White Mountain National Forest: Thoreau Falls

Gaze down the barrel of a waterfall and visit a secluded pond on this 10.2-mile section hike of the Appalachian Trail.

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Mapped by MtnMagic

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Trail Facts

  • Distance: 8.3

Waypoints

THR001

Location: 44.1670608520508, -71.3861465454102

Follow Ethan Pond Trail (part of the Appalachian Trail); cross railroad tracks and begin climb on old logging road

THR002

Location: 44.1660003662109, -71.3886413574219

R @ Y with Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail (side trail leads .5 mi. to Ripley Falls)

THR003

Location: 44.1656799316406, -71.3942031860352

Trail curves NW for continued ascent of Mt. Willey’s wooded slopes

THR004

Location: 44.1728591918945, -71.4045867919922

Stay straight @ 3-way with Kedron Flume Trail

THR005

Location: 44.1752891540527, -71.4088592529297

Bear L @ Y with Willey Range Trail; follow Ethan Pond Trail as it bends W

THR006

Location: 44.1756706237793, -71.4273300170898

Straight @ 3-way. Optional: Turn R onto spur to Ethan Pond and shelter (Twin Range rises behind pond’s glassy waters). Next: Cross boggy areas on boardwalks

THR007

Location: 44.1756782531738, -71.4398040771484

Bear R onto short section of relocated trail

THR008

Location: 44.1731758117676, -71.4494857788086

Trail curves to the R as path rejoins old route; head SW

THR009

Location: 44.1700401306152, -71.4617462158203

Straight @ 3-way with Shoal Pond Trail

THR010

Location: 44.169921875, -71.4670867919922

Cross the North Fork of the Pemigewasset River on wooden footbridge

A view of Ethan Pond and beyond

Location: 44.1765174865723, -71.4269027709961

THR011

Location: 44.1705207824707, -71.4711685180664

Turn L @ 3-way onto Thoreau Falls Trail, traveling SW towards North Fork

THR012

Location: 44.1694183349609, -71.4722290039062

Thoreau Falls: Watch the whitewater race down boulders to wooded banks below; retrace steps

Looking down Thoreau Falls

Location: 44.1697959899902, -71.472785949707

Ethan Pond Shelter

Location: 44.1765174865723, -71.4257431030274

Looking down from the top of the falls

Location: 44.1697959899902, -71.4712371826172

Wooden Bridge

Location: 44.1700553894043, -71.4673614501953