Screw Auger Falls

The smooth, twisting shape of Screw Auger Falls is a record of the last ice age and the millennia since. As the great glaciers retreated, torrents of meltwater and rock scoured the Bear River's channel, and the river has continued the work ever since, grinding the hard granite into a polished, sinuous gorge.

Look closely and you can see potholes drilled into the rock, round basins spun out by stones caught in the current and whirled against the bedrock for ages. The whole formation is a small masterpiece of erosion, which is why geologists and photographers prize it as much as picnicking families do.

Screw Auger Falls lies within Grafton Notch State Park, which protects a rugged mountain pass along Route 26 in the town of Newry. The notch is a corridor of steep forested slopes, cliffs, and streams, and the road through it is a scenic drive in its own right, especially in autumn.

The park is more than this one waterfall. Other cascades such as Mother Walker Falls and the Cataracts lie a short distance up the road, and trailheads climb toward Old Speck and the Mahoosuc Range. The Appalachian Trail passes through the notch, making it a well-known waypoint for long-distance hikers as well as day visitors.

The falls are just a short, mostly level walk from the roadside parking area, which makes them accessible to almost everyone. That ease is part of the appeal, but it also draws crowds on warm weekends, and the setting demands respect.

The polished granite is deceptively slick, the gorge is deep, and the current is strong when the river is high. People have been injured slipping on the wet rock, so the safe way to enjoy Screw Auger is from the dry ledges and overlooks, keeping children within arm's reach and staying out of the gorge itself when the water is running fast.

Spring is the falls at full force, swollen with snowmelt and roaring through the gorge. It is the most powerful and dramatic time to see them, though the rocks are at their most dangerous and the pools too cold and fast for wading.

By high summer the river settles down, the granite warms, and the calmer pools become a favorite spot to cool off on a hot day, always with care. Autumn wraps the notch in color and is one of the loveliest times to visit, while winter turns the gorge to ice and quiet, a stark counterpoint to the summer crowds.

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.

Screw Auger Falls, in Grafton Notch State Park in the mountains of western Maine, is a beautiful and beloved waterfall where the Bear River drops through a dramatic, sculpted gorge of smooth granite. Over ages the water has carved the rock into swirling potholes, chutes, and a narrow chasm, creating a striking scene where the river tumbles and rushes through the polished stone. Easily accessible from the road with short paths and viewpoints, the falls are a favorite stop for their scenic beauty, especially lovely in spring high water and fall color. With its sculpted gorge and rushing water, Screw Auger Falls offers a delightful destination in western Maine.

You can view the beautiful waterfall and the sculpted granite gorge from easily accessible paths and viewpoints, photograph the rushing water, swirling potholes, and polished rock, picnic in the area, and enjoy the scenic beauty, a highlight of Grafton Notch State Park. The falls and the fascinating carved-rock gorge are the draw, especially dramatic in spring and beautiful amid fall color. It is an easy, rewarding stop. With its scenic waterfall and remarkable sculpted gorge, Screw Auger Falls offers a delightful and accessible experience in western Maine.

The granite around the falls and gorge is smooth and extremely slippery, especially when wet, and the currents in the gorge are powerful and dangerous, so stay on marked paths and behind barriers, keep well back from the edges and the water, and watch children extremely closely, as falls into the gorge can be fatal. Never climb into the gorge, wade near the falls, or venture onto the slick rocks near the rushing water. Staying safely back from the slippery edges and powerful water is essential for a safe visit to Screw Auger Falls in western Maine.

Late spring through fall is the best time, with late spring and early summer bringing the most powerful, dramatic water from snowmelt, summer offering pleasant weather and lower, calmer flows, and fall bringing spectacular color to the surrounding mountains that frames the falls beautifully. Winter is cold and access is limited. The falls are scenic throughout the warm season. For the most powerful water aim for late spring, and for stunning color, fall, at Screw Auger Falls in Grafton Notch State Park, western Maine.

Screw Auger Falls is in Grafton Notch State Park in the mountains of western Maine near Bethel, near Mother Walker Falls and the park's other scenic features, within reach of the Mahoosuc Range and Appalachian Trail, the Bethel area, and the western Maine mountains. That makes Screw Auger Falls a delightful stop to combine with Grafton Notch State Park, Bethel, and the other attractions of western Maine on a visit to the state.