The state park occupies 3,129 acre surrounding Grafton Notch, the mountain pass between Old Speck Mountain and Baldpate Mountain. The eastern side of Route 26 is the longer (21.1 miles) and more difficult section of the Grafton Loop Trail. In Grafton Notch State Park, part of the Maine Birding Trail, birdwatchers can observe peregrine falcons, a wide variety of songbirds, and – at higher elevations – northern forest species. My grandfather was night watchman leaves on old spot for 7 seasons. Please stay safe and call ahead to get the latest information. All Rights Reserved. Grafton Notch State Park is located on Route 26 between Newry and Upton, Maine, and offers opportunities for sightseeing, picnicking, and hiking on its 3,000 acres of beautiful natural terrain. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. No fires are allowed on the trail or at the campsites. The trail crosses many streams then ascends the north shoulder of Old Speck, rising out of the woods and offering frequent views of the Notch. In fact, the scenery on this ride rivals any you can find in New England. 1472 Bear River Road / Route 26 Newry, Maine 04261 • 207-824-2292 . Grafton Notch State Park is a state park in Maine. The park lies amidst some of Maine's most spectacular mountains, the Mahoosuc Mountain Range, and offers rugged terrain for back-country hikers including close to 5 miles of the Appalachian Trail. The trail then continues descending southward, skirting Slide Mountain, to Miles Notch. From Whitecap the trail descends to a campsite below Sargent Mountain and then to Bald Mountain. Lots of blowdowns along the trail. Length: 38.6 milesLocation: Western Maine on the ridges and peaks surrounding the Bear River Valley, Grafton Notch, and Maine Route 26Trail Type: LoopScenery: Forests and brooks with small waterfalls give way to numerous open summits with views across western Maine’s rugged mountains, especially the Mahoosuc Range, and into New Hampshire to the Presidential RangeApproximate Time to Hike: Most can comfortably fi… Coming north on ME Route 26, the trailhead and parking area will be on the left with signs indicating the state park. Coming north on Route 26, the parking area are will be on the right, directly across from Eddy Road on the left. Legal. Southern Trailhead: The southern trailhead is 4.7 miles north on ME Route 26 from the intersection of US Route 2 and ME Route 26 in Newry. Funding was provided by several private donors and foundations, as well as by the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund and federal Recreational Trails Program funding. The trail then ascends Long Mountain, following the Andover-Newry town line north over rugged terrain and mostly private land. About 0.1 mile before the southwest summit, the Woodsum Spur trail leaves the main trail to the right. Here the Grafton Loop trail branches off and heads south. Including a section of the Appalachian Trail, it provides a multi-day loop backpacking experience. Tall tales, trip guides, & the world's weird & wonderful. Access to the eastern half of the trail is from the northern end of the parking area. This byway follows along the Bear River for much of the trip. To access the western section of the trail, walk south along ME Route 26 for 0.5 miles; the trail leaves from the western side of the road. Grafton Notch is a notch, or mountain pass, located in Oxford County, Maine. © 2021 Maine Trail Finder. I will probably go back up with a saw and clear some of the blowdowns, The trail kind of disappears when a 40 ft tree falls on it. This map was created by a user. We left our house in Gorham at 4AM, taking two cars, we left her car at the southern trailhead on ME 26 for a resupply, as this is where the Grafton Loop Trail crosses the road about 21 miles into our 38 mile hike. I was a Ranger there in the 80 ern. Be the first to add a review to the Grafton Notch. Grafton Notch State Park, Bethel: Address, Phone Number, Grafton Notch State Park Reviews: 5/5 Grafton Notch State Park is located in Newry. It was similar to a Wilderness Area trail, like you might find in the Wild River. There’s parking at each road junction (directions at the bottom), one at the AT parking lot in Grafton Notch State Park, the other near Eddy Road in Newry. The park is abutted by the eastern and western sections of the Mahoosuc Public Reserved Land, … The trail then heads down Puzzle, passing the Stewart Campsite on a short spur to the left, to the valley between Puzzle and Long Mountain, where it crosses the headwaters of Chase Hill Brook (reliable water). Kinsman Notch is displayed on the Mount Moosilauke USGS quad topo map. This massive trail-building effort was done over a six-year period by members of the Grafton Loop Trail Coalition, which includes the Appalachian Mountain Club, Maine Division of Parks and Public Lands, the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Maine Conservation Corps, Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, several timber management companies, Sunday River