
The Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway will take you on a scenic, 8-minute ride up 4,200 feet to the summit of the mountain where you can drink in the views from the observation deck, grab a snack at the restaurant, and explore the trails. There's even a covered bridge in the gorge- it's a great place to steal a kiss from your sweetie! Hikers today can either do the entire two-mile loop or just visit the 800-foot gorge- the whole loop is pretty stunning, but there are other things to see at the park as well!Īfter you're done getting a view from inside the gorge, head up to the top of a mountain for your next stop. Since then, wooden stairs, boardwalks and overlooks have been put in to make the trek through the gorge even easier and more pleasant. The gorge was discovered in 1808 by a 93-year-old woman known as "Aunt" Jessie Guernsey who stumbled upon the natural wonder while out fishing- it took her awhile to convince friends and family that the magical place she was describing was real and worth investigating, but once word got out about the gorge, people were convinced. Inside, it's secuded- just you, the bubbling creek, and the verdant green plants. Over thousands of years, Flume Brook wore the winding gorge into the solid granite that now forms the walls. If you can only do one thing, definitely check out Flume Gorge. Take a page from his book (pun intended) and explore Franconia Notch and all of its breathtaking beauty! Even famed writer and naturalist Henry David Thoreau spent time here. The Flume Parking Area GPS Coordinates: N44° 05.814′ | W071° 40.Franconia Notch State Park has been attracting visitors for well over 200 years, long before it was made into a park. On I-93/Route 3, Franconia Notch Parkway, Lincoln/Franconia The Flume Gorge & Visitor Center is open early May to Late October The “Wolf’s Den.” Which is a rock cave just big enough to squeeze through (better for kids than adults).įrom this point, the Flume trail soon completes a circle and brings you back to the Flume visitor center near the parking lot. Immediately after the Sentinel Covered Bridge is a cave. After you cross the bridge, be sure to walk up the hill and look back at the bridge, under it, you will see the tree trunk! Read more about the Sentinel Pine Covered Bridge or The Flume Covered Bridge at The Flume in Lincoln NH. But don’t just walk over the bridge without reading the plaque! The bridge was built on top of a fallen tree in 1939. Shortly after this part of the trail, you will come across another covered bridge, this is the Sentinel Pine Covered Bridge. So be sure you don’t just walk by these 2 trails (unless you are afraid of heights!). The trails offer a view of “The Pool.” Many people walk right past these 2 trails, but in fact offer some of the most breath taking views The Flume has to offer. During your hike on The Flume trail, and after you go through The Flume itself, you will see 2 trails that are on your left. You will also see Avalanch Falls and Liberty Gorge Cascade. While walking The trail at The Flume, you will go from paved areas, over The Flume Covered Bridge over the Pemigewasset River onto wooden pathways, to dirt trails.
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The Flume attracts many visitors from all over the world and is usually fairly busy, but don’t let the crowded parking lot full of cars and buses scare you away, The Flume is a big place, the trail itself is over a mile long and the parking is also for other nearby trails as well. There are a few places that have tall rock walls, but once through that small part it gets much easier.

Also, if you are claustrophobic you may want to prepare yourself for walking up the narrow flume. Keep in mind that it can be quite cool and damp when you are in the flume itself. The tree colors and the dry cool days make it a great experience! It can also make a great refuge from the hot summer heat. Another great time to go is during the Fall Foliage season in New Hampshire. The pathway of the Flume is normally reopened by Memorial Day weekend.īest times to go to The Flume Gorge is in late Spring when the winter snow melt contributes to the water in the streams, giving a spectacular view of the waterfalls. The pathway is rebuilt every Spring to allow visitors to walk the Flume pathway. Ice can get 3 to 4 feet thick and rise up to 80 feet high on the walls of the Flume. Every year, hundreds of feet of the Flume pathway (as seen in the photo to the right) is removed due to large amounts of ice build up on the walls of the Flume Gorge. The walls of granite rise to a height of 90 feet and range from 12 to 20 feet apart. The gorge extends 800 feet at the base of Mt.


The Flume Gorge at Franconia Notch State Park in Lincoln, NH is a naturally made gorge created by glaciers.
