A couple of roiling potholes below a broad sheet of granite where the sun shines warm and relaxing on long summer afternoons. Ammonoosuc is divided in thirds. The top contains shallow concavities cut in ergonomic contours and buffed smooth by the runoff from Mt. Washington. Below a wooden foot bridge lies the short middle section which is the most photographed part of the fall.

Here, the Ammonoosuc River has augered an audacious kettle of water 10 feet around with walls about 18 vertical feet. (As you look downstream from the bridge, a piece of sculpted granite on the right is reputed to look like a profile of FDR. I thought it looked more like Eleanor.) The pothole below is three times the diameter, not as deep, but with walls of similar height. Water is a clear, mineral green that is begging you, just begging you, to jump in. But wait until you’ve seen a couple local kids make the leap and get safety pointers from them. You won’t have long to wait.

The third portion is about 200 yards below the bridge. It’s not the most dramatic feature in the White Mountain National Forest, but much less visited. It’s composed of a modest pothole in a narrow constriction. Below the constriction flares into a pool that’s fair to good. ‘Bout the only place you can escape crowds.

Copyright Running Water Press 2002