Are there fees or permits required for Moose Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Moose Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Moose Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Moose Falls.

Nearby gauge (Connecticut River) · 416 ft³/s · About average

Moose Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Moose Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Moose Falls.

New Hampshire

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Also For 2 other waterfalls also named Moose Falls, see below

Connecticut Lakes Headwaters FORE · UNK

Photo Credits (5)

ianhun2009 CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

Jim Liestman CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

Lee Bennett CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

catchesthelight CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

About Moose Falls

Moose Falls is on the Connecticut River between Second and Third Connecticut Lakes in Pittsburg, New Hampshire, at the state-owned Moose Falls Dam and flowage beside Deer Mountain Campground. It sits along US Route 3, the stretch known as Moose Alley, in Connecticut Lakes State Forest. No developed trail to the falls is documented.

The Setting

Moose Falls sits at 1,969 feet within Connecticut Lakes Headwaters, in the hills of New Hampshire.

Trail & Hike Details

What to Expect

A small river drop at a low dam and flowage in boreal forest, next to a primitive state campground. Moose are often seen along this part of Route 3.

Accessibility

Accessibility information is not available. The trail may not be suitable for individuals with mobility challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Moose Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Moose Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Spring and early summer are ideal for visiting, as water flow is typically higher during these seasons.

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.

Safety Information

Water temperature is currently 41°F — cold enough to cause numbness quickly. Avoid prolonged water contact and use caution near the falls.

Trail conditions may be uneven or slippery, especially after rain. Visitors should exercise caution and stay on marked paths if available.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 1 hour ago Barely Flowing

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Connecticut River, 16 miles away, not on Moose Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

416 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

About average for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

204 320 677 889

Based on 70 years of record

2.94 ft

Water depth at gauge

41°F

Very cold

Expect numbness within minutes

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is about average for this time of year. Water temperature is very cold at 41 degrees F, expect numbness within minutes.

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a regional waterway. Conditions at the falls may differ, especially after local rain.

CONNECTICUT R BELOW INDIAN STREAM NR PITTSBURG, NH

USGS 01129200

16 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 254 sq mi

Altitude: 1,151 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge CONNECTICUT R BELOW INDIAN STREAM NR PITTSBURG, NH (26 km away).

Moderate confidence

Barely Flowing right now

416 cfs

↓ Falling

Today

Low

433 cfs

4/10

Tomorrow

Barely Flowing

396 cfs

4/10

Tue

Barely Flowing

402 cfs

5/10

Wed

Barely Flowing

383 cfs

4/10

Thu

Barely Flowing

378 cfs

5/10

Fri

Barely Flowing

342 cfs

4/10

Sat

Barely Flowing

346 cfs

5/10

Best window: Tue — barely flowing flow, mostly sunny (trip score 5/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from mid December to late February, peaking in January.

How we calculate this

This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Beecher Falls hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Moose Falls Frozen?

Updated about 17 hours ago

Not frozen 1 day in a row below freezing strong flow slows freezing 1 more freezing day forecast

Moose Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 28°F to 20°F. 1 freezing day are forecast, so ice may start to form.

Days below freezing: 1 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 1 day
Freezing days ahead: 1 of the next 7
Flow: 441 ft³/s

Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.

Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in New Hampshire.

Weather Forecast

The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR

Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.

The bare-earth surface loses about 31 feet through the falls, but gradually, the profile of a cascade rather than a plunge. The ground at the falls is roughly 1,970 feet above sea level.

Most of the action is upstream: the ground drops about 70 feet in the 500 feet above the pin and flattens beneath the falls. Facing northeast, the falls catch soft morning light.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Moose Falls near Beecher Falls, New Hampshire, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Moose Falls near Beecher Falls, New Hampshire, showing about 31 feet of drop, a long cascade, facing northeast

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 1,970 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 31 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: Northeast; Catches soft morning light.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading northeast).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Getting There

Take US Route 3 north from Pittsburg past Second Connecticut Lake to Deer Mountain Campground, about 5 miles south of the Canadian border. The Moose Falls flowage and dam are by the campground.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Elevation

1,969 feet above sea level

Coordinates

45.189213° N, -71.192574° W

Land Management

Connecticut Lakes Headwaters FORE

Managed by OTHS

Visitor Tips & Gear

Drive Route 3 slowly, especially at dawn and dusk, since moose often stand in the road. For a marked waterfall hike nearby, the Falls in the River Trail starts at the Second Connecticut Lake dam.