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Flume Gorge Walkway and Stairs Flume Gorge Walkway and Stairs

Flume Gorge

Contact

852 Daniel Webster Hwy, Lincoln, NH 03251
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Hours and Fees

Last staffed date: 10/27

Park Office: 603-745-8391

Entry Fees May-Oct.:
Adults: Ages 13 and over: $18 online reservation & $21 at ticket window
Children: Ages 6-12: $16 online reservation & $19 at ticket window
Ages 5 & Under: $0
**Guests will save $3 per ticket if reservation is made in advance of arrival.
*Dates and times are weather dependent and subject to change without notice. For up to date hours, please call the park directly.

Park Operating Schedules
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Off Season Use: During off hours and the off-season the park is typically not staffed, comfort stations are not available and gates may be closed. The Gorge itself is closed to hikers as the boardwalks have been removed. The off-season poses unique risks inherent when participating in outdoor recreational activities. Recreationists should possess the necessary knowledge, skill, and equipment to ensure their own safety. Users assume all risk while recreating in State Park lands. This park is open for recreation unless closed or restricted by posting.
 

Activities and amenities

Hiking Restrooms Picnic Area Snowshoeing Walking Trails Learning Environments Park Store Scenic Overlook
gorge with river and walkway gorge with river and walkway
person on wooden bridge person on wooden bridge
wooden bridge wooden bridge
Bridge over river Bridge over river
Stairs up rockside with river Stairs up rockside with river
girl walking on stairs girl walking on stairs
Woman walking down stairs looking at river Woman walking down stairs looking at river
Stairs in gorge Stairs in gorge
Stairs in gorge Stairs in gorge
Stairs in gorge Stairs in gorge

About the Park

The Flume is a natural gorge extending 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty. The walls of Conway granite rise to a height of 70 to 90 feet and are 12 to 20 feet apart. The Flume Trail is a 2-mile loop starting at the check-in booths located in front of the Flume Building. The Short Trail/Rim Path is closed and the only option is to complete the full 2 mile loop. The entire loop takes approximately 1.5 hours and finishes at the Flume Building. The walk includes uphill walking and lots of stairs. The boardwalk allows you to look closely at the growth of flowers, ferns and mosses found here.

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women on walkway by falls women on walkway by falls
women on walkway by falls women on walkway by falls

Reservations at Flume Gorge

- Reservations should be made in advance online as in-person availability is not guaranteed.
  Specific hour blocks or days could sell out.
- Reservations must be made for a specific arrival window (ex 1pm-2pm) on a specific date.
- We cannot guarantee entry if you miss your arrival time.

This self-guided walk is 2 miles and takes approximately 1.5 hours. The trail is mostly packed gravel with boardwalk sections and includes moderate uphill walking and stairs within the gorge. Appropriate footwear is recommended.
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More About Flume Gorge

The Flume was discovered in 1808 by 93-year-old  “Aunt” Jess Guernsey when she accidently came upon it while fishing. She had trouble convincing her family of the marvelous discovery, but eventually persuaded others to come and see for themselves. At that time, a huge egg-shaped boulder hung suspended between the walls. The rock was 10 feet (3m) high and 12 feet (3.6m) long. A heavy rainstorm in June of 1883 started a landslide that swept the boulder from its place. It has never been found. The same storm deepened the gorge and formed Avalanche Falls.

How the Flume Was Formed

Nearly 200 million years ago during the Jurassic Period, the Conway granite that forms the walls of the Flume was deeply buried molten rock. As it cooled, the granite was broken by closely spaced vertical fractures which lay nearly parallel in a northeasterly direction.Sometime after the fractures were formed, small dikes of basalt were forced up along the fractures. The basalt came from deep within the earth as a fluid material, and because of pressure, was able to force the Conway granite aside. The basalt crystallized quickly against the relatively cold granite. Because of this quick cooling, the basalt is a fine- grained rock. Had this material ever reached the surface, it would have become lava flows.

Erosion gradually lowered the earth’s surface and exposed the dikes. As the overlying rock was worn away, pressure was relieved and horizontal cracks developed, allowing water to get into the rock layers. The basalt dikes eroded faster than the surrounding Conway granite, creating a deepening valley where the gorge is now.

