Beecher and Pearl Cascades

Length: 1.0 mile out-and-back with loop

Difficulty (click for info): Beginner

Elevation Gain: 200 feet (+0 feet on return)

Rating (click for info): 5/10

Height: 25' (Beecher) and 20' (Pearl)

Source: Crawford Brook

Driving Directions:
Trailhead and parking area are located at the Crawford Depot on Rt. 302, in Carroll, NH. The Crawford Depot is 8.5 miles south of Rt. 3 and just south of the AMC Highland Center. Click here for a Google map.

About the Hike:
Not too far down the Avalon trail to Mt. Avalon are two small but wonderful cascades. The flat and easy trail begins at the Crawford Depot. Cross the railroad tracks at the Crawford Depot and head out on the Avalon Trail. Pass Mt. Willard Trail on the left in 0.1 miles and cross ledgy Crawford Brook in another 0.1 miles. After a short walk, Cascade Loop turns left and leads back down to the brook and Beecher Cascade immediately comes into view. Here, the brook cascades down a narrow chute created by a rock crevice. A few hundred yards up is Pearl Cascade. Pearl is slightly shorter than Beecher, but is much wider. At this cascade, Crawford Brook fans out over a rock slab, which is best viewed during high water. Finish out the hike by continuing on Cascade Loop a few hundred feet further to where it tees back into Avalon Trail. Take a right and walk 0.1 miles back to the beginning of the loop, and return the way you came.

Printable directions page