Glen Ellis Falls is a 64-foot waterfall on the Ellis River in Coos County, New Hampshire, in Pinkham Notch in the White Mountain National Forest. The river squeezes through a narrow notch and drops into a green pool below, and a short path of stone steps and overlooks leads from NH 16 to its base.
The falls
The Ellis River forms from the New and Cutler Rivers a short way upstream. A survey in person counts two drops: a 10-foot upper tier tucked in an alcove, then the main 54-foot plunge, which bounces off a knob in the cliff and throws out a small rooster tail. A separate 10-foot fall lies about 150 feet farther upstream. The river drains about 5.3 square miles and flows all year.
Getting there
The parking lot is on the west side of NH 16, 11.2 miles south of Gorham and about two-thirds of a mile south of Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. A tunnel at the end of the lot passes under the highway to the trail, which follows the river to an overlook at the top of the falls and then drops steeply by wide stone steps to the base. Visit White Mountains gives the walk as 0.4 mile round trip; Trail Finder rates it easy to moderate and reminds hikers that the steps have to be climbed on the way back. Parking requires a White Mountain National Forest pass, $5 a day. The trail is managed by the Androscoggin Ranger District.
When to go
April and May bring the strongest flow, with water running year-round. The path stays open in winter, but ices up easily and crampons are recommended.
On site
Three stone overlooks with interpretive signs line the way down. Swimming in the pool is prohibited, and the stairs rule out wheelchairs and strollers. Dogs are allowed on a leash. Jumping from the falls is dangerous: on July 13, 2026, a 17-year-old jumped, landed on rocks and had to be carried out by litter by rescue crews. Stay off the ledges above the pool. A rock wall at the base carries a carved inscription dated 1876.
History and name
The falls were known as Pitcher Falls until 1852, when Henry Ripley renamed them Glen Ellis Falls.
Nearby
Upper Glen Ellis Falls is the small fall just upstream on the same river. Crystal Cascade, above Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, is about 1.2 miles away, Chudacoff Falls about 1.4 miles and Thompson Falls about 1.9 miles.
Distances are straight-line.