Ski Resort, and other private landowners. No fires are allowed on the trail or at the campsites. The trail then ascends Lightning Ledges for several good views. Portions of the trail traverse both Maine’s Grafton Notch State Park as well as a good deal of private land. On the northeast side, it includes the lowest slopes of Baldpate Mountain. There are two campsites on short side trails in this section, about 1.3 miles apart; one has a spectacular waterfall and pool. Anyone who is interested in visiting Kinsman Notch can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. From here the trail begins ascending Sunday River Whitecap, passing several open views and then coming out on the open north ridge to finish the climb to the summit where there are views in all directions. From Bethel: Follow Route 2 East to Newry Corner (Routes 2 & 26) Turn left. Kinsman Notch is in the Gaps category for Grafton County in the state of New Hampshire. While you're in town visiting Grafton Notch State Park, you can discover the sights within a few miles of the area. A short side trail leads to a good view near the summit. At lower elevations, visitors commonly observe large mammals, even in the vicinity of Route 26. Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you to hit the road! Here the Grafton Loop trail branches off and heads south. Grafton Notch is a notch, or mountain pass, located in Oxford County, Maine. I have hiked every trail at Grafton notch state Park and I will have to admit that my favorite trail is the eyebrow loop trail with a great view right through the park. The Grafton Notch/Mahoosuc area encompasses some of Maine’s most spectacular mountain terrain. Andover, Andover West Surplus Twp, Grafton Twp, Newry, Riley Twp, Click on a parking icon to get custom directions. More information about the reserve can be found at Maine Natural Areas Program's Ecoreserve Fact Sheet for Mahoosuc Unit. For more information about the LMF program and the places it has helped to protect, please visit the LMF webpage. I do wish the route climbed Slide Mountain, though. Because of its length and the terrain it traverses, the trail is strenuous and requires appropriate equipment and preparation. Directions to Grafton Notch Campground. The trail then continues descending southward, skirting Slide Mountain, to Miles Notch. Go 7 miles north on Rt. This challenging trail traverses the peaks in the Mahoosuc Region above Grafton Notch and the Bear River Valley. The Grafton Loop Trail is a 38.6 mile, backcountry hiking experience in the Mahoosuc Mountains of Maine. Alert riders are bound to see moose along the roadside. I get the impression that it does not see a lot of traffic as it is very overgrown, in places it felt like we were bushwhacking because the growth was so thick. The Grafton Loop is a roughly 39 mile, 9 summit hiking loop formed by connecting a portion of the Appalachian trail with the Grafton Loop Trail. After a .5 mile descent, the East Baldpate campsite is on the right. Starting at the Southern trailhead I hiked counter clockwise around the loop, staying at the Lane tent site on night one and Bull Run on night 2. West of ME Route 26 (17.5 miles, strenuous): The western section, leaving from the northern trailhead at the A.T. crossing of ME 26, follows the A.T. southbound along Cascade Brook. If you are interested in maintaining a section, please see the Baldpate District in the current vacancy section of our Trail Maintainer Page. USA. Grafton Notch State Park is a premier recreational destination off of ME-26 in Newry. Absolutely gorgeous day hiking on the Table Rock Trail of the Appalachian Trail in Grafton Notch State Park. Please try again. Success! This trail is partially within the 9,993-acre Mahoosuc Ecological Reserve, which, like all Maine State Ecological Reserves, is specifically set aside to protect and monitor natural ecosystems. There are four campsites that allow camping on this portion of the trail. The eastern half of the GLT consists of a 21-mile arc that leaves Route 26 in Newry, Maine, and returns to the road in Grafton Notch State Park via four miles on … Bald Mountain tentsite has a privy and tent platforms. Take the 0.3-mile spur to the left, at approximately 3.5 miles from the trail head, to the summit and observation tower. Once a route marked by swift-moving rivers flowing through the mountain valley, the Grafton Notch scenic byway begins in Newry, just north of the Sunday River Ski Area, and travels along Route 26 to Grafton Notch State Park and Lake Umbagog, which crosses the New Hampshire border. In Grafton Notch State Park, part of the Maine Birding Trail, birdwatchers can observe peregrine falcons, a wide variety of songbirds, and - at higher elevations - northern forest species. Campground is on the left. There were some times that the trail was a little touch and go, the section between Town Corner and Lightening Ledge Knob was particularly hard to follow, but not impossible. Regarding this, whoever designed and cut the Grafton Notch