Customer Reviews

Waterfalls of the White Mountains: 30 Hikes to 100 Waterfalls

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To my thinking there is not much more thrilling than turning a corner to find a spectacular and beautiful rush of water cascading over cliffs or through a rocky terrain. Who doesn't like waterfalls?!

This terrific guide to the waterfalls of New Hampshire's White Mountains details 30 hikes to 100 waterfalls, so many of the walks take you to several falls. A regional map pinpoints the thirty treks and a lengthy introduction relates waterfall nomenclature and origins, tells you how to use the book and offers tips to make your trip enjoyable. Detailed within four subregions (the Connecticut , Pemigewasset/Merrimack, Saco and Androscoggin watersheds), entries are 6-10 pages long and include location, distance, altitude gain, difficulty, access information, a map, trail and hike details, and a photograph of the falls.

An indispensable guide for waterfall lovers, particularly those travelling with kids.

The book concludes with appendices on regional geology and camping facilities, a bibliography and an index.

This book inspired one of the best vacations I've taken (while closest to home!)exploring the waterfalls of NH. The directions and descriptions are accurate and easy to follow, and the falls themselves are exquisite--even in dry August weather, when we saw them. This will be a gift to friends, to be sure. Experienced hikers will appreciate it, but it's suitable for beginners. Not many geriatric hikes, however.

I am an avid hiker of the Appalachian Mountains from the Carolinas to Maine. As such, I have purchased my share of guidebooks. Without a doubt in my mind, this is the best guidebook ever published. It reads more like a novel. I live in both Florida and New Hamphire and I find myself picking up this book to read for pleasure when I'm in Florida, 1000's of miles from the White Mountains. This book is efficient. As the title suggests, one can cover 100 waterfalls in 30 hikes, most of which are not very grueling. The book describes the waterfalls in detail but reads like a novel. It uses descriptions from early guidebooks as well, some over 100 years old! The directions to the waterfalls are clear and well written and include vital statistics like distance to each, vertical elevation gained, difficulty and altitude. A sketch map is shown for each hike (although one would use a separate topographic map for the actual hike). In addition, and I think this really separates this from other guides, a history is included for each hike of the area. These histories include Indian stories predating European settlement, stories of the early European settlements, the first grand hotels and even ski resorts. It truly gives the reader/hiker a sense of time and place. If you hike the White Mountains get this book!

This is one of the best hiking guides written, and is certainly the definitive guide to the magical waterfalls of the White Mountains. "Here," promises the Forward, "are all the cascading torrents, the forest-bound rills, the well-known tourist attractions, and the often overlooked gems." This book not only takes you to all of those gems, it does so with with clarity, with poetry, and with such entertaining background information that you will enjoy leafing through its pages whether you are making your way up the side of Mount Washington or sitting in an office in the heart of Manhattan.

Each waterfall, from Beaver Brook to the intriguingly named Sphinx Cascades, comes with a striking photo. A detailed hiking map is included for each fall, as well as a precise description of how to get there. (You definitely won't get lost.) Distances, location and elevation are also given. Most useful of all, the hike is rated in terms of difficulty, which is very convenient for those traveling with children. A short introduction gives useful hiking and swimming information,photography tips, weather considerations, an interesting explanation of the origins of the waterfalls, and even "waterfall moods." At the back of the book, several useful appendices provide campground information, bedrock geology and nearby trips. There is also a detailed index.

As a hiking guide, I found this book to be indispensable. As a reminder of those enchanting cascades during the dead months of winter, it was inspirational.

Wonderful guide showing exactly how far and how to get to each of the many waterfalls in White Mountain region. I am a landscape photographer that has used this guide to find many waterfalls that I could not possibly know exist or how to find on my own. Very few waterfalls in this region can be seen for the road and one must earn the priveledge to see them by hiking along trails. This book will help you find these trails, know how far and how difficult the trail will be. My only nit is the layout of the 'book' is a bit frustrating but the info in each 'chapter' is layed out perfectly. If you want a guide for hiking to the many waterfalls look no further, this is the book, period!!!

I'm the webmaster of [...] As such, this book (and my battered, dogeared first edition) has been an invaluable resource. I've probably gotten more mileage out of this book than any other waterfall book on my extensive shelf. If you like waterfalls, if you like mountains, and you live in the New England area, do yourself a favor and buy this book. It'll provide you with endless enjoyment of some of nature's finest spectacles.

I was very pleased with the book all the info in it was excellent!!!!

I enjoyed everything about this book. Not only are the trail maps well drawn but the descriptions of the waterfalls almost makes you feel like you are standing next to the falls as you are reading about it. One thing that makes this book unique to hiking books is the Historical Detour section at the end of each chapter. I enjoyed learning about the history of the White Mountain National Forest and the many stories about how these waterfalls got their names. I might add that the photography in this book is excellent. There are some beautiful shots of almost every waterfall mentioned in the book. Not only is this book goood for finding good waterfall hikes but it also makes for some relaxing reading.

While the book is a great reference for the waterfalls in the white mountains I have a small problem. I purchased this book in 1995 but the map (near the table of contents) does not have an index so there is no way to tell what the circled numbers are for. Does anyone know if there is an index for the map on line anywhere?

I asked for this for Xmas & decided to put the copy into my family's yankee swap. We share a love of the outdoors & appreciation for the White & Green Mountains around us so it was a hit, the book grabbed interest from many. We've already planned a few nice short hikes to unknown-to-me waterfalls within 2 hours drive.
The book also has interesting little stories of local history & geographical info on the areas, which I enjoy reading. I can't wait to receive another copy for myself.