Cataracts Trail

Grafton Notch State Park has several amazing waterfall areas, all quite close to the road and easily accessible. The famous ones are off of Route 26 — like Moose Falls and the legendary Step Falls. But Cataracts is a great option for waterfall lovers. And because it’s a little farther out of the way, it’s visited less often.

From the trailhead on East B/Andover Road, the path is a fairly steep 0.5-mile walk uphill over rocks and roots to an impressively tall, narrow waterfall, and to the beautiful pools and smoothed rock above it. Take some time to explore the pools, and swim if you can bear the chilly water! If you continue past the outhouse for another 0.25 miles, you’ll reach an impressive gorge. Be careful here, as the rocks are particularly slippery.

From the outhouse, a well-worn 3.6-mile trail that is not on the official park map continues to the Appalachian Trail and Baldpate Mountain’s summit.

Directions: From Andover, take Upton Road west (it turns into East B Hill Road/Andover Road). Follow the road 5.4 miles. Right before a short bridge, you’ll see a pullover on the right side of the road for several cars. The trailhead kiosk is across the street.