Screw Auger Falls — Grafton Notch

Grafton Notch State Park sits along ME-26 in the Bear River valley, flanked by the peaks of the Mahoosuc Range. The scenic byway designation is official — the state recognizes the corridor from Newry north to the New Hampshire border for its mountains, gorges, and waterfalls. Screw Auger Falls is the easiest stop on that corridor: the parking area is signed directly from the road, and the walk to the gorge rim is roughly 100 yards along a fenced edge above the granite walls.

The falls drop through two distinct stages along the Bear River, with the water carving a tight pothole gorge through bedrock on its way down. Interpretive signs at the site explain the glacial sculpting that shaped the gorge. The granite surfaces — both inside the gorge and along the exposed ledge near the viewpoint — get slippery when wet, and there are sections beyond the fencing where there is no barrier between you and the drop. Worth knowing before you step off the path.

The park charges a day-use fee, cash or check only — no credit cards. The season runs May 15 through October 15, open daily from 9 a.m. to sunset. On summer weekends the pull-off sees steady foot traffic, so earlier in the day or on a weekday morning means more room to park a bike and take in the gorge without the crowd.