Grafton Notch State Park

The star is Screw Auger Falls, where the Bear River drops through a narrow, corkscrewing gorge it has cut into granite, with smooth potholes and ledges around it. It is right beside the road, with an easy path, making it one of the most accessible beautiful spots in Maine.

Just up the road, Mother Walker Falls tumbles through a mossy, forested gorge spanned by a natural rock bridge, and nearby Moose Cave is a slot where the river disappears under a jumble of huge boulders.

Each of these can be seen on a short walk from a parking area, so a drive through the notch can deliver a series of waterfalls and gorges in an easy afternoon.

Grafton Notch is also a gateway to hard hiking. Old Speck Mountain, at over 4,000 feet one of Maine's highest peaks, rises on the west side of the notch, with a steep trail to a summit and observation tower.

The Appalachian Trail crosses the notch and climbs into the Mahoosuc Range. Just beyond the park lies Mahoosuc Notch, a boulder-choked ravine widely called the hardest or slowest mile on the entire 2,000-mile trail, where hikers scramble over and under car-sized rocks.

This combination, gentle waterfalls and brutal ridge hiking side by side, makes the notch a place where casual sightseers and hardcore backpackers share the same trailheads.

Grafton Notch is a classic glacially carved mountain pass, a deep valley between high ridges scoured out and steepened by the ice sheets that once covered Maine.

The gorges and potholes at Screw Auger Falls show a different kind of carving: the patient work of the Bear River, swirling sand and stones to drill the granite into smooth curves and holes over thousands of years.

The surrounding forest is northern hardwood and spruce-fir, home to moose, black bear, and peregrine falcons that nest on the cliffs, giving the notch a genuinely wild character.

Spring sends snowmelt roaring through the gorges, when Screw Auger Falls is at its most powerful and the water thunders through the granite.

Summer is warm and green, ideal for both the easy waterfall walks and the long climbs up Old Speck and into the Mahoosucs.

Fall lights the notch with foliage and is a favorite time for the scenic drive, while winter closes facilities and turns the pass into a snowbound landscape for well-prepared backcountry travelers only.

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.

Grafton Notch State Park, in the mountains of western Maine near Bethel, is a spectacular park set in a dramatic mountain pass carved by glaciers and rivers, offering some of the finest scenery in the state. The park is famous for its beautiful waterfalls, gorges, and rock formations along the Bear River, including Screw Auger Falls and Mother Walker Falls, as well as sweeping mountain views, hiking including a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, and access to the rugged Mahoosuc Range. Rich in natural beauty, it is a beloved destination for waterfalls, hiking, and fall color. With its waterfalls, gorges, and mountain scenery, Grafton Notch State Park offers a stunning destination in Maine.

You can view the beautiful waterfalls and gorges along the Bear River, including Screw Auger Falls and Mother Walker Falls, hike trails ranging from easy waterfall walks to strenuous climbs, including a section of the Appalachian Trail and routes into the rugged Mahoosuc Range, take in sweeping mountain views, picnic, and enjoy the dramatic scenery, glorious in fall. The waterfalls and the mountain hiking are highlights. It suits both casual visitors and serious hikers. With its waterfalls, gorges, and mountain trails, Grafton Notch State Park offers a rewarding outdoor experience in western Maine.

Around the waterfalls and gorges, the rocks are wet, slippery, and dangerous, and the currents powerful, so stay on marked trails and behind barriers, keep back from the edges and the water, and watch children extremely closely, as falls into the gorges can be fatal. On mountain trails, the terrain is rugged, so wear sturdy boots, carry water, and prepare for changeable mountain weather. Never enter the gorges or climb on the wet rocks. Staying back from the dangerous falls and gorges and preparing for the trails ensure a safe visit to Grafton Notch State Park in Maine.

Late spring through fall is the best time, with late spring and early summer bringing the most powerful waterfalls from snowmelt, summer offering pleasant hiking weather, and fall bringing spectacular mountain color, a favorite and beautiful time. Winter is cold and snowy with limited access. The waterfalls are dramatic in spring, and the foliage stunning in fall. For the biggest waterfalls aim for late spring, and for spectacular color, fall, at Grafton Notch State Park in western Maine.

Grafton Notch State Park is in the mountains of western Maine near Bethel, containing Screw Auger Falls, within reach of the Mahoosuc Range and the Appalachian Trail, the Bethel area, and the western Maine mountains and lakes. That makes Grafton Notch State Park a stunning stop to combine with Screw Auger Falls, Bethel, and the other attractions of western Maine on a visit to the state.