Newry, Maine Attractions: Falls, Gorges and Mountain Views
The best things to do in Newry are outdoors, and most of them are free or close to it: Screw Auger Falls, Mother Walker Falls, Step Falls, Frenchman’s Hole, the Grafton Notch scenic drive and Sunday River itself. Newry is a small town with a big backyard. Nearly everything sits within a short drive of Bethel, which is where we are, and the list works for a six-year-old and a grandparent on the same afternoon.
We host group gatherings at Altitude 22, a six-bedroom retreat in Bethel, so we spend a lot of time helping families answer one question: what do we do with everyone? This guide is our answer, season by season.
Key Takeaways
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Newry’s signature sights are waterfalls and gorges, and several need only a short, easy walk. Screw Auger Falls and Mother Walker Falls are the easiest starting points.
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Grafton Notch State Park is the anchor for a day out: roadside lookouts, picnic areas and trails from gentle to demanding.
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Sunday River is not only a winter story. In fall you can ride the Chondola up North Peak for valley views.
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Plan around the seasons. Falls run fullest in spring, Step Falls thins out late in summer, and the park’s staffed season ends in mid-October.
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Bring water, sturdy shoes and patience for spotty cell service. Think of it as part of the ritual of unplugging.
Table of Contents
What are the main attractions in Newry, Maine?
The main attractions are four water features and one mountain. The University of Maine’s regional guide to Newry lists Frenchman’s Hole, Screw Auger Falls, Mother Walker Falls and Step Falls, and also points to Sunday River for mountain biking and year-round activities.
That is a good short list. It gives you a swimming hole, two gorge walks, a cascade you can wade in and a resort that changes character every season. Add the drive along Route 26 and you have a few days of unhurried discovery.
Here is how they compare at a glance.
| Attraction | What it is | Effort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screw Auger Falls | 23-foot waterfall and gorge in Grafton Notch State Park | Very short path | All ages, picnics |
| Mother Walker Falls | Gorge and falls along Route 26 | Short walk | All ages |
| Step Falls Preserve | Cascading pools on Wight Brook | Trail gets steep near the top | Wading, sunning, teens |
| Frenchman’s Hole | Waterfall and swimming hole on Bull Branch Stream | Access via Sunday River Road | Summer dips |
| Grafton Notch lookouts | Eyebrow and Table Rock views | Roadside to moderate | Fall color, photos |
| Sunday River | Ski resort, fall Chondola ride, mountain trails | Your choice | Every season |
Which Newry waterfall should you see first?
Start with Screw Auger Falls. It is the easiest, the most photogenic and the most forgiving for a group with mixed ages.
Screw Auger Falls drops on the Bear River inside Grafton Notch State Park. Maine Trail Finder describes a 23-foot waterfall with a well-defined 0.1-mile viewing path and guardrails, surrounded by cascades, potholes, shallow pools, grottoes and ledges. The same page notes picnic and swimming opportunities, and it also cautions visitors about wet rocks and drop-offs.
That caution is worth taking to heart in the way a good host would. Polished stone is slippery, and the kids will want to explore every pothole. Pick a spot, let the youngest ones stay close to a grown-up, and let the older kids roam within sight. The official byway guide recommends a picnic and short walks to Screw Auger Falls and Mother Walker Falls, both along Route 26 north of Sunday River. Pack sandwiches from town and make it lunch.
Two falls in one outing is a comfortable pace. Add a third stop and someone will start asking about snacks.
Where can you swim near Newry?
Two spots are known for it: Step Falls and Frenchman’s Hole. Both are natural swimming places, so think cold mountain water, not a heated pool.
Step Falls. The Mahoosuc Land Trust lists Step Falls Preserve in Newry, where Wight Brook forms pools suitable for wading, swimming and sunning. The trail becomes steep toward the top, so teens and adults will manage it more easily than toddlers. The official public lands guide places it half a mile southeast of Grafton Notch State Park on Route 26. Timing matters: the University of Maine guide notes that Step Falls mostly dries up later in summer. Go in late spring or early summer when the water runs strong.
