Exploring new and exciting places is always something I strive for when going on a trip. I am not one of those travelers that ‘follows the travel guide’ that much at all. I tend to go on a few detours along the way and much to my surprise, it usually ends up with something new and exciting to visit. And, that is what I found when I visited The Flume Gorge in New Hampshire!
About 25 years ago, I visited part of The Flume Gorge with my 3 young boys. At that time, I was so frantic about keeping them safe, not falling off the cliff, bumping their head and a ride to the emergency room that I really didn’t get to appreciate the sheer beauty of this place. Plus, I usually didn’t get to finish the trek up The Flume because one of my three boys would usually complain about having to walk so far that it resulted in us having to go backwards, which really didn’t sit well with others along the way.
This time was different: no kids, no worries, no bad weather – just my hubby and me out for a walk in one of Mother Nature’s finest places.
Before I tell you about our experience, I want to tell you what exactly is The Flume Gorge It is not an amusement park ride but it is a ‘ride of your life’ that’s for sure!
The Flume Gorge is a natural gorge that extends 800 feet at the bottom of Mount Liberty in New Hampshire. The granite rises to a height of approximately 90 feet and at times only 20 feet wide.
The entrance to The Flume Gorge starts at the Visitor Center where tickets can be purchased. There are two ways to see The Flume Gorge either by walking through the Gorge or doing the two-mile loop. There are lots of stairs and uphill climbing so be prepared for a good amount of exercise. Plus, a spectacular view of Mother Nature’s work right at the tip of your fingers.
Now, not being a native to New England with its wealth of beauty, my husband was in total awe of this spectacular sight. He’s from ‘down south’ in good ol’ Texas where seeing something like The Flume Gorge is pretty close to nil (though Texas does have its own wondrous sights).
The twisty path leading up to The Flume Gorge was an experience as we huffed and puffed our way up.
Seeing the sheer expanse of the gorge literally, took my breath away. Were we ready for this? Well, if we weren’t, it was too late!
Along the way up the gorge, green ferns and rich dense moss sprouted up between the rocks. Trickles of water glistened the granite while sparkles of marcasite gleamed. It seemed that every other minute I was snapping away pictures to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
We read every plaque about the gorge, not wanting
to miss anything. I was more than fascinated about how The Flume Gorge was discovered and wanted to share a bit of that to my readers. Back in the year 1808, Jess Guernsey went fishing for the day. Along the way to find a beautiful spot to drop her hook she discovered The Flume Gorge. She persuaded her family to come with
her to see this beautiful sight.
At that time, there was a very large egg-shaped boulder that hung between the walls of the flume. The boulder measured approximately 10 feet high and 12 feet wide. Unfortunately due to a rainstorm in June of 1883, the storm washed away the boulder, never to be found to this day.
Pretty amazing!
We did make it to the top, not without a few stops along the way. It was every-thing that I expected and then some! The sheer beauty was more than I could imagine. With a whisper of the wind, leaves gently fell to the ground as I captured one last picture of what laid before me.
My husband was delighted that he traveled the expanse and witnessed Mother Nature at her best.
As we made our way down the winding roads of the gorge, I was much more relaxed than I was 25 years ago. I didn’t have to worry about one of my children running off the edge of the cliff, (well, maybe my husband… a little)! Or, getting lost in the dense forest. Or, deciding that they didn’t want to make their way to the top!
Instead, I could just let my imagination drift away and wonder how this gorge all came about millions and millions of years ago.
The Flume Gorge is located in Lincoln, New Hampshire and is right off of Route 3 so it is very easy to find. Even I found it and I am directionally challenged! It is maintained by the Department of State Parks and Recreation in New Hampshire and is open in late spring, around May 9th until early autumn, around October 26th, weather permitting. There is an admission charge of $15 for adults, children (6-12) $12 and children under 5 are free.
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LINDA EAGLESON is at
heart an essayist, exploring the world around her and her feelings about it for most of her life. She lives a simple life and finds joy in simple things like a comfortable chair or an unexpected explosion of dandelion blossoms. She loves the outdoors and enjoys bringing her experiences to her readers.
Linda’s works have appeared in the Westerly Sun and in the pages of Rhode Island Roads, Jaunting, and Northeast Traveler. She has also presented her work at poetry slams and open readings across the state of Rhode Island.
