Mar 5

Mar 5 Hiking the Flume Gorge Trail in Franconia Notch State Park

I’m a big fan of gorges, so naturally, I planned a trip to the Flume Gorge in New Hampshire during my fall trip to the Adirondacks and New England.

>> Related: 3 Days Leaf Peeping In Stowe, Vermont <<

Located in Franconia Notch State Park, the Flume Gorge was founded in 1808 and is a natural granite gorge that extends 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty.

Quick facts & essential info

Length: 2 miles, one-way.
Open between May and October (dates vary).
Paths are graded gravel, but steep in some places, with many stairs.
Pets are not permitted.
Reservations must be made to enter the gorge.

Hiking the Flume gorge trail

Upon exiting your car, you’ll walk over to the check-in booths outside of the center. The trail is currently one-way for visitors. Along the trail, there are markings to note the major sites you’ll be walking past.

Glacial Boulders

Up first on the trail is a large glacial boulder. This area was once home to a great ice sheet during the last Ice Age. As it moved, these large and small boulders were left behind; sometimes called glacial erratics.

Table Rock

Next up on the trail is Table Rock, a section of Conway granite that has been exposed to the rushing water over time. Table Rock is roughly 500 feet long and 75 feet wide, and can be viewed from the trail.

The Flume Covered Bridge

If you’ve ever seen fall photos of New Hampshire, I bet the red Flume Covered Bridge was one of them. Built in 1886, this bridge that goes across the Pemigewasset River is one of the oldest in the state. This is a hugely popular photo site, so expect a wait time (depending on the time of day) if you want a photo of the bridge without people.

Avalanche Falls

Located at the top of the Flume is Avalanche Falls, a 45-foot waterfall that was formed in 1883 when a heavy rainstorm swept a large boulder from its place during a landslide.

Sentinel Pine Bridge & Pool

As you continue, you’ll come across another covered bridge, this one much smaller. The bridge’s base was formed from the Sentinel Pine which stood for centuries on the high cliffs. The tree was one of the largest in the state, but a hurricane in 1938 uprooted the tree.

From the bridge, you can see part of “the pool",” which is a deep basin in the Pemigewasset River. Better views can be found a little further down on the trail at a lookout spot.

Liberty Gorge

The Liberty Gorge, a cascading mountain stream that flows through the narrow valley, can be found on a turnoff with stairs where there is a viewpoint.