Thompson Falls

Thompson Falls is accessed from the parking lot at the Wildcat Ski Area, eight-tenths of a mile north of the visitors center at the summit of Pinkham Notch on Highway 16. From the parking lot, cross the bridge over the Peabody River and turn left almost immediately onto the Way of the Wildcat Nature Trail. Follow this trail for about one-quarter of a mile, then look for the Wildcat Falls trail to branch off to the left where the nature trail loops back to the Ski Area Lodge. After another quarter mile the trail crosses a service road for the ski area, and then ends at the base of the falls in another quarter mile - just under eight-tenths of a mile total from the parking lot. To reach the upper tiers of the falls, follow scramble paths up the right side of the falls. Crossing the stream at least once is necessary to reach the uppermost drops.Thompson Falls is a multi-stepped waterfall found on the west flank of Wildcat Mountain near the summit of Pinkham Notch. The falls consist of five distinct steps which drop a total of 130 feet. Starting at the bottom of the falls, the first (and largest) tier encountered at the end of the trail is the signature 40-foot tall horsetail drop which plunges over a broad clamshell-like ledge with a large pool below. Continuing upstream, the next drop is a lightning-bolt shaped horsetail type fall which drops 37 feet. The third tier, a few hundred feet further up, is a sheer plunge of 19 feet which drops into a narrow box-shaped grotto. The fourth drop from the bottom is a small 12- foot tall cascade, and the uppermost and final section of the falls is a 22-foot tall horsetail type fall which has chiseled itself into a broad rock shelf. The top three tiers of the falls are considerably more difficult to view thanks to the rugged nature of the stream and the lack of developed trails along the creek. Though not a large stream, Thompson Brook retains a modest flow throughout the year, ensuring Thompson Falls is worth visiting at just about any time. The catchment basin upstream from the falls covers an area of about 1.1 square miles, and the high elevation of Wildcat Mountain ensures that winter snow pack will melt off slowly and summer precipitation will be plentiful when weather passes through. At no time have we visited the falls to find it flowing under less than ideal conditions.