The White Mountains of New Hampshire are pure magic. By foot, skis, car, or train, there are so many amazing ways to play in the mountains. Even after visiting several times a year in all of the seasons year after year, there is always so much to do and new sites to explore.
We were in the Attitash/Jackson area of New Hampshire (the central/eastern area of the Whites) for a wedding and decided to make a trip out of our journey north. We spent a day at Story Land, a day around Jackson and at the wedding, and spent some time exploring a new-to-me gem, Diana's Baths.
Diana’s Baths is a serene series of pools and cascades on Lucy Brook. The water is refreshingly cold and sources from Big Attitash Mountain. The baths can be reached about a three quarter mile walk on the Moat Mountain Trail (northern terminus).
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| Hiking trail to Diana's Baths |
Why Visit
The relatively short (just over a mile round trip) and flat gravel/dirt trail (ADA approved surface!) makes this a really great family hike (dogs included). It is lovely to visit on a hot summer day to cool off in the water, or in any other season to enjoy the beautiful falls. While it does get busy quick, it's for good reason. This place felt magical to us and I had just as much fun as the kids. There are pools of various depths and water falls. You can really spread out as the area is bigger than you think. If you want to beat the crowds and guarantee parking, head there early. I also read about complaints of trash and liter and I am happy to report we saw neither. Be respectful, please pack out what you pack in and remember there are trash cans at the parking area.
History
In 1863, the five-acre area now known as Diana’s Baths (named for the Roman goddess of the hunt, the moon, and nature) was purchased and made into the site of a sawmill. In the 1890s, the owner's recognized the area’s tourism potential and constructed a three-story boardinghouse and eventually a souvenir shop. You can see remnants of the former structures but the land and falls are now owned and managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Need to Know
Getting here: Upper West Side Road in Bartlett, New Hampshire, about two and on half miles from North Conway Village.
Parking: Large lot but it fills up very fast in the summer time especially on the weekends. Plan to get there very early to guarantee a spot or pack some patience to wait. Historically it was more of a DIY effort and cars were being towed but when I visited (June 2024) there was a person organizing parking and collecting fees. People to tend to come and go as it is a short hike so if you choose to wait in the parking line, it shouldn't be too bad.
Fees: $5 park pass for any parking area in the White Mountain National Forest
Distance/elevation: 0.6 miles each way, about 1.2 miles round trip and very flat, less than 100 feet of elevation gained
Accessibility: ADA approved gravel surface making this wheel chair (and stroller) accessible
Facilities: Vault toilets
Winter: Parking lot is maintained in the winter
Dogs and kids: Yes (on-leash) and yes (all ages, relatively short ADA approved flat path)
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