After waiting out persistent showers and drizzle through lunchtime, it finally showed signs of clearing. I headed over to Crawford Notch for an afternoon/evening hike over the Frankenstein Cliff/Arethusa Falls loop to check on some views and the evidence remaining from a 2022 forest fire. From the lower parking lot off Rt. 302, the cliffs loom large. Though the ominous appearance of the cliffs suggests an association with the Frankenstein monster created by Mary Shelley, the name actually honors a German-born painter, Godfrey N. Frankenstein (1820-1873), who frequently visited the White Mountains and made several paintings of the Crawford Notch area.
There is a $5 parking fee at this popular trailhead in Crawford Notch State Park.
The first section of Frankenstein Cliff Trail makes a roly-poly traverse just below and parallel to the railroad tracks.
Then it climbs under the impressive Frankenstein Trestle, 500 ft. long and 80 ft. high, bridging a small ravine under the eastern cliffs. This was considered an engineering marvel when the Notch rail line was built in 1874-1875, and it remains so today. (Walking on the tracks is prohibited and dangerous.)
The next section of the trail is a steep and spicy climb with gravelly footing - loose and slippery. Definitely better to ascend than descend.
The first of two cliff faces beneath which the trail ascends.
Careful footing needed on this somewhat exposed traverse.
The second cliff face.
Looking down at a tricky little scramble up wet ledges.
A window view to Mt. Resolution, Crawford Dome and Mt. Crawford.
A passage between boulders.
Making a point.
A rough scramble before topping out in spruce forest.
Charred trunk from the May 2022 "Bemis Fire" which burned a total of 106 acres in three locations around Frankenstein Cliff and Bemis Brook.
Emerging on the main Frankenstein Cliff outlook, with the white slash of Arethusa Falls visible at the head of the Bemis Brook valley.
Looking across the Saco valley to peaks on the lower Montalban Ridge peaks: Stairs Mountain, Mt. Resolution, Crawford Dome and Mt. Crawford.
Nice view down the Saco Valley to Bear Mountain, Bartlett Haystack and Mt. Tremont.
Above the outlook, a trail crew made a short relocation through a burned area.
Stark views through the charred trees.
Ferns are flourishing here.
The fire opened a couple of new viewpoints along the trail, including this look at a nearby cliff with Ethan Ridge in the distance.
Another new outlook offers a framed view of Mt. Bemis.
I made the 0.2 mile (not the 0.5 mile on the sign) side trip to the higher Falcon Cliff.
Another nice view of Mt. Bemis here.
A serious drop in front.
A Saco Valley view from a higher perspective.
Lots o' roots along the main trail.
From a ledge at the high point of the trail there was once a neat view of Mt. Washington rising above the Dry River Valley. Tree growth has done away with it.
The trail wanders through nice hardwood forest on a remote plateau.
Looks like fairly new signage.
The first part of the Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail heading towards Arethusa is a pleasant meander at easy grades.
Farther along, there is one steep and rough section.
Signs at the junction with the side trail to Arethusa Falls.
A well-constructed footway, part of a major trail relocation project completed in 2003, leads 0.2 mile down to the base of the falls, with 100-ft. elevation loss.
From the end of the trail, the view of the falls, at 176 ft. New Hampshire's tallest, is partly obscured by branches.
By negotiating rocks along the right side, you can gain access to rocks midstream (unless water is very high) with a full view.
The upper 0.8 mile of Arethusa Falls Trail was relocated onto higher and smoother ground in the early 2000s project.
Two neat bridges lead across tributary brooks.
The lower 0.5 mile is an older trail segment that is badly eroded from many years of heavy use and torrential rainfall.
Crawford Notch State Park has some neat signage. It's a wonderful place!
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