Bearcamp River Trail
Trail names: Bearcamp River Trails: Upper Falls, Lower Falls
Location: Sandwich Notch Road, Sandwich Notch Park, Center Sandwich NH
Permitted uses: Hiking, Swimming/wading, picnicking, nature study
Prohibited uses: Camping and Fires are not allowed in the park.
Hours: There were no posted hours.
Fees and Parking: There is no fee to park or to use the trails. There is a small parking lot at the trailhead that would fit around 5 cars, depending on how well they parked. The road is not maintained during winter months and may be difficult to drive on in early spring. There was a small wooden sign nailed to a tree by the road that read “Beede Falls” at the entrance to the parking lot.
Pets: Dogs are allowed on leash.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible.
Hiker amenities: No restrooms or trash bins. There was no map or information kiosk.
Length and Trail information: The hike was an easy 1 mile hike done as a loop. We started our hike from the parking area near the trailhead hiking down the Upper Falls trail and after hiking to see the Cow Cave, we hiked back to the parking lot on the Lower Falls Trail.
The Upper Falls trail is very well maintained. It has a yellow blaze and has a wide gravel substrate with steps at the beginning of the trail. The trail does have some sections that are not gravel and are heavily rooted, posing a potential trip hazard. Caution is warranted hiking these short sections of trail. The trail slowly descends through a mixed forest and leads hikers to the falls. There are walkways with wooden handrails providing easy access to a small beach and a large pool of water at the base of the falls. If you visit during the hotter months make sure to wear a swimsuit so you can cool off and enjoy wading into the pool.
Beede Falls is fed by the Bearcamp River, and the fall volume is dependent on the amount of rainfall and timing of one's visit. We were lucky during our visit and the falls were quite lovely to see. We took a walk toward the base of the falls and over a short wooden boardwalk. We weren't quite sure if the trail continued up the bit of rock scramble, but there were no signs prohibiting us, so we decided to climb up to see the top of the falls. It’s not a difficult climb, but you do need to use caution if you choose to do so. The view from the top was not spectacular, but it was interesting to see the rock gorge and stream that fed the falls. We then climbed back down to the pool at the base of the falls and went to see if we could find the Cow Cave.
The Cow Cave is a mammoth stone overhang that is rumored to have provided shelter in winter for a lost cow. It’s a very unusual bit of geography and was an interesting addition to our meandering. After checking out the Cow Cave and a bit of the trail beyond it, we backtracked to the Lower Falls Trail.
The Lower Falls trail has a blue blaze and an easily traveled substrate that brings hikers alongside and over the river. We really wished we had our swimsuits during this hike as there were all kinds of fun places to stop and play in the water. We did see one person enjoying themselves in the stream. They told us they were “local” and that usually the falls are packed with people enjoying this natural water park. We hiked a bit off trail down the stream along the rocks to see where the stream led us. After exploring a bit, we backtracked up the rocky stream and returned to the trail, heading back to the parking lot. This is an easy hike, with some fun history and definitely a great place to visit during a hot summer day. If you time your visit just right you'll get to enjoy a beautiful waterfall and natural water park too.
