Dunn Notch Cascades

Dunn Notch Cascades are located just below the Appalachian Trail near Dunn Notch in Andover North Surplus, and are accessed via the same trail which leads to Dunn Falls. The most direct way to reach the falls is to take Route 26 north from Grafton Notch State Park to Andover Road, about 6 miles north of the northern park boundary, or two-thirds of a mile south from Upton. Follow Andover Road for 6 miles to the parking area for the Appalachian Trail where it crosses the road. From the parking area, follow the Appalachian Trail south for 150 feet to a junction. Head left at the junction and follow the blue-blazed Cascade Trail for about one-third of a mile to where it passes right next to the falls in the process of descending to meet the West Branch of the Ellis River en route to Dunn Falls.Dunn Notch Cascades are a small but scenic series of falls which can be seen along the Cascade Trail as one hikes to nearby Dunn Falls. The cascades consist of six to eight distinct steps which drop a total of about 60 feet in about 300 linear feet of run. No individual drop is more than about 15 feet tall, and only two of the falls can be seen collectively, while the other two must be viewed entirely independently of the rest of the series. The unnamed stream which produces the Dunn Notch Cascades drains from a basin which covers about 1.75 square miles in area, and features no standing water or marshes or bogs to ensure a regulated and consistent volume of water is present in the creek. During periods of snow melt or consistent precipitation the falls will flow with a decent amount of vigor, but during the dry season – like nearby Dunn Falls – the stream will be reduced to nearly a trickle of water and the falls won’t appear terribly impressive at all.