Flume Gorge

The boardwalk carries you into the slot between walls of granite that rise sixty to ninety feet on either side, close enough in places to touch both sides at once. Below, Flume Brook rushes and drops over ledges, and the walls stay damp and green with moss and ferns even on the hottest days.

The full loop is a couple of miles of trail and stairs that climbs up through the gorge and returns through the forest, passing waterfalls, a glacial pool, and viewpoints along the way. It is a walk that packs a great variety of White Mountain scenery into a modest distance, which is part of why it has endured as a favorite for well over a century.

The gorge began as a seam in the granite. Long ago, molten rock called basalt forced its way up into a vertical crack in the surrounding granite and hardened there as a dike. Basalt weathers faster than the tougher granite around it, so over immense spans of time water gradually wore the softer stone away, leaving the narrow, steep-walled slot you walk through today.

The White Mountains themselves were later sculpted by ice-age glaciers, which ground out the great U-shaped trough of Franconia Notch and scattered the boulders you see along the loop. The gorge is a small, intimate example of the same forces that shaped the whole dramatic landscape around it.

Flume Gorge sits within Franconia Notch State Park, a deep pass between the Franconia and Kinsman mountain ranges that ranks among the most scenic in the Northeast. For generations the notch was famous for the Old Man of the Mountain, a natural rock profile high on Cannon Cliff that was the symbol of the state until it collapsed in 2003.

The park offers far more than the gorge alone. Nearby are the Basin, a smooth granite pothole carved by the river, the Cannon Mountain aerial tramway, swimming at Echo Lake, and miles of hiking trails. The Flume makes an ideal first stop on a day exploring the whole notch.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Flume Gorge, in Franconia Notch State Park in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, is a spectacular natural gorge where a rushing mountain stream cuts through a deep, narrow chasm of towering granite walls. A network of boardwalks and stairways carries visitors right through the dramatic gorge, past waterfalls, mossy cliffs, and the roaring brook enclosed by walls that rise sharply on either side, along a scenic loop trail. One of the most famous and beloved natural attractions in the state, the Flume Gorge offers an unforgettable walk through a stunning slice of White Mountains geology. With its towering chasm and waterfalls, the Flume Gorge offers a spectacular destination in New Hampshire.

You can walk the scenic loop trail through the gorge on its boardwalks and stairways, passing right alongside the rushing brook between the towering granite walls, viewing waterfalls, mossy cliffs, glacial boulders, and covered bridges along the way. The dramatic walk through the narrow chasm, the waterfalls, and the beautiful mountain scenery are the highlights, offering a memorable and immersive natural experience. The full loop includes some uphill walking and many stairs. With its boardwalk through the chasm and waterfalls, the Flume Gorge offers a rewarding experience in New Hampshire.

The Flume Gorge charges admission and, in busy seasons, often uses timed tickets that are wise to reserve ahead, so checking current ticketing and hours before you go is important. The loop trail involves a fair amount of walking, uphill sections, and many stairs and boardwalks that can be wet and slippery, so sturdy, non-slip shoes and reasonable fitness help, and it is not fully accessible. Mountain weather can be cool and wet, so bringing layers is smart. Planning ahead for tickets and the terrain ensures a smooth visit to the Flume Gorge in New Hampshire.

The Flume Gorge is typically open seasonally from spring through fall, with spring bringing the most powerful water flow from snowmelt, summer offering warm, pleasant walking, and fall spectacular when the foliage frames the gorge, though fall is very busy, so reserving timed tickets and arriving early help. The boardwalks can be slippery when wet. For powerful water aim for spring, for foliage visit in fall, or come in summer for pleasant weather, reserving ahead, at the Flume Gorge in New Hampshire.

The Flume Gorge is in Franconia Notch State Park in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, near the Basin, Cannon Mountain, and Echo Lake within the park, within reach of Georgiana Falls, Lost River Gorge, the Frost Place, and the wider White Mountains. That makes the Flume Gorge a spectacular stop to combine with the Basin, Cannon Mountain, and the other attractions of Franconia Notch and the White Mountains on a visit to New Hampshire.