Dixville Notch: Hiking Trails, Waterfalls, and History

Dixville Notch brings together hiking trails, waterfalls, scenic viewpoints, and a remarkable resort history. In Dixville Notch State Park, trails lead to Table Rock and nearby mountains. The Table Rock Trail offers a scenic viewpoint overlooking Lake Gloriette and the entire notch. When planning your trip, the question is not only whether you want to hike, but also which landscape experiences appeal to you most: a striking viewpoint, waterfalls, or a loop hike on the Cohos Trail.

Waterfalls in the State Park

Dixville Notch State Park covers 127 acres. At Baby Flume, the waterfalls plunge a total of 18 feet over three tiers. Baby Flume is less than 0.1 miles from a roadside parking area. Huntington Cascades lie in the heart of the park; the upper falls are accessible after about a ten-minute walk. This gives you two different waterfalls to keep in mind for your stay: the tiered falls at Baby Flume and the upper cascades at Huntington Cascades. The details about parking and walking distance also provide practical guidance for planning your outing.

Views and Hikes

The Sanguinary Ledge Trail passes five viewpoints. Baldhead Shelter, on the Dixville Notch section of the Cohos Trail, offers views across 45 miles. You can also hike a loop through Dixville Notch on the Cohos Trail in a long afternoon. This offers a range of hiking experiences: several viewpoints along a trail, the expansive view from the shelter, or a loop hike as a day’s outing. Trails in the state park also lead to Table Rock and nearby mountains. The Table Rock Trail adds views of Lake Gloriette and the entire notch to these options. If you like to plan your trip around a specific hike, these different destinations can help you decide how to spend your days.

Summer Inn, Resort, and Golf History

The history of visiting Dixville Notch is also remarkable. Dix House was a 25-room summer inn from which travelers from the White Mountains discovered Dixville Notch. Later, with the construction of Hampshire House in 1916, The Balsams developed into a large resort with 400 rooms. The historic story of The Balsams also includes the Panorama Golf Course: built in 1912 as an 18-hole, par-72 course, it was designed by Donald Ross. The two dates refer to different parts of this history—the golf course and the construction of Hampshire House. For those interested in historic places and resort history as well as nature and hiking, there are more topics to explore here during your trip.

Trip Ideas and Vacation Rentals

Route 26 runs through Dixville Notch and provides clear directions for getting there. When looking for a vacation rental in Dixville Notch, you can first consider which aspect of the area you want your trip to focus on: hiking trails and viewpoints, waterfalls, or the history of the inn and resort.

More Places to Explore

More local pages to explore: Carroll, Errol, Whitefield, Groveton, Berlin, Milan, Gorham and Dummer.

For the broader trip overview: Coos.