Flume Gorge - Franconia Notch, NH
N 44° 05.988 W 071° 40.303
19T E 286154 N 4886428
The Flume Gorge is a geological wonder in the Franconia Notch area.
Waymark Code: WMA5P7
Location: New Hampshire, United States
Date Posted: 11/21/2010
Views: 13
The entrance to the Flume (adm. 25¢) is at a gate right of the Tea House.
Left from the Tea House either on a winding road or a woodland path through a covered bridge is Boulder Cabin (buses available between entrance and BoulderCabin 25¢), 0.5 m. In the cabin is a model of an old New Hampshire covered bridge.
The geological history of the Flume is briefly told in signs at important points. The granite of the rocks was formed many millions of years ago; later a dark colored molten lava was pushed up through the cracks and crevices. Signs indicate these lava seams. The cooling lava solidified into dikes and the principal one was eroded until the flume-gorge was formed. The frosts of thousands of years and the rushing water have widened the canyon. The Flume was discovered in 1803, according to tradition, by 93-year-old Aunt Jess Guernsey, an inveterate fisherwoman. In her wanderings she happened upon this remarkable phenomenon.
From Boulder Cabin the path gradually ascends broad, smooth, and whitened granite ledges over which Flume Brook slips in thin, wide, even sheets. A rustic walk leads to the lower end of the canyon-like Flume, on the western side of Mt. Flume, an eerie fissure between gray, perpendicular walls, some 70 feet in height. At various points trees arcade the chasm, and little birches, lichens, and vines are ensconced in crevices in the rocks. Between these walls the little Flume Brook, which has its sources on Mts. Flume and Liberty, dashes recklessly. Along the walk, which crosses and recrosses the stream, the walls crowd in until there is only room for the brook and the walk. In the narrowest part of the Flume, 12 feet, a huge boulder was lodged for centuries. It was carried away by a terrific avalanche in June, 1883, that deepened the Flume and formed two new waterfalls.
At the upper end of this 7oo-foot canyon are Avalanche Falls, tumbling down a series of granite steps. The path crosses the falls below a wide basin, and returns by an equally impressive route along the Rim Path of the Flume.
The Flume Gorge is still an impressive attraction and is now part of Franconia Notch State Park. Give yourselves a couple hours to take it in. Other interesting things along the path trip to and back are glacial erratic, covered bridges, chasms and pools.
Admission is a bit steeper ($12 adults, $8 children), but this pays for maintenance of other attractions in the area.
Book: New Hampshire
Page Number(s) of Excerpt: 324
Year Originally Published: 1938
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