Basin Cascade & Kinsman Falls, NH


• 4-star hikes
• 1 to 3 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 260 to 630 feet
• Lincoln, NH | White Mountains
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A small waterfall cascades over smooth, pale granite rock into a clear, emerald-green pool nestled beneath an overhanging rocky ledge, surrounded by a dense forest of evergreen and deciduous trees with scattered autumn foliage under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Basin Cascade, a popular near-trailhead attraction.

The Basin Cascades are a popular stop for tourists and locals visiting Franconia Notch in New Hampshire's White Mountains. Easy, accessible trails make this an ideal spot for a leisurely forested meander past several rocky water features along the Pemigewasset River.

Those looking to venture further can follow the Basin Cascade Trail as it tracks Cascade Brook uphill into the mountain scenery. This moderately rustic dirt trail passes several waterfalls on its way to Kinsman Falls, with Rocky Glen Falls waiting further upstream. These waterfalls are best visited from spring through fall, and we have mapped and reviewed three ways to enjoy them below.
⬤ 4★ Kinsman Falls   1.0 mi out & back, moderate, gain 260 ft
GPX File ·  AllTrails ·  Northbound · Southbound GPX?
⬤ 4★ Kinsman & Rocky Glen Falls   2.6 mi out & back, moderate, gain 610 ft
GPX File ·  AllTrails ·  Northbound · Southbound
⬤ 4★ Kinsman Falls & Cascade Loop   3.0 mi loop, moderate, gain 630 ft
GPX File ·  AllTrails ·  Northbound · Southbound
 P  Free parking  

⬤ 4★ Kinsman Falls 1.0 mi, 260 ft
Short, with waterfalls from the start.
Kinsman Falls is the largest waterfall on the route and is visible from a distance along the Basin Cascade Trail. A closer look is possible if you locate the narrow, informal spur trail that leads down to the rocks at the base of the pool. This is a great choice if you want to see a striking waterfall without committing to a long hike.

⬤ 4★ Kinsman & Rocky Glen Falls 2.6 mi, 610 ft
More cascades, rougher footing.
Additional cascades lie beyond Kinsman Falls along a trail that becomes increasingly rough, though never overly difficult. Almost every footstep lands on a different rock or root. The trail culminates at Rocky Glen Falls, where Cascade Brook plunges into a vertical-sided rocky gorge. It is possible to walk into the gorge, provided the water level is low enough to do so safely.

A wooden trail bridge spans across a rocky riverbed, surrounded by a dense forest canopy featuring trees with vibrant autumn foliage. Smooth boulders and clear water fill the stream bed in the foreground, while filtered sunlight illuminates the woodland setting.
Trail Bridge over Pemigewasset River

⬤ 4★ Kinsman Falls &Cascade Loop 3.0 mi, 630 ft
Scenic loop, cautionary river crossing.
For a longer trek, you can continue beyond the falls on a counter-clockwise loop that heads back down on the Cascade Brook Trail (which also serves as part of the Appalachian Trail). The terrain here is mostly easy, aside from a shallow, rocky crossing of Whitehouse Brook near the end. Along this stretch, we took an accidental detour and discovered a hidden waterfall just off the path, which we've marked on our map.

Choosing this loop comes with an important caveat: the final leg requires crossing the Pemigewasset River on the Pemi Trail. A footbridge once spanned this crossing, but it is no longer standing. When we visited in September during low-flow conditions, we had to remove our shoes and roll up our pants to wade across the mostly shallow water. Crossing at higher water levels could be hazardous. If you have any doubts about the river conditions but still want to tackle the loop, we advise a clockwise approach so you can inspect the crossing early in your hike.

Large, free parking lots are well-signposted as "The Basin" from Interstate 93. We have linked to both lots and indicated which is accessible from the northbound or southbound lanes. Expect them to fill up quickly on weekends, though a steady turnover of visitors usually keeps wait times short. The northbound side features two lots; if the lower one is full, simply continue around the bend to the upper lot. Restrooms are available at both trailheads.

A hiker wearing a bright red shirt and a dark cap walks away along a rugged forest trail winding through a dense New England woodland. The path is densely laced with exposed tree roots and scattered with fallen autumn leaves. Tall trees with moss-covered trunks and vibrant canopy foliage rise on either side, with a blue trail marker visible on a prominent tree in the foreground.
Moderate terrain on the hike to Kinsman Falls.

A narrow stream of whitewater cascades down through a broad expanse of smooth, sloping bedrock. The surrounding forest bursts with vibrant autumn foliage in shades of brilliant yellow, orange, and deep red under a partly cloudy sky.
There are many sights on the Basin Cascade Trail.

A waterfall plunges into a dark, calm pool surrounded by rugged, moss-covered rock cliffs in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Tall deciduous trees with vibrant yellow autumn foliage rise up the steep ravine banks above the cascade.
Kinsman Falls is the largest cascade on the trail.

A rugged dirt trail winds uphill through a dense New England forest, heavily webbed with exposed tree roots and blanketed by fallen red and brown autumn leaves. Tall, slender tree trunks frame the pathway under a canopy of vibrant yellow and green leaves, with bright autumn foliage illuminating the woodland edge.
Fall colors on the way to Rocky Glen Falls.

A split-frame photograph shows two scenes along a New England woodland hike. The left panel captures two hikers walking away along a rugged, root-laced dirt trail framed by vibrant autumn foliage and a blue blaze marker on a tree. The right panel features a roaring waterfall cascading down a rocky gorge flanked by steep cliffs and trees touched with fall colors.
A rougher trail leads to Rocky Glen Falls.

A hiker wearing a bright red shirt and dark cap walks away along an easier dirt path flanked by low green and yellow foliage. Tall, slender trees form a dense canopy overhead, casting dappled light across the tranquil woodland setting.
Easier but longer - a Cascade Brook Trail return.

A small, twin-spout waterfall cascades over moss-covered rock ledges into a dark, calm pool on Whitehouse Brook. The picturesque stream is enclosed by a lush New England forest featuring rugged boulders and tall deciduous trees beginning to display vibrant autumn foliage under a bright canopy.
You'll find two more falls on Cascade Loop.

Trailspotting nearby:
5★ Georgiana & Harvard Falls (2 mi)
5★ Flume Gorge (2 mi)
4★ Lonesome Lake (3 mi)
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