Grafton Notch State Park Photo: Jessica Casey / CC BY-SA 4.0
United States › Maine

Grafton Notch State Park

ByWilderness Experts

Fast facts

  • Size: about 3,000 acres (12 km²)
  • Setting: the notch between the Mahoosuc Range and Baldpate Mountain
  • Trail link: the Appalachian Trail, with Old Speck and Mahoosuc Notch nearby
  • Gateway: Bethel and Newry
  • Managed by: Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands

The landscape

Grafton Notch is a glacier-carved pass in the Mahoosuc Range, with Old Speck, one of Maine’s highest peaks, on one side and the bare summits of Baldpate on the other. The Bear River has cut gorges and waterfalls such as Screw Auger Falls and the Moose Cave through the granite. Moose, black bears and peregrine falcons live here.

Best time to go

Summer is hiking season; late September brings brilliant fall colour. Snow lingers on the peaks into May, and winter conditions above treeline are severe.

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Getting there and around

Route 26 runs through the notch, with parking for the waterfalls and the Appalachian Trail crossing. Trails climb from the road to Old Speck, Table Rock and Baldpate.

Things to do

Short walks lead to Screw Auger Falls, Mother Walker Falls and Moose Cave. Table Rock offers a steep climb to a big view. Longer hikes follow the Appalachian Trail to Old Speck and the Baldpates, and backpackers head south through Mahoosuc Notch, often called the hardest mile of the AT, a jumble of boulders and ice caves.

Staying safe

Trails are steep, rocky and slow; plan more time than the distance suggests. Summits are exposed and much colder and windier than the notch. Rock around the gorges is slick. Mahoosuc Notch involves crawling and scrambling, with ice lingering into summer. Leave a trip plan.

Know before you go

This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm current conditions with the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands before you go.

Navigation
Coordinates
44.5930, -70.9226
Magnetic declination
14.4° W (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

8 places in Grafton Notch State Park

A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.

Getting there 2

Park entrances

Sights 6

Viewpoint

Waterfalls

Point of interest

Peaks

Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).

Trip types
Day hikeWeekend backpackingMulti-day/expedition

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Terrain
MountainsForestRivers
Key hazards
Very steeprocky trailsExposed summits in wind and coldSlick rock at the gorgesBlack bears and moose
Best seasons
Summer, Fall (foliage)
Difficulty
Moderate to strenuous
Access / trailheads
Route 26, northwest of Newry and Bethel, running through the notch toward the New Hampshire border.
Water
Streams; treat all water.
Cell / satellite coverage
Patchy in the notch.
Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
Emergencies: 911 (the Maine Warden Service leads search and rescue).
Permits & regulations
A day-use fee applies. Camping is not allowed in the park itself; Appalachian Trail shelters and campsites nearby are managed by the Appalachian Mountain Club and Maine Appalachian Trail Club.
Leave No Trace
Stay on trails across fragile alpine areas, camp only at designated AT sites, and pack out all waste.
Conditions by month

October This month

Average high55°F(13°C)13°C(55°F)
Average low33°F(1°C)1°C(33°F)
Rainfall5.8 in(148 mm)148 mm(5.8 in)
Daylight, mid-month11 h 3 minSunrise 6:57 a.m., sunset 6:01 p.m.

What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.

Plan a trip here →

Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Andover station, 8 miles (12 km)12 km (8 miles) away at 807 feet (246 m)246 m (807 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.

Before you go Conditions, permits, fire bans and closures change constantly — we summarise and link out, but always confirm with the managing agency first.
Official park website → Last verified 2026-09-21

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.

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