Crawford Notch State Park

Crawford Notch State Park protects one of the most dramatic and historically rich mountain passes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire — a deep, glacier-carved notch where the Saco River has its headwaters and towering granite walls rise above a narrow valley floor. The notch is named for the Crawford family, early innkeepers who blazed trails into the White Mountains in the 19th century and made it a celebrated destination.

The park shelters spectacular waterfalls — Arethusa Falls (the tallest in the state), Ripley Falls, and the Silver and Flume Cascades along U.S. Route 302 — dramatic cliffs including Frankenstein Cliff, the historic Conway Scenic Railroad’s Notch Train on its cliff-hugging trestle, and a rich network of trails into the surrounding White Mountains. A deep, scenic canyon rich in history and natural drama, Crawford Notch is a treasured natural icon of New Hampshire.

Crawford Notch State Park offers hiking to its celebrated waterfalls — Arethusa Falls (the state’s tallest), Ripley Falls, and the roadside Silver and Flume Cascades — and on trails to Frankenstein Cliff and the surrounding high peaks of the Presidential Range, scenic driving along U.S. Route 302 through the dramatic notch, riding the Conway Scenic Railroad’s historic Notch Train (a cliff-hugging journey), camping in the park campground, and fishing the Saco River headwaters. Hiking to the waterfalls and Frankenstein Cliff, and riding the scenic railroad, are the signature draws of this dramatic canyon park.

Summer and fall are the main seasons — summer brings full water in the falls and lush hiking, while late September and early October bring spectacular White Mountain foliage that fills the notch with color (one of the most celebrated foliage corridors in the region). Spring brings the fullest, most dramatic waterfall flows. The Notch Train operates seasonally (check schedule). Fall for the foliage, spring for the rushing waterfalls, and summer for hiking are the highlights — come for the autumn color and start early to beat the traffic on Route 302.

Crawford Notch and the White Mountains are significant to the Abenaki people. The Crawford family — Ethan Allen Crawford, the ‘Giant of the Mountains,’ and his father Abel — were early innkeepers and trail blazers who opened the notch to tourism in the early 1800s, blazing the first path to Mount Washington’s summit. The cliff-hugging railroad (now the Conway Scenic Railroad’s Notch Train) was an engineering marvel when built. The Willey House disaster of 1826 — a family killed fleeing a landslide — made the notch famous nationwide. Crawford Notch preserves this dramatic pass, its waterfalls and its rich history, a treasured icon of New Hampshire.

Crawford Notch is a classic U-shaped glacial canyon — a deep notch carved by Ice Age glaciers flowing south through a weakness in the granite of the White Mountains, leaving sheer walls and the dramatic floor now occupied by the Saco River headwaters. The cliffs of Frankenstein and Webster are ancient White Mountain granite. Post-glacial streams carved the waterfalls — Arethusa Falls over a resistant ledge, the Silver and Flume Cascades in narrow chutes. The granite mountains, the glacial carving and the tumbling mountain streams created the waterfalls and dramatic cliffs of Crawford Notch.

Crawford Notch and its surrounding forests host moose (sometimes seen in the notch’s wetlands and streams), black bears, white-tailed deer, beavers, and a birdlife including peregrine falcons on the cliffs, boreal birds in the spruce-fir, and warblers and songbirds throughout. The Saco River headwaters hold brook trout. The range from valley floor to cliff top and high ridge supports varied White Mountain wildlife. The peregrine falcons on the cliffs and the moose in the wetlands are among the wildlife highlights of this scenic canyon park.

Crawford Notch protects a rich White Mountain canyon ecosystem — the forested slopes of spruce-fir and northern hardwoods rising to the high ridges, the Saco River headwaters, the moist gorges and waterfall glens with their mossy, fern-draped walls, and the dramatic granite cliffs supporting rare cliff plants and peregrine falcons. The notch concentrates many habitats in a spectacular landscape. The waterfall glens, the cliff communities and the high-ridge forests are sensitive. Protecting the forests, the waters, the gorges and the wildlife sustains both the ecology and the spectacular beauty of Crawford Notch.

Crawford Notch holds a treasured place among the icons of New Hampshire — a deep, spectacular mountain pass rich in White Mountain history, from the Crawford family trailblazers and the Willey House tragedy to the cliff-hugging railroad, Arethusa Falls and the celebrated foliage drive along Route 302. The notch embodies the drama and history of the White Mountains. Crawford Notch State Park is a cherished natural and historical icon of New Hampshire.

Crawford Notch State Park is in the White Mountains of north-central New Hampshire, threaded by U.S. Route 302 between Bartlett and the Crawford Notch summit (the height-of-land), about 30 minutes from North Conway and 45 minutes from Twin Mountain. The park has trailheads for Arethusa Falls, Ripley Falls, Frankenstein Cliff and other trails along Route 302, a campground, and roadside pull-offs for the Silver and Flume Cascades. The Conway Scenic Railroad’s Notch Train departs from North Conway. Check NH State Parks and the railroad for trail conditions, camping, train schedules and conditions before visiting.

NH State Parks and the White Mountain National Forest protect Crawford Notch and its surrounding terrain. Visitors help by staying on trails, not climbing on the waterfalls or gorge walls, respecting peregrine-falcon cliff closures, protecting the Saco River headwaters, packing out everything, and following Leave No Trace and fire rules in this popular notch. The waterfall glens, the cliff communities and the high-ridge forests are sensitive. Protecting the forests, the waters and the wildlife sustains the ecology and the beauty of Crawford Notch.

Crawford Notch is mountain terrain — trails range from short waterfall walks to strenuous cliff and ridge hikes (Frankenstein Cliff loop has exposed sections near steep edges; keep well back). Mountain weather changes fast; carry layers, water and food and check the forecast. The waterfall trails are rocky, steep and can be slippery. U.S. Route 302 through the notch carries fast traffic; use pull-offs and be visible. In winter, the notch sees heavy snow and ice. Respect the exposed ridge trails, the slippery waterfall approaches, the cliff edges and the mountain weather.

Day use of the trails and roadside cascades is free; the campground charges a fee (reservation recommended). Stay on trails; do not climb on waterfalls or cliff faces. Respect peregrine-falcon closures. Camp only in the designated campground. Pets must be leashed. Drones are restricted. Prevent wildfire; follow fire rules. Pack out all trash; follow Leave No Trace. Check NH State Parks for trail conditions, camping availability, falcon closures and rules before visiting.

North Conway and the Mount Washington Valley (with shopping, lodging and the Conway Scenic Railroad departure point) to the south, Mount Washington and the Presidential Range to the north, Bretton Woods and the cog railway, and the rest of the White Mountain National Forest lie around the notch. Crawford Notch is a dramatic gateway to the Presidential Range, a centerpiece of a White Mountains adventure, easily combined with Mount Washington, the cog railway, North Conway and the Kancamagus Highway.

Stop at the Silver and Flume Cascades along Route 302 for easy roadside waterfall views, then hike to Arethusa Falls (the state’s tallest) and loop over Frankenstein Cliff for sweeping notch views (and a look at the historic railroad trestle). Ride the Conway Scenic Railroad’s Notch Train for a dramatic perspective on the canyon. Come in fall for spectacular foliage, spring for the fullest waterfalls, and carry layers for the mountain weather. Start early on busy fall weekends, and combine your visit with Mount Washington and the cog railway.