Diana’s Baths Waterfalls – Bartlett, NH

Diana’s Baths are a must-see any time of the year when you are in the North Conway area and want to experience nature at its finest. Located in Bartlett, just minutes from North Conway Village, Diana’s Baths lie along Lucy Brook in Bartlett, which is fed from Big Attitash Mountain.

During the summer, the baths are an excellent place for children and grown-ups alike to enjoy the tranquility of nature and explore the many rocks, ledges, cascading falls, and pools in the brook.

The cascading falls measure approximately 75 feet in total height. The hike to Diana’s Baths is a fairly easy 6/10ths of a mile on a relatively flat, wide gravel path.

Being part of the US National Forest System, there is a large parking lot at the entrance to the hiking path and a self-service pay station, which requires visitors to purchase and display a daily pass on the dashboard of their vehicle. This daily pass (currently $5.00 per day) may be used at other national Forest sites as well.

Dogs are allowed along the trails, but owners must clean up after their pets. While in the area, be sure to visit Cathedral Ledge, Whitehorse Ledge, and Echo Lake State Park, which are all located within a few miles of Diana’s Baths.

PLEASE READ

Diana’s Baths is very crowded, especially during peak season (summer) and on weekends. It is an extremely popular spot, so arriving early in the morning is recommended to beat the crowds and secure a parking spot. Traffic can be significant, leading to long waits. 

• Go early: The parking lot starts filling up early, and a line can form by 8 a.m. in the summer.
• Visit on a weekday or in the off-season: Visiting on a weekday or during a less popular season will likely result in fewer people.
• Go on a rainy day: Some suggest that visiting on a rainy day can make for a more peaceful experience with fewer crowds. 

Video of Diana’s Baths Waterfalls – Bartlett NH

A Little History of the Site

In the 1860s, after building a house and barn on the banks of the brook, George Lucy built a water wheel-powered sawmill. In 1890, George built a 12-room boarding house for tourists to visit the site. In the 1930s, Chester Lucy built a concrete dam with a water feed and turbine system to replace the water wheel used to power the sawmill. Both the rooming house and the sawmill were eventually sold to the US Government and have become part of the National Forest land. Due to the deterioration, the buildings were eventually removed from the site in the 1960s. Remnants of the site can still be seen today, including the old cellar holes and parts of the dam system, feed tube, and turbine gears used to power the sawmill.

Directions

The parking lot access for Diana’s Baths is located on West Side Road, North Conway NH 03860. From Conway Village, head north on Route 16/302 (White Mountain Hwy) past the Eastern Slope Inn. At the next set of lights, turn left onto River Rd. Stay straight on River road for approximately 1 mile when the road changes to West Side Road. Continue straight on West Side road for approximately 1.5 miles (you will go past the sign for the road leading to Cathedral Ledge), and you will see the sign for Diana’s Baths parking lot on the left-hand side of the road.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a very popular scenic attraction, especially in the summer and fall! The parking lot fills up fast. The good news is that there usually is a number of people coming and going from the parking lot. With a bit of patience, it may take a while to get a spot if the lot is full.