loop did a fine job, and this is obvious from looking at the topographic map, such as the lines up Puzzle and East Baldpate. I hiked the western half of the loop and found the trail to be difficult to follow at times. From here is the 2.1 mile ascent of East Peak of Baldpate, where, after 17.1 miles, the trail connects the Appalachian Trail. This trail passes through a property that was acquired in part with funds from the Land for Maine’s Future program. Enter your username, and we will send you a new, randomly generated password to your email account. This potentially has the makings of a great trail, but the only views were on Sunday River Whitecap. Sargent Brook tent site was decent with a bear box and communal cooking area. I would suggest keeping a GPS handy, because there were several times when I could not see any markers and had to reference my GPS to figure out where the trail was. Maine's Grafton Notch State Park includes the land along the bottom of the notch, and extends as far south as the summit of Old Speck Mountain on the southwest side of the notch. Grafton Notch is a notch, or mountain pass, located in Oxford County, Maine.The notch demarks the northeastern end of the Mahoosuc Range, and thus of the White Mountains. Just before Grafton Notch on ME 26 is one area where moose are plentiful. - Whitney and I celebrated Independence Day with a bang by hiking the Grafton Notch Loop. Old Speck, at 4180 feet, is the third highest mountain in Maine. online for more information and a printable map or contact: Grafton Notch State Park - Baldpate Mountain and Table Rock Loop, Grafton Notch State Park - Old Speck Mountain and Eyebrow Loop. Please try again. The renowned Grafton Notch Scenic Byway bisects the Park and several pull-offs highlight interesting natural features. North of the height of land, the notch drains into the Swift Cambridge River, then into the Dead Cambridge River and Umbagog Lake, the source of the Androscoggin River, which drains into Merrymeeting Bay, the estuary of the Kennebec River, and thence into the Gulf of Maine. Title: GLT brochure map.FH11 Author: lgarland Created Date: 3/8/2010 9:19:24 AM Old Speck, at 4180 feet, is the third highest mountain in Maine. Once a route marked by swift-moving rivers flowing through the mountain valley, the Grafton Notch scenic byway begins in Newry, just north of Sunday River Ski Area, and travels along Route 26 to Grafton Notch State Park and Lake Umbagog, which crosses the New Hampshire border. Visit the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Appalachian Mountain Club, and Maine Appalachian Trail Club online for more information and a printable map or contact: Northern Trailhead: This trailhead also serves as the main trailhead for Grafton Notch State Park. Grafton, NH Directions {{::location.tagLine.value.text}} Sponsored Topics. I did the full loop in June of 2020 and had an excellent time. This byway follows along the Bear River for much of the trip. The trail crosses many streams then offering frequent views of the Notch. Get directions, maps, and traffic for Grafton, NH. Grafton Notch is a magnificent mountain pass in Southwestern Maine, a short drive from Gorham, NH, the last major trail town that Appalachian Trail thru-hikers visit before leaving New Hampshire. Things to See and Do Near Grafton Notch State Park. Grafton Notch State Park, Bethel: See 197 reviews, articles, and 152 photos of Grafton Notch State Park, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 13 attractions in Bethel. The Grafton Loop Trail (GTL) is located on both sides of Route 26 and links with the AT on Baldpate Mountain and on Old Speck. The crux of the route is the consecutive climbs and descents of East Baldpate and Old Speck. #2 Grafton Notch State Park Protected Area Updated: 2020-01-10 Grafton Notch State Park is a public recreation area in Grafton Township, Oxford County, Maine. Day 2 was certainly the most challenging with the ascent of Baldpate, descent to the road followed by the ascent of Old Speck, however all of this was along the AT with plenty of people and trail marking and maintenance. Follow the white-blazed Appalachian Trail south along Cascade Brook. Check out the newest articles in MTF Stories! This ride is for the very fit and adventurous bicyclist—there is no major town along the way, and services are few and dispersed. The trail, which connects to the Appalachian Trail at Old Speck and the East Peak of Baldpate Mountain on either side of ME Route 26, highlights the natural features and mountain peaks of the area encircling Bear River Valley. Many family history in Grafton first class. The trail emerges on the road a half mile south of the Southern trailhead parking area. Did you know: If you use the Roadtrippers mobile app, your trips will instantly auto-sync over... Ready for navigation and good times! The map now contains brown squares outlining nearby US Topo Map quadrants. The notch demarks the northeastern end the Mahoosuc Range, and thus of the White Mountains. Interested in learning more about trails in Maine? I have hiked every trail at Grafton notch state Park and I will have to admit that my favorite trail is the eyebrow loop trail with a great view right through the park. To the south, the notch drains into the Bear River, then into the Androscoggin. View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. After the hike we headed to Step Falls for a frigid but fun swim ♥️ Screw Auger Falls were really nice, as the setting was really different than most other falls I have seen so far. Log in or create an account below to unlock all the great features of Maine trail finder: keep track of trails you want to do, preserve memories of trails you’ve done, earn badges, and more! Maine State Route 26 passes through the notch. Click to find a great deal for this hotel. Several interesting attractions are conveniently located on scenic Route 26. From the intersection of US Route 2 and ME Route 26 in Newry, follow ME Route 26 approximately 12 miles north to where the Appalachian Trail crosses the road. The Appalachian Trail, a National Scenic Trail from Georgia to Maine, crosses the notch between Old Speck and Baldpate. Learn how to create your own. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. Your log in attempt was not successful. I've come away thinking that the non-AT sections of the trail are used significantly more by Grafton Notches moose population than human population and that is quite okay with me. I saw one Moose and many tracks along with plenty of scat. From Rumford/Farmington: Follow Route 2 West to Newry Corner (Routes 2 & 26) Turn right. Camping is allowed only in 5 designated campsites along the trail, and in some sections, it is a long distance between reliable sources of water. Oxford, Due to the spread of COVID-19, some points of interest may be closed or have restrictions. Grafton Notch State Park and Mahoosuc Public Lands West Side of Route 26 • Old Speck Trail (7.6 miles, 7 hours, challenging) affords spectacular views from an open observation tower at the summit. There was an issue with your submission. Maine State Route 26 passes through the notch. East of ME Route 26 (21.1 miles, strenuous): The eastern half of the trail, coming from the south, leaves ME Route 26 at the southern trailhead and continues to the open summit of Puzzle Mountain after passing several ledges with fine views of the Bear River Valley, the Mahoosuc Range and the Presidential Range beyond. These awesome businesses support our goal of connecting people to outdoor adventures in Maine! There is a short history and personal reflection about the town of Grafton Notch in Louise Dickinson Rich's "Happy the Land" on pages 65-68. Newry is home to 32 hotels and other accommodations, so you can find something that's perfect for your stay. Position your mouse over the map and use your mouse-wheel to zoom in or out. Read all 196 reviews Full view 26 (Bear River Rd.) The one at Bull Run is non-existant as far as we could tell. Read all 196 reviews Full view From there it is another 4 miles southbound along the A.T. to return to ME Route 26. Along the gradual descent there is a campsite to the right. There was still snow on anything above 3000 feet. About 1.5 miles from Long Mountain there is reliable water as the trail descends one fork of Wight Brook and the ascends another. The tent site at Slide mountain consisted of privy. The AMC map is more up to date, but the MATC version has trail distances. After the cairn on the summit the trail follows open ledges to about .2 miles after the summit where the other end of the Woodsum Spur trail branches to the right. There is a campsite about 2 miles after the summit of Old Speck. My father was the last night watchman in 1959 . Maine The notch demarks the northeastern end the Mahoosuc Range, and thus of the White Mountains. After some views to the south and east, the trail descends a long series of rock steps to a campsite and finally down to the Bear River and ME Route 26. Carter's Cross Country Ski Center & Resort, The ultimate guide to the must-see attractions along I-95, The Great Northern is a 3,600 mile, cross-country odyssey, The Ultimate Guide To Acadia National Park, The most amazing campgrounds for stargazing with the kids, All of the Cool Stops and Attractions on I-40, Beaches, beef and the Bean: 48 Hours in Chicago, An offbeat Orlando road trip guide for weirdos, 48 Hours in Orlando: Things to do that aren't a theme park, Meet "Big Daddy": Roadtripping US-20, the Longest Road. Notch drains into the Androscoggin due to the left with signs indicating the State Park position your mouse the! Ahead to get custom directions New, randomly generated password to your email account Rock trail the. And Baldpate Mountain the left, at 4180 feet, is the highest! Trail south along Cascade Brook save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you hit... Ready for you to hit the Road a half mile south of the Notch between Old Speck adventurous. 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