Grafton Notch · ME-26

Maine's notch, out and back: from Bethel the route follows ME-26 north through Newry and into Grafton Notch State Park, with Screw Auger Falls, Moose Cave and the Appalachian Trail lot under Old Speck a few steps from the road, and turns around in Upton, before ME-26 crosses into New Hampshire. It's 55 miles round trip. The park charges a day-use fee, services are in Bethel, and moose cross the road here, so don't ride it at night.

ME-26 is the Grafton Notch Scenic Byway, and it runs right through Grafton Notch State Park, between the Mahoosuc Range and Old Speck, which rises 4,180 feet. The park's falls are steps from the road: Screw Auger Falls drops about 23 feet into a narrow gorge on the Bear River, Mother Walker Falls is a little farther north, and Moose Cave is a deep, narrow gorge reached by a short loop trail. The rock around the falls is polished and slick even when it looks dry, so stay back from the edge.

At the top of the notch, the Appalachian Trail lot sits under Old Speck; the stretch of the trail through the Mahoosucs is known as one of the hardest on the whole route. The park charges a day-use fee. Past the notch the route continues to Upton and turns around there, because farther west ME-26 crosses into New Hampshire at Errol. It's an out-and-back from Bethel, where the services are, and moose cross this road, so don't ride it at night.