The Basin-Cascades Trail

PHOTO: Looking down the granite brook bed of Cascade Brook in Franconia Notch State Park. From the open brook bed there is a fine view of Mount Liberty–many think its rocky summit looks like the profile of George Washington lying in state. The Basin-Cascade Trail is a little over a mile long and follows the banks of Cascade Brook to its intersection with the Cascade Brook Trail/Appalachian Trail. The headwaters of Cascade Brook is Lonesome Lake. After it rains it is a good time to hike to cascades and waterfalls.

by Amy Patenaude
Outdoor/Ski Writer

After 14 weekends of rain I knew that there would be plenty of water roaring down the well-named Cascade Brook.
Why not go see waterfalls and cascades since it finally stopped raining. I wasn’t the only one that thought this was a good idea. There are parking areas for The Basin on both sides of the Franconia Notch Parkway, I-93. I felt lucky to find a parking space on the southbound lot because it was nearly full.
Visiting The Basin is well worth the modest effort. It can be seen from above where there is a handicap accessible viewpoint. It is enjoyable to make a shortish loop with the path to The Basin and return on the paved path. But there is so much more rock and roaring water to see and hear from near The Basin and along the Pemi Trail and the Basin-Cascades Trail.

There are good signs with mileage distances that will lead you to The Basin and the other trailheads.
I made a quick stop at The Basin. I have been here to see it many times and I always enjoy looking into the swirling water in the big glacial pothole. I love the sound of the Pemigewasset River crashing down into the round granite hole. There weren’t too many other people here yet.
Below The Basin I turned onto the Basin-Cascades Trail. The first thing you will notice is that there are lots of herd paths to the brook’s bank along this trail. The brook bed is made up of large wide open slabs of granite.

I walked on the ledgy bank where the rock was dry. When the rock along the brook bed is wet and or has slimy moss it is very slippery. I watched some teenagers bound down the open ledge along the edge of the cascading water. I watched them for a few minutes. I was convinced that someone was going to go swimming but they laughed a lot and stayed dry.
An older couple gingerly walked out onto the open ledges in the middle of the brook bed. From places in the brook bed there is a fine view of George Washington lying in state–the rocky summit of Mount Liberty high above Franconia Notch looks like the profile of Washington’s head looking up at the sky.
I wasn’t in any hurry. The sound of the cascading water is very soothing. I walked along the Brook and sometimes back onto the trail and then again out and back on another herd path.
Not surprising that the trail’s footing was not great, there were lots of roots and mud and puddles.
The path to the brook’s edge at Kinsman Falls is marked with a small sign. A group of nice hikers were sitting on rocks just hanging out and they let me by. I think it is funny that sometimes people decide to sit right in the middle of a trail when there are so many other rocks to sit on.
Kinsman Falls is pretty but with so much water cascading off of so many rocks it had a lot of competition. But when there is less water all the water still falls over its cliff and it doesn’t disappoint.
A minute or two after passing the falls the trail crosses over to the south side of the brook and requires some careful rock hopping. I saw a couple of hikers taking off their shoes. Luckily here the rocks above the water are close enough together I didn’t find it difficult. They gave me a cheer when I reached the southside.

I met a couple of backpackers who decided to leave the Appalachian Trail and head down the Basin-Cascades Trail. Nice they wanted to see the cascading waters or maybe they just wanted a quicker way back to civilization. The Basin-Cascades Trail is just over a mile straight down.
The Basin-Cascades Trail ends when it intersects the Cascade Brook/Appalachian Trail. But before you reach the end there is another fine waterfall, Rocky Glen Falls and a path to get close to the water.
Then the trail enters a cool small rock wall canyon and it has rock steps up to exit. I then passed the bridge abutments where there used to be a nice bridge across Cascade Brook. The bridge was a victim of Hurricane Irene in 2011 and instead of replacing it they decided to move the Appalachian Trail a bit upstream where sometimes hikers can rock-hop across but most times people get their feet wet. This crossing is challenging. I witnessed a few people crossing in their bare feet with their boots in their hands. Another guy just walked and splashed right through the water up to his knees. He told me his feet were already wet anyway. Well I didn’t have to worry about this crossing because I was turning around here.
On my way back down I enjoyed all the waterfalls and cascades again. I think my total mileage for the day was about 2.5 miles. At The Basin there was now a crowd and more people on the path. Everyone looked happy to be outside now that the rain had finally stopped.
Have Fun.