Snyder Brook Waterfalls, White Mountains – Located in the New Hampshire town of Randolph and the township of Low and Burbank's Grant Snyder Brook is a photographer’s and waterfall enthusiasts paradise. The lower portion of Snyder Brook is within the thirty-six acre Snyder Brook Scenic Area, which contains an impressive stand of old growth hemlock and red spruce.

In September of 1875 William G. Nowell, a 19th-century trail builder, named Snyder Brook for Charles E. Lowe’s dog (ref: 1915 Appalachia Vol.13). Lowe was also a 19th-century trail builder and mountain guide. Lowe and Nowell are credited for building Lowe’s Path in 1875-1876, one of the oldest trails in continuous use in the White Mountains. An 1896 map of Randolph indicates that Snyder Brook was once known as Salmacis Brook.

The journey begins at the Appalachia Trailhead along Route 2 in Randolph. From the trailhead, waterfall enthusiasts can use the Fallsway Trail to reach Gordon Fall (above), the first waterfall on Snyder Brook. This waterfall is named after the 19th Century mountain guide James Gordon. Gordon guided Thomas Starr King on the first ascent of the headwall of King Ravine in 1857. In the early days of Randolph, this waterfall was known as Ripple Falls.

Continuing up the Fallsway Trail, the next waterfall on Snyder Brook is Salroc Falls. Salroc Falls is the smallest named waterfall along the brook, and it consists of an upper and lower section. I find the upper falls (above) to be more photogenic than the lower falls. This waterfall is small compared to the others along Snyder Brook, and it looks best after rain storms, and during the spring snowmelt.

Staying on the Fallsway Trail, the third waterfall along Snyder Brook is Tama Fall (above). Of the three waterfalls (Gordon, Salroc, and Tama) located in the Randolph portion of Snyder Brook, Tama Fall is the most impressive. During humid days, like the ones we have been having lately, this is a great waterfall to visit.

The next waterfall on Snyder Brook, Salmacis Fall (above), is located in the Low and Burbank’s Grant portion of the brook, along the Brookside Trail, 1.3 miles from Valley Way. To reach these falls, and the rest of the ones I mention below requires hiking over rough terrain.

Continuing up the Brookside Trail, turning left on to Watson Path and following the Watson Path for a short distance to where it crosses Snyder Brook brings us to the next waterfall on Snyder Brook, Duck Fall (above). This cascade is so small that many people are surprised to find out it is named. If hiking to Mount Madison, via Watson Path, it is a great spot to take a break. The remaining waterfalls on Snyder Brook are trail-less.

In 1916, an extension of the Brookside Trail above Duck Fall was completed. Abandoned by the Randolph Mountain Club (RMC) in 1980 this extension of the Brookside Trail branched off Watson Path just above Duck Fall, passed Marian Fall (above), and followed Snyder Book eventually joining the Valley Way a short distance below the hut. Marian Fall is likely named for Marian of the legendary 19th-century mother-daughter hiking duo Lucia and Marian Pychowska.

The extension of the Brookside Trail above Duck Fall is nonexistent today and in only 36 years mother nature has reclaimed the trail corridor. This section of the trail must have been already very deteriorated when the RMC abandoned it. Some remnants (above) of the abandoned trail can still be found today.

Old guide books reference that there are numerous cascades above Marian Fall, but more specifically they reference the second cascade above Marian Fall is named Thorndike Fall. Should be easy to find this waterfall right? Well, the problem is there are many cascades above Marian Fall that could be Thorndike Fall.

I have yet to find any vintage images of Thorndike Fall so determining what cascade is the named one can only be a guess. So I decided to count only the larger cascades, not the small ones, above Marian Fall. I consider the above cascade to be the first cascade above Marian Fall. But this one very well could be Thorndike Fall.

There is a reference that suggests the second cascade above Marian Fall is named after Thorndike (not sure if this is S.H.) because he was drawn to that cascade when they were building the now abandoned upper extension of the Brookside Trail. The image above shows the second cascade above Marian Fall; this is possibly the forgotten Thorndike Fall. As I photographed it, I couldn’t help but admire the picturesque setting. The moss is beautiful and almost overpowering.

I am left with the nagging question on which cascade is Thorndike Fall. Could it be the one I think it is, the second cascade (above), or is it the first cascade or neither. Thorndike Fall is likely one of these cascades, but until I find proof, like a vintage image, I will never know.

All of the above images can be licensed for publications by clicking on the image you are interested in. And you can view more images of Snyder Brook here.

Happy image making..

Connect with us on Facebook | Historic Information Disclaimer | White Mountains History

Erin Paul Donovan

Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC

Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society.