White Mountain National Forest Hike(edit)

Overview

This is an fairly easy one-way trail in White Mountain National Forest. Note that the falls are referred to as Lower and Upper Harvard Falls, but the guidebooks call this area Georgiana Falls.

Getting Started

Trailhead is accessed from Hanson Farm Road, off Rte 3 in Lincoln, NH. It is a fairly small parking lot. Trail leaves the parking lot and proceeds under I93N. It crosses a brook between the north and southbound bridges, so pay attention as there are other trails going in different directions in this area. The grade is fairly easy at the start, roughly following the brook then turns uphill near the Lower Falls, to higher ground, and continues to parallel the brook. It begins to climb more steadily until it reaches the top of the Upper Falls. There are three easily accessible pools for swimming if the water conditions are right, but which would be dangerous in high water. There is a very narrow view to the east from the upper falls. Round trip distance for us was 2.7 mi., but we missed the early brook crossing and then diverged from the main trail a couple of times in the upper section. It is possible to ascend and descend closer to the stream in the upper section of the trail, during lower water level conditions.

Taking Children

This is a fine hike for children ages 5 and up, perhaps younger if they are experienced hikers. As always, care must be taken around moving water and slippery ledges. The first pool is about .8 mi in, a short distance above the Lower Falls.