Attractions

by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

Lost River. The name conjures up images of an adrenaline-pumping, breath-holding Disneyesque ride. And in a way, it is. But Lost River is no theme park; it is a natural gorge that was carved ten thousand years ago by a glacier that covered this area of New Hampshire. As it receded, the glacier blocked drainage through Lost River Valley, creating a chasm at least 50 feet deep.

Wooden boardwalks, stairways, and bridges scramble over boulders and torrents of falling water on the way to the bottom of the gorge

The melting water carried sand and small stones, acting like a giant sandblaster, carving and smoothing the sides of the gorge. Over the eons, the smooth rock walls lining the gorge fractured from the cycle of winter freezes and spring thaws. Huge chunks of the rock broke off along joint lines and fell haphazardly into the gorge, creating a series of “caves.”

Waterfall inside a boulder-strewn cave

Fast forward ten thousand years and step out with me onto the network of wooden stairways and boardwalks that hug the steep-walled gorge and snake through lantern-lit boulder caves. As I descended into the stony labyrinth I mentally fitted enormous chunks of granite littering the path into holes in the canyon wall above, piecing together a giant jigsaw puzzle. Soon, I encountered my first cave: behemoth fallen boulders balanced against one another, with razor thin gaps between the rocks providing access to the dark, dank interior. Some caves could be entered by ducking under a boulder; others required crawling on hands and knees or slithering on my belly. In between caves the boardwalk led past frigid waterfalls, giant whirlpools, and unique formations resembling a guillotine, a wolf’s head, and a variety of ships.

For six hours, I hiked, climbed, crawled, and squeezed through ten caves with names like the “Dungeon” and “Lemon Squeezer,” but this attraction is not just for adventurous souls. The hike is as easy or as challenging as visitors choose to make it, since there are bypasses around each cave. But whether you opt for the full adventure or skirt around the more difficult caverns, this ancient gorge is a spectacular journey through time. And once you’ve been there, you’ll understand why they call it the Lost River.

Rushing river roars over a granite lip to the canyon floor

Located in North Woodstock in north central New Hampshire, Lost River Gorge is open daily May 6th to October 25th (weather permitting). Admission is $14 for adults an $10 for children ages 4-12 under 4 free).

Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel