Glacial gorge, waterfalls, boardwalk, and optional caves

Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves

About 7 road miles west of Clark's Bears via NH-112

Follow Lost River through a protected glacial gorge on a one-mile boardwalk loop with waterfalls, overlooks, and optional boulder-cave challenges.

The place

About Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves

Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves occupies the ticketed gorge portion of the 157-acre Lost River Reservation in Kinsman Notch. The Forest Society purchased the property in 1912 and still owns it; White Mountains Attractions Association leases and operates the gorge experience.

The self-guided one-mile boardwalk loop follows waterfalls and immense granite blocks through the gorge. Most visitors spend 1.5-2 hours and climb more than 1,000 stairs. Every boulder cave can be bypassed, including the 16-inch-wide Lemon Squeezer, but the boardwalk itself has no halfway exit.

The visitor center and gift shop are accessible over gravel approaches, but the gorge loop is not suitable for wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, strollers, or visitors whose mobility makes sustained stairs unsafe. Sturdy closed-toe footwear and layered clothing are strongly recommended because Kinsman Notch can be roughly 10°F cooler than town.

Admission uses date-and-time reservations with limited hourly capacity. Walk-in entry is not guaranteed, missed arrival times are not guaranteed entry, and the attraction operates rain or shine with temporary closures for lightning. The separate half-mile Kinsman Notch Ecology Trail is free, but it is not the paid gorge boardwalk.

What stands out

Follow the hidden river

Watch the brook vanish beneath boulders, cascade through the steep glacial gorge, and reappear among waterfalls and pools.

Choose your cave challenge

Try named boulder caves when comfortable or stay on the bypass route and rejoin companions at each cave exit.

Climb to overlooks

Use the boardwalk, stairs, Valley Viewpoint, and Giant Bird Nest Overlook to see Kinsman Notch from changing elevations.

Read the conservation landscape

Connect the gorge to a reservation protected by the Forest Society since 1912 and operated under a conservation partnership.

Separate the free ecology trail

Recognize that the half-mile Kinsman Notch Ecology Trail begins from the same reservation but is distinct from the ticketed gorge loop.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in a White Mountain Central Railroad trip

Lost River Gorge is about 7 road miles west of Clark's Bears. It can make an active second stop, but its 1.5-2-hour loop, timed arrival, 1,000-plus stairs, and weather exposure require more margin than a casual roadside add-on.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • 2026 seasonMay 8-October 18; open days vary by date range
  • Timed admissionReserve a specific arrival time online; walk-ins and late arrivals are not guaranteed
  • Advance priceAges 4+ $24 in May, June, and September; $25 in July, August, and October
  • Walk-in priceAges 4+ $28 in May, June, and September; $29 in July, August, and October; subject to capacity
  • Young childrenAges 1-3 free; strollers are not permitted, and child carriers cannot enter the caves
  • RouteOne-mile self-guided loop, more than 1,000 stairs, no halfway exit, typically 1.5-2 hours
  • CavesEvery cave is optional and can be bypassed; the tightest published passage is 16 inches wide
  • AccessibilityVisitor center and gift shop are accessible over gravel; gorge boardwalk is not wheelchair accessible
  • WeatherOpen rain or shine; temporary lightning closures; Kinsman Notch is often cooler than town
  • DogsDogs are not allowed inside the paid gorge fee area

Return to the Clark's Bears train guide

Add White Mountain Central Railroad

Use the railway guide for exact 2026 operating dates, train times, park admission, locomotive periods, covered-bridge ride, and accessible boarding.

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Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

When is Lost River Gorge open in 2026?

The published season runs May 8-October 18. It is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays May 8-27 and September 1-23, and open daily in the other published date ranges.

How much does admission cost?

Online advance admission for ages 4+ is $24 in May, June, and September and $25 in July, August, and October. Walk-in pricing is $28 or $29 respectively and is subject to availability. Ages 1-3 are free.

How long and difficult is the gorge walk?

Most visitors spend 1.5-2 hours on the one-mile self-guided loop. It includes more than 1,000 stairs, is moderately strenuous for some visitors, and has no halfway exit.

Do I have to crawl through the caves?

No. Every boulder cave can be bypassed, and parties can meet again at each cave exit. The tightest named passage, Lemon Squeezer, uses a 16-inch gauge before entry.

Is the boardwalk wheelchair accessible?

No. The visitor center and gift shop are accessible over gravel approaches, but uneven terrain, stairs, and caves make the gorge loop unsuitable for wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, or mobility-impaired visitors.

Can I bring a stroller or child carrier?

Strollers are not allowed on the boardwalk. Front-facing infant carriers and backpack child carriers are allowed on the boardwalk but not inside the boulder caves.

What should I wear?

The attraction strongly recommends sturdy closed-toe walking or hiking footwear and layered outdoor clothing. Kinsman Notch is often about 10°F cooler than town.

What happens in bad weather?

The attraction operates rain or shine but closes temporarily when lightning is present. Check conditions and leave schedule margin before pairing it with a fixed train plan.

Are dogs allowed?

Dogs are not allowed in the paid gorge fee area. The Forest Society's rules for the broader reservation also restrict dogs, so do not plan to leave a pet trail-side.

How should I pair Lost River with the railroad?

The two are about 7 road miles apart. Protect both the timed gorge arrival and the railway schedule, and allow 1.5-2 hours plus driving and weather margin for Lost River.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-24. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.