Grafton Notch State Park — Park Wanderlust

During a larger family vacation to the area, the 3 of us ducked away on our own for a quick road trip through Grafton Notch State Park. There are quite a few sites just off Route 26 that are great for families with small children. They have easy access to trail heads that lead to some stunning views, and can be enjoyed within 30-60 minutes. We stopped at two of these location on our jaunt through the area.

Screw Auger Falls: A walking path leads to this 23-foot waterfall lying in a narrow gorge along the Bear River. It was lovely to see the foliage in the Fall when we visited but can image it would be a lot of fun to visit in the heat of summer when you could wade into the pools and play in the waterfalls.

Moose Cave: The loop trail from the parking lot is .25 miles long and along the way you can gaze into a 600-foot-long gorge and watch the water rush in and out of the granite cave below.

There are many other scenic points in this park and miles of more strenuous hikes, including a portion of the Appalachian Trail. No matter how you visit, there is something for everyone, at every age and skill level.