The notebook of Bethel et Grafton Notch
Seek the horizon beyond the climb.
Appalachian passes, waterfalls and mountain village at the gates of the New Hampshire border.
At your own pace
Identity summary
3 to 6 days
Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
Recommended car
Mountain · Forest · Nature · Countryside
Variable accessibility
Modular rhythm
General presentation
Bethel et Grafton Notch
Appalachian passes, waterfalls and mountain village at the gates of the New Hampshire border.
To understand what Bethel and Grafton Notch are, you need to look at Old Speck Mountain, Sunday River and Bethel. These places give you a view of a territory marked by mountain reliefs, forests, natural spaces and the countryside and allow you to move from emblematic sites to more intimate stages.
See all
For a stay of 3 to 6 days, it is better to balance visits and travel times. Also to be anticipated: changing weather in altitude. A car is usually the easiest way to connect the different sectors. Accessibility varies from site to site and deserves to be verified step by step.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- Old Speck Mountain
- Sunday River
- Bethel
Before you choose
- Car often useful
- Meteo changing in altitude
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
Major site
Old Speck Mountain
Dominating Grafton Notch from its ridge, Old Speck dominates the valley with a clear line of ridges, with a clear progression from the Appalachian Trail to the observation tower. The long views to the forests of Maine and the edge of the White Mountains give the climb a very visual end, especially when the light sweeps the valleys at dusk.
River
Sunday River
Sunday River is built around tops linked by vertical tracks that seem to unfold the entire Bethel Valley from different angles according to the schedule of the day. In summer, the ski lift, the plain bike and the autumn rides are the main route: we change the texture of the terrain, from the void to the forest cover.
Nature and landscape
Bethel
Bethel reads himself as a small square in New England, with its white houses aligned, its elms and its regional museum which serves as the first narrative landmark before going on the trails. The pace of the centre, slower than that of the mountain resorts, helps to set the route to Grafton Notch without leaving this rural village economy.
Nature and landscape
Screw Auger Falls
Screw Auger Falls is housed in a polished gorge where the water cuts narrow basins before bounceing back into sharp bursts, a surprising contrast on this stretch of mountain river. The short path from the road allows you to follow the rocky steps and see how each level channels the flow with visible vigour.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
To go further
More activities
Restaurants, walks, culture, leisure and outings to search without leaving the destination card.
The nearest destinations
The closest ideas on the map, to extend your trip.
Similar destinations
Same landscapes and the same pace of travel, elsewhere in the world.
