Profile Falls on the Smith River in Bristol

PHOTO: Profile Falls, Smith River in Bristol.  Charlie admires the loud cascading water near the big pool at its base.  Franklin.org has a nice walking trail map that includes Profile Falls, item 10.  We looked but we didn’t see a Profile.  Does anyone know why it is called Profile Falls?

by Amy Patenaude
Outdoor/Ski Writer

Visiting waterfalls in the Fall is a fun thing to do, especially after it has rained for a couple days. The brilliant fall color of the leaves that are still left on the trees frame the cascading water so pretty. Profile Falls in Bristol is just a short walk and is well worth a visit.
Profile Falls is located on the Smith River not far from where it meets the Pemigewasset River and the land is part of the Franklin Falls Dam flood control property managed by the US Army Corp of Engineers.
I don’t recall a sign just for Profile Falls on Route 3A but there is a small brown recreation sign showing symbols for fishing,wildlife viewing, picnicking and hiking. The access to the Falls is from Profile Falls Road, about two miles south of route 104 in Bristol. When driving south from the Center of Bristol on route 3A, Profile Falls is a left hand turn just after crossing the bridge over the Smith River. (Profile Falls Road is about 10 miles north from Route 11).
We weren’t quite sure where we should park since there was no sign alerting us of a parking area but we noticed plenty of No Parking signs immediately on our right. We kept driving and in a short moment we saw a dozen cars parked on the edge of the road near a gated road. We found a spot where we could pull over too.

There is a big ugly Road Closed sign on the gate but there is also an attractive sign to the left that reads Profile Falls, Franklin Falls Dam, US Army Corp of Engineers.
Behind the closed gate the road is paved and connects to the old route 3A. Here another sign lists Park Hours as open at Sunrise and closed at Sunset. The property is clean and looks well cared for around the unused/closed parking area and the trailhead sign. There is also a picnic pavilion covering picnic tables and there are trash cans lined with garbage bags. A very welcoming place except for the gated entrance.
We followed the path in the direction the arrow pointed and as we neared the river the path became rougher. The river’s water was loud. We stepped on rocks to keep our feet dry and to reach the base of the falls. The walk was about a quarter of a mile, maybe ten minutes.

Charlie and I were the only ones at the water’s edge. It was a cool day but on a hot day people would be swimming and wading in the pool below the cascading water.
We enjoyed listening to the roar of the water and we watched the rapid water falling. The waterfall is wide and is at least 30 feet tall.
On our way back to the car we met people walking to the falls. We saw others out walking their dogs, families with laughing children and a runner raced by us too. We learned that this is a popular recreational area for walking and bicycling and we plan to go back another day.
Happy Fall, have fun.

hike NH waterfall