Updated July 2026
Lower Purgatory Falls
A broad, roughly 30-foot rocky cascade on Purgatory Brook on conservation land straddling Lyndeborough and Mont Vernon. The lower falls are reached by a short, easy walk, with upper and middle falls farther upstream for a longer loop.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Town of Mont Vernon / Lyndeborough conservation land for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lower Purgatory Falls drops about 30 feet. That makes it the 559th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 23% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Brook Trail (Purgatory Falls Trail) reaches it about 0.6 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 68 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Lyndeborough. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Town of Mont Vernon / Lyndeborough conservation land for closures and current conditions.
Spring and after heavy rain (Apr-Jun). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More New Hampshire waterfalls
- Arethusa Falls · 140 ft
- Avalanche Falls · 45 ft
- Beecher and Pearl Cascades · 25 ft
- Bridal Veil Falls · 80 ft
- Cloudland Falls · 80 ft
- Diana's Baths · 80 ft
- Georgiana Falls · 30 ft
- Glen Ellis Falls · 64 ft
Sources
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