Boulders, Waterfalls, and Stairs at Flume Gorge

It’s almost that time of year when NH State Parks start opening! We are eagerly waiting for this cold weather and snow (yes, we got snow last night) to be replaced with some warmer spring weather, and have already started planning which parks to visit first.  A really fun park is Flume Gorge up in Franconia Notch.   It’s super easy to get to (it’s right off 93) and there is lots of parking and a visitor center.

Once you get through the Visitor’s Center (you do have to pay a fee to walk through the Gorge), you have a little walk to get to the actual Gorge.  However, there is plenty of fun stuff to see on the way there, including this huge glacial boulder.

Once you get to the Gorge, be prepared for stairs…lots of them.  (Luckily, my husband volunteered to wear our little guy during this adventure!)

Although the stairs may seem a little daunting, there are plenty of areas to rest, as well as many flat sections.  Because there are so many beautiful features and unique rocks to look at, it’s easy to forget about the stairs. 

In fact, we made it to the top with very minimal whining from our 5 year old… 🙂 The waterfall at the top is a wonderful reward for the journey up and it’s awe-inspiring to be so close to it.

After you make it to the top, you can take a trail back down to the Visitor’s Center that brings you by some more boulders, a covered bridge, and another little gorge.

This was a morning adventure for us and was a great stop on our way back home from vacation.  You can also purchase a Discovery Pass that allows you access to Cannon Mountain’s Aerial Tramway if you want to turn this into a day-long adventure.

Because of the stairs, Flume Gorge isn’t really stroller friendly; if you have a little one, I would consider bringing some of type of carrier.  Make sure to check out the Flume Gorge website for more tips and even a scavenger hunt for the kiddos!  I hope that your family enjoys this adventure as much as mine did!