Jackson Falls is a 90-foot series of tiered cascades on Wildcat Brook in the center of Jackson village, Carroll County, New Hampshire. The brook tumbles over granite ledges and pools beside Carter Notch Road, and for generations the falls have been a local spot for picnics and summer swimming.
The falls
Field surveys measure six steps totaling 90 feet over a run of about 700 feet, with a tallest drop of 25 feet. The first four steps are 5 to 10 feet each, one of them over the remnant of a small dam. Below, the brook splits around bedrock and slides about 30 feet down two channels into pothole pools, then continues in smaller drops toward the Ellis River. The brook runs all year and is fullest in spring runoff. Earlier surveys listed 80 feet, while other estimates range from 100 to 120 feet over a quarter mile.
Getting there
The falls sit along Carter Notch Road (NH 16B) in Jackson village, and the upper falls can be seen from the road. Visiting is free. The town limits parking at the falls to two hours and reserves three spaces for residents with a sticker, with a $50 fine for violations; parking behind the Jackson Historical Society serves as an alternative. A walking route offers a one-mile, easy-to-moderate stroll through the falls and the historic district. Lower-falls parking is mainly for guests of The Wentworth, and the path to the lower falls starts across from the hotel.
When to go
May to October is the recommended visiting season. Spring brings the strongest flow, while summer brings picnickers and swimmers to the pools. Parking lots often fill by early afternoon on summer Saturdays, whereas weekday mornings remain quiet.
On site
Only part of the upper falls is visible from the roadside, where there is some wheelchair access; the rest means walking on rough bank paths and ledges. Swimming is common, but the granite in most pools is extremely slippery, and the lower falls have bigger drops and stronger currents. Dogs are allowed. There are no restrooms.
History and name
Wildcat Brook was designated a Wild and Scenic River on October 28, 1988, and the falls lie within the Jackson Falls Historic District. An older historical name was Trickey's Falls, possibly for the lower section.
Nearby
Winniweta Falls is about 3.4 miles away, Dianas Baths about 5.6 miles and Glen Ellis Falls about 7.4 miles.
Distances are straight-line.