Flume Gorge
4.8(6.9K)google
4.6(197)yelp
Hiking TrailScenic LookoutFamilyFall FoliageOutdoorPhotography SpotMust-SeeLocal FavoriteRock FormationCanyonWaterfall
Overview
The Flume Gorge (locally, just The Flume) is a natural gorge in Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire, United States. The Flume is now a paid attraction that allows visitors to walk through it from May 10 to October 20.
Practical Info
Every day9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-3.5 hours
Best TimePeak season is strictly early October during peak foliage (Note: You must reserve time-slot tickets online weeks in advance). Opt strictly for the morning's first 8:30 AM entry; morning mist still clings to the 90-foot vertical granite walls as the low sun shoots golden shafts straight through the roaring flume cascades.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned off the parkway at the southern gateway of Franconia Notch State Park. Drive via I-93 (Franconia Notch Pkwy) straight to Exit 34A. The ramp exits directly into the massive, well-maintained complimentary asphalt parking lot of the Flume Visitor Center, steps from the 2-mile boardwalk loop trail.
Travel Tips
- Physical ticket booths are permanently removed; all visitors must buy online timed tickets in advance, which auto-expire if you arrive 15+ minutes late.
- The 2-mile loops feature steep, wet, and slippery wooden stairs sprayed by waterfalls; professional traction hiking shoes are required, and all pets are banned.
- The wooden boardwalk is dismantled entirely in mid-October to protect against ice damage, sealing the inner gorge completely until reopening in mid-May.
Reviews
Positive
- Nature's masterpiece! Walking on the wooden boardwalks flanked by towering moss-covered granite walls and rushing waterfalls is stunning.
- The entire loop trail is impeccably maintained, featuring a charming historic covered bridge along the way—postcard-perfect scenes everywhere.
- The infrastructure is great; the large visitor center features clean restrooms, rest areas, and shops selling cold drinks and souvenirs.
- The management is excellent, enforcing strict reservation limits and a one-way trail system, preventing chaotic head-on traffic.
Heads up
- Admission prices keep rising year after year; it's quite expensive compared to other nature spots, especially for large families.
- The trail features numerous stairs and steep uphill sections that test your knees; it is completely inaccessible for strollers or wheelchairs.
- Despite timed entry, autumn foliage weekends remain incredibly packed, forcing you to shuffle slowly in a single-file line on narrow boardwalks.
- The wooden steps and stone surfaces become extremely slippery in the rain; without proper non-slip footwear, it can be nerve-wracking.