Lower Falls, also called Lower Ammonoosuc Falls, is a 24-foot sliding cascade on the Ammonoosuc River in Coos County, New Hampshire, just off US 302 in the town of Carroll. A flat quarter-mile walk leads to a broad granite slide and a large swimming pool below it.
The falls
The World Waterfall Database, which surveyed the falls in person, describes a single gradual slide about 25 feet wide on average and 45 feet at its widest, running 265 feet down the granite. Earlier surveys listed 30 feet; another guide gives 15. The river here drains about 43 square miles of Mount Washington's west side, so the falls run all year, strongest in spring. USGS topographic maps since 2012 mark the falls about a quarter mile too far downstream.
Getting there
From the US 302 and US 3 junction in Twin Mountain, drive 3.6 miles east on US 302, left onto Old Cherry Mountain Road and immediately left onto Lower Falls Road, with parking at its end after 0.2 mile. From there an old road runs nearly flat along the river for 0.25 mile, about 10 minutes one way; it is rated easy and listed as accessible. A second, lower trailhead roughly doubles the walk.
When to go
May to October is the recommended season. The falls face west, and the Ammonoosuc's waterfalls look especially good in autumn foliage. A July 2026 trip report found only two other cars at 8:30 on a Monday morning; the author picked a weekday to avoid hot-weather weekend crowds.
On site
The walk ends at a granite ledge overlooking the falls. There is good swimming in the large pool but strong currents right beside and below the falls; stay in the calmer lower part of the pool. Dogs are allowed. The road is wide and grassy, with some uneven, eroded patches.
History and name
J. E. Henry ran one of his early water-powered mills at the Lower Falls of the Ammonoosuc before moving his main operation to Zealand around 1880.
Nearby
Hale Brook Falls is about 2.8 miles away, Upper Falls on the same river about 3.3 miles and Zealand River Falls about 3.8 miles.
Distances are straight-line.