Basin Cascade Trailhead — Attraction in Lincoln

Two Waterfalls, One Lake, and a Whole Lotta Laughs

Mother Nature delivered the ultimate Mother's Day gift, a gorgeous hike with my favorite hiking partner (and husband, but who's counting?)

We tackled the Basin Cascade Trail and took the full loop around, 3.5 miles of waterfalls, peaceful lake views, and the occasional trail tantrum (mostly mine, maybe his). At one point, we even had to take off our shoes and cross the falls barefoot just to stay on the path, a true "choose your own adventure" moment that neither of us were prepared for, but hey, 10 out of 10 for bonding.

We expected mud everywhere since it had rained for six days straight, but surprisingly, the trail was in great shape. A couple of squishy spots, sure, but nothing that made us question life too hard.

After the hike, we weren't quite ready to call it a day, so we kept driving deeper into the White Mountains, chasing those golden hour views and winding roads that make you forget time exists. On the way back, we found the most random little gem, a sticker-covered building near Look Mountain (yes, really), and of course we had to leave our mark. Nothing says “we were here” like slapping a sticker on a wall of personality.

This adventure had everything, waterfalls, lakes, laughter, shoe sacrifices, and spontaneous roadside treasures. If you’re looking for proof that New Hampshire is...

This place is unforgettable and free! My kids had so much fun exploring and playing on the trails and on the rocks. I can't say enough about how cool this place was and a welcome break from the bigger hikes we did but with all the beauty and nature. If I had a complaint its that the bathroom needed some attention ( soap and tp refills) but it's basically an out house so don't set your expectations on something super fancy. As for the hike, I recommend water shoes and maybe a change of clothes and towels if you explore some of the water ways( you 100% should). Although most the surfaces off trail are very smooth the rocks can get pretty hot. Hope this was helpful, one more thing I would like to add if you take your children higher up then just the basin please keep an eye on smaller children some of the water looks shallow but it's deeper than it seems. I ended up with a very funny video of my son thinking he was walking through a puddle and ended up to his chest and water. It could have been very bad luckily it was not. ** Always leave with what you came with and more if someone else wasn't decent...

Although my original purpose was to capture some winter waterfall photographs, the conditions were not in my favor. However, what I discovered along the trail more than made up for this slight setback.

The trail is beautiful, winding alongside a peaceful brook, adding a soothing soundtrack to the hike. With every step, there were numerous spots to pause and take in the breathtaking views. I visited the trail on December 8th, and while some areas were a bit slippery, it didn't require spikes. With careful steps and a touch of caution, I easily made my way through these sections.

One thing to note is that the markers can be sparse at certain points along the trail. I did find myself accidentally veering off course at one point, but thankfully, I quickly realized my mistake and rejoined the trail in no time. Overall, this was a nice hike, and I would certainly like to do it...