This morning we had another great breakfast at the Gun Ho Lodge: homemade pumpkin bread and quiche – absolutely delicious! Shortly after 9 a.m. we set off, as we had a rather long drive ahead of us along the Kancamagus Highway to Flume Gorge in Franconia Notch State Park.
Indian Summer: Kancamagus Highway
We headed west along the Kancamagus Highway, one of the many beautiful scenic drives that winds through the White Mountains. There are numerous viewpoints along the way. Once again, the vibrant colors of the trees were absolutely breathtaking. A highly recommended stop is Sabbaday Falls. From the parking lot (cost: $3), it's only a 0.5 km walk. The way it plunges into the small gorge is simply spectacular. You could easily imagine jumping in and sliding down the rocks yourself! ;)
Flume Gorge in Franconia Notch State Park
Afterwards, we continued on to Lincoln for a short lunch break and then headed north to Flume Gorge in Franconia Notch State Park. We drove into the huge parking lot and, of course, got a spot furthest from the visitor center, which was quite busy with families with children and older tour groups. We bought our tickets (15 USD per adult) and then debated whether to walk or take the bus. We decided to take the free bus there and walk back, since it was supposed to be downhill.
Once at the top, we walked a short distance along the river, which flowed down the mountain over large slabs of rock. In the distance, we could already hear the roar of the waterfall. We continued deeper into the gorge, along the cliffs. It was quite similar to a gorge in the Alps, except that everything here was geared a bit more towards tourist comfort. A bus for this short distance would never exist in Austria or Switzerland.
We climbed the wooden stairs and steps, along the rocky riverbed, until we reached the granite gorge. The 30-meter-deep and in places only 3-meter-wide gorge is one of New Hampshire's most popular natural attractions. The waterfall was very impressive as it cascaded over the rocky ledge. Since we planned to take the loop trail, we walked past the top of the waterfall and descended alongside the gorge. A beautiful path through the forest, past enormous boulders and a covered wooden bridge.
Once we got to the car, we set off immediately, as it was still a 3.5-hour drive to our destination for the day, Plattsburgh on Lake Champlain. Our hotel for tonight was the La Quinta Inn.
