Hiking to Georgiana Falls in Franconia Notch

Georgiana Falls is a 60 ft Waterfall located in Franconia Notch, White Mountains

The Georgiana Path leads to two waterfalls in Franconia Notch, the lower and the upper Georgiana Falls on Harvard Brook. The 60 ft upper falls are a worthy destination and quite impressive after a rain. It's located 1.3 miles up from the Georgiana Falls Path Trailhead off Rt 3, just outside of Lincoln, NH.

You will need a certain amount of perseverance to reach the upper falls however. The trail up is clear to the lower fall, but harder to follow as you hike higher upstream. Look for sporadic red blazes and stay within sight of the brook and you should be able to follow the many herd paths that lead up to the upper fall. The area is highly eroded and steep in places, but well worth the effort to climb, leading to a viewpoint directly across from the falls. Bushwhacking a bit higher, you can also climb to the point where the falls start their plummet over the drop.

Perhaps more difficult is sorting out the nomenclature for this area, which differs from source to source. The 29th edition of the White Mountain Guide states that the USGS designates the upper falls as the official Georgiana Falls, while New England Waterfalls, calls it Harvard Falls. Harvard Brook was named Bog Brook in the past, after Bog Pond presumably, which is the brook's upstream source. Different historical sources cite the height of the upper fall as high as 200 feet  and the length of the trail varies widely depending on the source you use, including directions from local inns and B&Bs. My advice – use the White Mountain Guide's directions and you'll be able to find your way. It's directions are up to date with the existing trail system. No surprise there really.

The lower reaches of Harvard Brook have the appearance of good trout habitat and deserve a visit next spring.

While both the upper and lower falls are beautiful, the path of the brook as it tumbles down the boulder-choked brook-bed offer many opportunities for dipping your toes and admiring lesser cascades. I wouldn't be surprised if Harvard Brook contains brook trout, judging by the looks of it, and plan to visit it next spring to validate my suspicions.

All in, Georgiana Falls is a very nice destination for the entire family and well worth a half-day excursion trip on a hot day.

Total Distance: 2.6 miles Round trip, w/ 750 feet of elevation gain.

Georgiana Falls Path (Click for printable PDF)

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