Georgiana Falls
Georgiana Falls Rd, Lincoln, NH
Lincoln, NH
A short but steep hike to two granite waterfalls on Harvard Brook, where the water sheets across bare rock into cool swimming pools at the mouth of Franconia Notch.
Georgiana Falls is one of those White Mountains rewards that asks a little and gives a lot. Harvard Brook comes off the wooded slopes at the southern mouth of Franconia Notch, and along the way it spills over two broad shelves of granite that generations of local hikers have come to know as the Lower and Upper falls. The hike in is only about a mile and a bit each way, but it climbs steadily and gets rough, so you feel like you have earned the water when you reach it.
The Lower falls come first and are the easier to reach, a wide sheet of water sliding down bare rock into a pool at the base, a classic New Hampshire swimming hole on a summer afternoon. Push on and up and the trail brings you to the taller Upper falls, a more dramatic pour over the side of a narrow granite trough that is genuinely impressive after a good rain. Together they make a small, wild corner of the mountains that many visitors driving through the Notch never realize is there.
What Guests Love
- Two distinct falls on one trail, a wide lower cascade and a taller, more dramatic upper drop
- Broad, sun-warmed granite slabs and a cool swimming hole at the base, a favorite on a hot day
- A relatively short hike that still delivers real White Mountains scenery and effort
- An off-the-radar feel compared with the crowded named attractions inside Franconia Notch
Worth Knowing
- The trail is short but steep and rough in places, with sketchy markings, so wear grippy shoes and watch your footing
- Wet granite is slippery; stay well back from the lip of the falls and be very careful near the moving water
- It is best from spring through fall; the falls run hardest after rain or spring snowmelt and can be low in a dry summer
- Parking is a small lot at the end of a residential road, so arrive early on nice weekends and respect the neighbors and no-parking signs
Details
Lincoln, NH
Learn about Georgiana Falls
Harvard Brook and the granite slabs
The falls are the work of Harvard Brook as it drains the high ground west of Franconia Notch and races down toward the Pemigewasset River. Where the brook meets broad slabs of exposed granite, it fans out and slides rather than plunges, giving Georgiana Falls their signature look: sheets and ribbons of water polishing bare rock rather than a single dramatic curtain.
The Lower falls drop a good many feet down a smooth, open apron of stone into a gathering pool, the spot most people come to swim and sun themselves. The Upper falls, higher up the mountain, are the taller and fiercer of the pair, where the water is squeezed into a narrow, trough-like gorge and pours over the edge. After heavy rain or during spring melt the Upper falls come alive; in a dry spell they quiet down, which is the honest rhythm of a mountain brook.
The hike in
The trail starts at a small lot at the end of a residential lane off Route 3, just north of the interstate exit, tucked against a neighborhood at the edge of Lincoln. From there the Georgiana Falls path follows the brook uphill, climbing steadily through the woods over roots and rock. It is a short hike by White Mountains standards but not a flat stroll; the footing is uneven, some sections are steep, and the blazes can be faint, so it pays to stay alert and keep the brook as your guide.
The Lower falls arrive first and satisfy plenty of visitors on their own. Those who continue climb a rougher, steeper stretch to reach the Upper falls, a worthwhile push for the bigger drop and the sense of being deeper in the mountains. Take it slowly on the wet, sloping granite near the water, where a slip could be serious, and give yourself time to simply sit on the warm rock and listen.
A quieter corner of Franconia Notch
Franconia Notch is one of New Hampshire's headline destinations, and its famous stops, the Flume Gorge, Cannon Mountain, Echo Lake, draw crowds all season. Georgiana Falls sits right at the Notch's southern doorstep but stays comparatively quiet, a local's swimming hole and half-day hike rather than a busy roadside attraction.
That combination, real waterfalls and a cool pool at the end of a genuine little hike, minutes from Lincoln and the interstate, is what makes it a gem. Come in the warm months, bring water shoes and grippy footwear, be honest about the steep and slippery sections, and you have a perfect antidote to the busier parts of the White Mountains, a spot where the reward is a swim in mountain water beneath the pines.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
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Honorable Mention391 Styles Bridges Highway, Lincoln, NH
3 miles away|Learn More ›
Things to Do Near Lincoln
Flume Gorge
About 5 miles
A dramatic natural granite gorge inside Franconia Notch State Park, walked on a boardwalk beside a rushing brook and a covered bridge.
Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway
About 8 miles
An aerial tram climbing to the summit of Cannon Mountain for sweeping views over Franconia Notch and the surrounding peaks.
The Basin
About 6 miles
A smooth granite pothole carved by the Pemigewasset River, a quick and popular roadside stop in the Notch.
Lincoln and the Kancamagus Highway
About 2 miles
The gateway town to one of America's most scenic drives, threading the White Mountain National Forest past overlooks, falls, and swimming holes.