Frenchman’s Hole. This is a waterfall and mountain swimming hole on Bull Branch Stream, reached via Sunday River Road according to the same state guide. It sits within the Mahoosuc public lands, so treat it as a wild place: follow posted guidance, respect private-land boundaries and leave it as you found it.
If you want a swim that is guaranteed warm and easy after a day of hiking, that is what the pool and hot tub at our retreat are for. Cold brook in the afternoon, warm soak in the evening. That is the balance we like.
What is there to do at Grafton Notch State Park?
Grafton Notch is the heart of Newry sightseeing. It is a Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands area on Route 26 near the New Hampshire border, about 14 miles north of Bethel. The state lists mountain and gorge sightseeing, backcountry hiking, waterfalls, fishing, hunting, birding, and in winter snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
For a family day, you can stay entirely on the easy side. The public lands guide says the area offers short walks to waterfalls and gorges as well as challenging backcountry hikes. So the choice is yours, and you can split the group: strollers and grandparents to the falls, the hikers up a ridge, everyone meeting for the picnic.
Lookouts and the scenic drive
If you want views without a hike, drive. Maine’s foliage guide for the region points to the Grafton Notch Scenic Byway, which begins in Newry just north of Sunday River and follows Route 26 toward Grafton Notch State Park and Lake Umbagog. The same guide highlights the Eyebrow and Table Rock lookouts, and the park has roadside turnouts and picnic areas with views of the Mahoosuc Mountains and the Presidential Range.
It is a drive best taken slowly. Let the youngest pick the next pull-off.
Practical details for the park
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Fees. The Bureau of Parks and Lands lists day use at $3 per Maine resident adult, $4 per nonresident adult and $1 per nonresident senior. Children ages 5 to 11 are $1 and under 5 are free. Cash works at entry booths and self-service stations, so carry some small bills.
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Hours and season. The state lists the main season as 9:00 a.m. to sunset daily from May 15 through October 15. Off-season visitors may still enter during the same hours, but facilities are closed. Check the park’s official page before you go.
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Water and signal. The public lands guide notes there is no potable water, and cell coverage is spotty to non-existent. Bring your own water and download directions beforehand.
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Footwear. The terrain is rugged in places, so sneakers with grip beat sandals.
Here is a nice way to see the signal gap: it gives your group a reason to look at each other for a few hours.
What is there to do at Sunday River in the fall?
Ride the Chondola. Sunday River’s own mountain is a fall destination too. According to the state foliage guide, you can ride the Chondola to North Peak for views of the valley and Mahoosuc Range, hike the mountain trails, enjoy a mountaintop picnic or hike back down.
The Maine Forest Service lists the typical peak foliage week for this part of the state as the second week of October. Peak shifts a little each year, so treat that as a pattern, not a promise. Operating schedules for lifts change, so confirm on the resort’s website before you plan a day around the ride.
A fall weekend at its best, for us, looks like this: a morning ride up for the view, a picnic, a drive through the notch in the afternoon, and then an evening that belongs to your group. Fire pits, a long dinner, maybe a round of karaoke in our lounge. Those are the rituals people tell us they remember.
What can you do around Newry in winter?
Ski, of course. Sunday River is the heart of Newry in winter, and many guests plan whole gatherings around it. Beyond the lifts, Grafton Notch offers snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and the state lists snowmobiling there too.
Snowmobilers can look at the popular ITS 82 route, which runs across the region from Andover to New Hampshire’s Trail 18.
Not everyone in a multigenerational group wants to ski all day, and that is fine. A good winter plan gives people options: some ski, some snowshoe a gentle trail, some stay in with a book or a movie. Our home theater, game rooms and kids’ gaming suite are there for exactly that hour when half the group wants to warm up. If you are choosing where to base a ski weekend, our guide to where large groups should stay near Sunday River walks through the questions worth asking.
Spring and summer in Newry
Spring is waterfall season. Snowmelt makes Screw Auger Falls and Step Falls their most dramatic, and the crowds are thin. Dress in layers and expect mud on the trails.