The gorge was covered by glaciers during the Ice Age, but the ice sheet did not greatly change the surface.  It partially filled the valley with glacial debris and removed soil and weathered rock from the vicinity. After the Ice Age, Flume Brook began to flow through the valley again.

The highly fractured granite and basalt have been eroded by frost action as well as by the brook’s water. As you walk through the Flume, look at the floor of the Gorge and you many notice remnants of the main basalt dike, and on the walls of the gorge, small trees are growing. Erosion is still occurring.

The Flume Covered Bridge

This picturesque covered bridge is one of the oldest in the state. It was built in the 1886 and has been restored several times. Such bridges were often called “kissing bridges” because of the darkness and privacy they provided. This bridge was built across the scenic Pemigewasset River. Pemigewasset means “swift or rapid current” in the Abenaki Indian language.

Table Rock

Over time, the rushing waters of the Flume Brook exposed this large outcropping of rock. Table Rock is a section of Conway granite that is 500 feet (150m) long and 75 feet (20m) wide. Caution: The rocks are slippery - please stay on the trail.

Avalanche Falls

At the top of the Flume is a close view of Avalanche Falls. The 45-foot (13.6m) waterfall creates a roaring sound as the Flume Brook enters the gorge. The falls were formed during the great storm of 1883, which washed away the hanging boulder.

Liberty Gorge

On the Ridge Path, look for a turnoff that leads you to Liberty Gorge, a beautiful cascading mountain stream that flows through the narrow valley.

Sentinel Pine Bridge and Pool

The Pool is a deep basin in the Pemigewasset River. It was formed at the end of the Ice Age, 14,000 years ago, by a silt-laden stream flowing from the glacier. The Pool is 40 feet (12m) deep and 150 feet (45m) in diameter, and is surrounded by cliffs 130 feet (39m) high. A cascade rushes into it over fragments of granite that have fallen from the cliffs above.

On the high cliff above the Pool, the Sentinel Pine stood for centuries. It was one of the largest in the state, nearly 175 feet (53m) high, with a circumference of 16 feet (4.8m). The hurricane of September, 1938 uprooted the giant pine whose trunk bridges the river above the Pool and forms the base for the covered bridge. The bridge offers a fine view of the Pool.

Wolf Den

This is a narrow, one-way path that involves crawling on your hands and knees and squeezing through rocks. 

Glacial Boulders

As you walk through this area, you will notice many boulders. Some are quite large, weighing over 300 tons. During the glacial period over 25,000 years ago, a great ice sheet more than a mile thick moved over this area. The mass of ice was so powerful, it moved both large and small boulders. As the ice sheet retreated, these boulders were left behind. They are called glacial erratics.

 

Flume Gorge Pet Policy

Pets are not permitted in the Flume Gorge. Pets are only permitted in the designated dog walk areas of the Flume & Tramway parking lots as well as White Mountain National Forest hiking trails. Pets are also prohibited from Echo Lake Beach, Lafayette Campground, on the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway. See the NH State Parks Pet Policy for more information.
 

Group Use Reservations

Pavilions

For information on this parks pavilion rental please visit Pavilions & Group Use page.

Youth Group Day Use

Youth and School Groups must call the park directly at least 2 weeks prior to arrival to make reservations before visiting. The Bus Pass Program is available for NH youth organizations that meet the program criteria (for more information and applications, please visit BUS PASS PROGRAM.)
 
Groups that do not meet the qualification for the Bus Pass Program are eligible to receive a discounted rate. For More information, please visit our School & Youth Group Page.

 

Keep Your Parks Clean

Through the Carry-In/Carry-Out Program, you can help us keep your parks clean and beautiful by carrying out whatever you carry in. Thank you for your cooperation and remember to recycle.
 

Access for Persons with Disabilities

Visit our Accessibility page.  For more information on specific accessibilty needs or questions, please contact the individual park office directly.

Flume Gorge Scavenger Hunt

Here is a fun scavenger hunt for kids and families to use while walking through the Flume Gorge. Print it out and bring it with you to add some adventure to your next visit. You will need to bring your own pen or pencil as scavenger hunt sheets and pens/pencils will not be handed out on-site. 


Nearby Lodging Options

For lodging options, call one of the following lodging bureaus:



Drone use is restricted at all NH State Parks. Drone operators are not permitted to take off or land within NH State Park boundaries.
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