Grafton Notch State Park, State park in western Maine, United States.
Grafton Notch State Park is a natural area covering more than 3000 acres in western Maine with several mountain peaks, waterfalls including Screw Auger Falls, and dramatic rocky terrain. The Appalachian Trail passes through the park, guiding hikers through forests and over rock formations that define the landscape.
The valley served as a travel route for Native peoples long before the area received official protection as a state park in 1963. This designation marked the start of organized conservation efforts in the region.
The park functions as a place where visitors can experience and learn about local natural systems firsthand. Rangers offer regular programs about geology, wildlife, and conservation that help explain how the landscape formed and continues to change.
Multiple parking areas are located near trailheads, waterfalls, and picnic spots throughout the park for easy access to different attractions. Trails receive winter maintenance, which makes snow sports and winter hiking possible during colder months.
Exposed bedrock throughout the park dates back to the Devonian period more than 400 million years ago and reveals metamorphic rocks shaped by ancient glaciers. These geological features tell the story of deep time visible in the stone itself.
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