Ferns, mosses, trees, and flowers bloom atop, eking out a living on the soil and moisture in cracks. This erratic, however, is so much more–it is a “rock garden”. Those rocks are neither the size nor type native to the area, so they are called glacial erratics. We are beginning to see huge glacial erratics along the trail now, but why are rocks called by this unique name? Briefly, during the last Ice Age glaciers moved south leaving rocks of all sizes in its path. The September 1938 hurricane uprooted the pine and it fell across the banks above the Pool and now serves as the base for the bridge, built in 1939. At almost 175 feet (53m) high, and a circumference of 16 feet (4.8m), it was one of the largest pines in New Hampshire. The Sentinel Pine tree stood for centuries on a high cliff above the Pool. The Sentinel Pine Bridge has an interesting story. No, you cannot go swimming, too dangerous, and it is hard to get to anyway. This is the feature of the Gorge most revered, aptly called the Pool. This 70-foot waterfall is called Liberty Cascade.Ī better view of Liberty Gorge with our second covered bridge through which we will walk, Sentinel Pine Bridge. This is the first feature of Liberty Gorge on the Pemigewasset River. Up and out of the Gorge, we walk Ridge Path to the Pemi River. See the crowds of people? Aaaah, I love it too–the beauty of early spring adventures! Special viewing platform at the top of Avalanche Falls. Walking toward the top of the falls, we first see Flume Brook coming down from the mountains. The difference between mountain tops and valleys is very similar if not greater than many of our western walks! Let’s show a little respect. I usually take you on hikes at 5,000 feet or more and see mountains over 12,000 feet along the way, so why is a wimpy 1,600 feet notable? In New England the highest mountains are from 3,700 to 6,300 feet, but the valleys are only a few hundred feet high at most. From here we only occasionally get hit with some water, and we can see the top-of-the-falls overlook. Wow, it is way too wet to stop for a picture straight toward the falls. The stairway ultimately leads to the main attraction–Avalanche Falls.Īvalanche Falls is a 45-foot drop and is making enough wind that the next part of our walk will be WET! We are in the narrowest part of the Gorge now. The trail continues over the bridge ahead, giving us a Flume Brook dry crossing.Īs we enter the Gorge, mosses, ferns, lichen-covered rock walls speak of dripping water and deep moisture in the air.Ī purple trillium ( Trillium erectum) stands out against the mosses and wet rock walls. It is a member of the Honeysuckle Family and also known as Moosewood and Alder-leaved Viburnum. This native deciduous shrub adores rich, moist woods. Hobblebush ( Viburnum lantanoides) are all along the trail. Regardless, this is an amazing slab of rock. I’m taking them at their word!Ĭonway granite is typically pink, but I don’t see pink. Warning: stay on the trail, the wet rock is very slippery. Table Rock, our first feature, is a slab of Conway granite, 500 feet (150m) long and 75 feet (20m) wide. We’ll see more of the river on the second half of the walk, but first we will explore Flume Gorge with Conway granite and basalt walls eroded by ice, weather, and water.įlume Brook continues carving the gorge, but here it heads to converge with the Pemi. This bridge, built in 1871, crosses the Pemigewasset River, an Abenaki (Algonquian language) word meaning “where side (entering) current is”. The lovely red bridge is the first of two covered bridges along our loop walk. The Loop Trail is one of the most visited in New Hampshire with crowds that don’t quit, but guess what? It is May and the young ones are still in school, the weather is a bit iffy, and we are pretty much alone in this spectacular and special treasure. Here at Flume Gorge Loop in Franconia Notch State Park we’ll discover unique beauty over a 2-mile loop trail walk. New Hampshire’s White Mountains is a gorgeous area of New England.
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