Grafton Notch State Park

A Mountain Notch Full of Waterfalls

Grafton Notch State Park occupies 3,129 acres in the Mahoosuc Range of western Maine, straddling Route 26 between Bethel and Errol, New Hampshire. The Bear River carved this notch through the mountains over thousands of years, leaving behind a series of waterfalls, gorges, and sculpted rock formations that make this one of the most geologically interesting spots in the state.

The park serves double duty. For casual visitors, the roadside waterfalls and short walks are easy stops that require little more than sneakers and a few minutes. For serious hikers, Grafton Notch is the gateway to Old Speck Mountain, Table Rock, and the Mahoosuc section of the Appalachian Trail, which many thru-hikers consider the most difficult stretch of the entire AT.

The Waterfalls

Screw Auger Falls

Screw Auger Falls is the park’s most visited feature. A 23-foot waterfall drops through a narrow gorge that the Bear River has twisted and polished into smooth, swirling channels. The walk from the parking area is about a tenth of a mile on a well-graded path with guardrails. Families with young children can reach it easily. In summer, the pools below the falls are popular for wading and swimming.

Mother Walker Falls

A short walk from a separate pullout along Route 26 leads to Mother Walker Falls, a V-shaped gorge more than 40 feet deep and nearly 1,000 feet long. The gorge itself is the attraction here, with sheer walls and moss-covered rock that feels more like a slot canyon than anything you would expect in Maine.

Moose Cave

Moose Cave is a collapsed gorge with a short, easy trail leading to a narrow cleft in the rock. It is the least dramatic of the three roadside stops but still worth a few minutes, especially if you are working your way through all the park’s features in a single visit.

Table Rock

Table Rock is a massive flat ledge that juts out from the side of Baldpate Mountain, roughly 1,000 feet above the notch floor. The trail climbs steeply for about 1.2 miles through forest and then up a boulder cave scramble to reach the ledge. The view from Table Rock looks straight down into the notch and across to Old Speck, with the Bear River valley below.

The Table Rock Trail can be combined with a loop over the Appalachian Trail for a longer 4.6-mile circuit. The scramble through the boulder caves near the top is the highlight and is fun for confident hikers, though it requires some hands-and-knees work.

Old Speck Mountain

Old Speck is the third-highest peak in Maine at 4,170 feet. The trail from the Route 26 trailhead climbs 2,700 feet over about 3.8 miles to the summit, where a fire tower provides 360-degree views over the Mahoosuc Range, the Presidentials in New Hampshire, and the lakes of western Maine.

Old Speck is the southern end of the Mahoosuc Range and the northern end of the infamous Mahoosuc Notch, a mile-long boulder scramble that AT thru-hikers both dread and celebrate. Day hikers can climb Old Speck as an out-and-back without entering the Notch.

When to Go

Fall foliage in Grafton Notch peaks a bit earlier than the coast, typically the last week of September through the first week of October. The hardwoods on the notch walls turn gold and orange while the spruce stays dark green, creating a contrast that looks best from Table Rock.

Practical Notes

Grafton Notch has no camping, no drinking water, and limited facilities. Pit toilets and picnic tables are available at the main trailheads. The nearest services are in Bethel, about 14 miles south on Route 26. Fuel up and pack food before driving in.

Cell service is unreliable throughout the notch. Download maps and trail information before you arrive.

Packing List

Getting There

Grafton Notch State Park is on Route 26, about 14 miles north of Bethel. From Portland, the drive takes approximately 2.5 hours via Route 26 through Norway and Bethel. From Bangor, it is about 2 hours 45 minutes via Route 2 to Bethel and then north on 26. The park entrance is well-signed along the highway.

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