Summer brings swimming holes, picnics, birding and brook-trout fishing; the public lands guide lists fishing, birdwatching and wildlife viewing among the options around Grafton Notch. The University of Maine guide also lists Sunday River for mountain biking. Summer is when a group can spend the whole day outside and still have time for a pool afternoon.
For more trail ideas on the Bethel side, we keep a guide to scenic nature trails and waterfalls near Bethel, and a wider roundup of things to do in Bethel for rainy days and evenings in town.
A sample weekend for a multigenerational group
Here is a pace we like, because it gives every age something and leaves room to breathe. Adjust for the season.
Friday. Arrive, unpack, and settle in. Keep dinner simple. Let the kids find the game rooms while the adults claim a spot by the fire pit.
Saturday morning. Drive Route 26 into Grafton Notch. Walk to Screw Auger Falls first, then Mother Walker Falls. Picnic at a park picnic area.
Saturday afternoon. Split up. Teens and hikers try a longer trail or Step Falls (in the right season). Grandparents and little ones take the lookouts by car. Meet back for a soak.
Saturday evening. A shared dinner in the kitchen, then karaoke or a movie. Belonging is built in these hours.
Sunday. In fall, ride the Chondola for a farewell view. In winter, a last ski run. Then pack up slowly.
For dinner ideas, our list of breweries and restaurants in Bethel helps when no one wants to cook.
Stay close to all of it
Altitude 22 is a retreat in Bethel designed for large groups. We have six bedrooms that sleep up to 19, 5.5 bathrooms, a modern kitchen, a karaoke lounge, a pool, a hot tub, a barrel sauna, game rooms, a home theater, a kids’ gaming suite, fire pits and a large deck. We are close to Sunday River and the trails described above.
The idea is simple: spend the day out in Newry’s mountains and water, then come home to a place where everyone has room to gather. You can see the details and explore the Altitude 22 stay, or read why we created Altitude 22.
Stewardship tips for a good day out
These are small habits that keep the places we love welcoming for the next family.
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Know your group’s pace. The state guide asks visitors to know their limits and supervise children. Choose the walk that fits the slowest, happiest member.
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Stay on the trail. It protects the plants and keeps you safe near drop-offs and wet ledges.
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Respect private land. The official guide asks visitors to honor private-land restrictions around the public lands.
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Carry what you need. Water, snacks, a small first-aid kit and a paper map, since signal is unreliable.
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Leave it better. Pack out everything you pack in.
FAQ
What are the best things to do in Newry, Maine?
The top picks are Screw Auger Falls, Mother Walker Falls, Step Falls, Frenchman’s Hole, the Grafton Notch scenic drive and Sunday River. Start with the two short gorge walks along Route 26 if you are traveling with children or grandparents.
Is Grafton Notch State Park free?
No. The state lists a per-person day-use fee, including $4 for nonresident adults and $1 for children ages 5 to 11, with children under 5 free. Cash is the safest way to pay, and the current fee page is worth checking before you go.
Can you visit Newry’s waterfalls in late fall?
Yes, with care. Grafton Notch’s staffed season ends October 15, but visitors may still enter during daylight hours, and facilities are closed. Dress warmly, bring water and expect the self-service fee station.
How far is Newry from Bethel?
Newry is the next town up the road. Grafton Notch State Park is about 14 miles north of Bethel on Route 26, and Sunday River Road leads to Frenchman’s Hole and the resort.
Is there something for every age in Newry?
Yes. Short waterfall walks, scenic pull-offs and picnics suit young kids and grandparents, while backcountry trails, swimming holes and mountain biking give teens and adults more to chase.
Come gather with us
Newry gives you the waterfalls, the notch and the mountain. We give you a place to bring everyone back together at the end of the day. When you are ready to plan, book direct with Altitude 22 and we will help you shape the weekend. Together has never been this fun.
Sources
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Grafton and Mahoosuc Public Land Guide and Map, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
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Grafton Notch State Park, Maine State Parks and Public Lands
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