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Avalanche Falls, Franconia Notch State Park
ADOBE STOCK
NEW HAMPSHIRE
A Gorge-ous Escape
Hike into the White Mountains’ Flume Gorge.
By Stacey Zable
Located in the White Mountains within Franconia Notch State Park, Flume Gorge welcomes visitors to experience its nature-made beauty via a 2-mile trail. This incredible natural gorge extends some 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty. It is flanked by 70- to 90-foot-tall walls of Conway granite that are only 12 to 20 feet apart, and is truly a sight to behold from the Flume trail loop.
Wooden walkway and steps along Flume Gorge
The trail, punctuated by several uphill pushes and many stairs, starts from the visitor center, then crosses over the Pemigewasset River via the Flume covered bridge, which was built in 1886 and is one of the oldest in the state. Highlights along the way include Table Rock—a section of Conway granite 500 feet long and 75 feet wide that is not open to climbing—and 45-foot-tall Avalanche Falls. A spur leads to Liberty Gorge, a cascading mountain stream, for more of nature’s loveliness. Generally the Flume trail is open early May to late October and takes about 90 minutes to complete. An admission fee is required, but if you book an online reservation in advance, then you can save a few dollars. Advance, morning reservations are recommended because only a certain number of tickets are available per hour to reduce crowds and make the hike a better experience. Walk-ups are allowed, but tickets might be sold out, particularly in October when fall foliage is at its peak.
Boardwalk path to a waterfall at Franconia Notch State Park
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