Waterfall Hero Hikes: Thompson Brook Waterfalls (Pinkman Notch)

There are four scenic waterfalls on Thompson Brook in Coös County, New Hampshire. The waterfalls are located in the Androscoggin Ranger District in White Mountain National Forest near Pinkham Notch.

Hike Length: 1.4 miles

Estimated Time: 1 to 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Location: Pinkham Notch (Androscoggin Ranger District in White Mountain National Forest)

Trail Users: Hiking
Dogs: Must be on a leash
Features: Waterfalls (4)
Crowds: Moderate
Warnings: The rocks around the waterfalls are very slippery.
Trailhead GPS: 44.26470,-71.23998
Waterfall GPS: 44.26697,-71.23115 (Lower Falls), 44.26672,-71.23009 (Middle Falls), 44.26682, -71.22964 (Upper Falls), 44.26670,-71.22864 (Fourth Falls)

Directions:

From Gorham, head south on NH-16 for 9.7 miles and turn left into the Wildcat Mountain Ski Area parking. It is 1.9 miles south of the Mount Washington Auto Road and 0.8 miles north of the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center.

Map:

Hike Description:

Walk past the ski lodge and cross a footbridge and turn left onto Way of the Wildcat Nature Trail, which is also Thompson Falls Trail. At the two forks, stay straight to stay on Thompson Falls Trail and then cross a gravel road and start following Thompson Brook upstream. At 0.6 miles, reach Lower Thompson Falls.

The trail gets more difficult from this point. Staying on river left, continue up along the creek about 100 feet and then cross the creek below the lower portion of Middle Thompson Falls.

On the other side of the creek (river right), the continues on this side from the base of the main drop of the middle falls.

In another hundred feet or so, bushwhack right down the creek at Upper Thompson Falls, which is a really cool one.

There are actually two streams tumbling down here, but can't really get a picture of both.

Back on the trail, there is another view of the upper falls.

The trail ends in another couple hundred feet near the top of another waterfall, I called this the Fourth Falls. It can't been seen from the trail however. Backtrack about 100 feet and find the easiest place to get in the creek and then creek-walk up to the base.