About this spot
Ripley Falls is a well-documented 108-foot waterfall in Crawford Notch State Park, reached via a short, popular hike off the Ethan Pond/Avalanche Brook Trail from a marked lot on Willey House Station Road. Multiple hiking and swimming-hole guides describe pools at the base of the falls and additional pools above it, where hikers wade and cool off after the short climb. Access requires crossing railroad tracks and light rock scrambling; parking is limited but free and legal within the state park. The real hazard is the sloping granite face itself; guides explicitly warn against climbing near the slick rock and advise using the trail to reach the upper pools. Flow varies seasonally, fullest after rain. No cliff-jumping culture is documented here; treat it as a scenic wading and swimming stop, not a diving spot.