need for a warming filter. The falls face more or less south, but are quite open. Even lighting is helpful, but the sun won’t ruin your shots here. That being said, overcast days are still ideal.

Directions:

The falls are located in Jackson village, with parking on Route 16B, aka Carter Notch Road.

(reproduced by permission from author Dean Goss)