This was sooo much fun! We spent almost 2 hours here and loved reading the educational facts along the boardwalk and exploring the caves! There were so many beautiful areas along the boardwalk. The lemon squeezer and dungeon were the most difficult but also the most fun! We got a bit muddy and wet but that's all part of the adventure! We also loved the huge birds nest at the end and got a huge laugh out of pretending to be baby birds. I would definitely come back here again! read more

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Stumbled across Lost River when planning a trip to NH to see the fall foliage. I absolutely love the Flume Gorge trail & this one wasnt too far away. I had heard there were gorges & caves to explore different from other trails nearby along with beautiful pines and waterfalls. It exceeded all my expectations! It says this is a 1 mile loop hike but be prepared- I walk a 5k daily & this trail kicked my butt in a good way. It was moderately challenging- I went in the rain so it was a bit cooler too. The best advice I could offer is to take a backpack with snacks, another jacket just in case (although i layered up), pack rain pants to help keep me warm in the rain, and shoes with good traction. And plenty of water. Beanies may also be a good option to keep your head warm from the cold. And a portable battery. Also, if you haven't traveled with a car like me..then the Shuttle Connection is a life saver to travel in town. Way cheaper than Uber and fairly quick to transport you wherever you want to go. Also for travelers go back and forth to other states travel by bus is the perfect and most affordable way to travel. This trail offered amazing views, great photo ops, and plenty of additional trails to explore. They also make sure to keep everything maintained and safe for hikers exploring. Everything is well labeled and easy to follow. They do say and I can attest- travelers who have difficulty walking or have walkers etc..this may not be an ideal trail. Also, for younger children this may not be an kdela hike because of how extensive the elevation is. You are climbing a mountain and waterfall elevation. Make sure to look up details on their trail before you plan a trip. But well worth the hike :) read more

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Our family loved the gorge and caves. We've been to NH a few times, but our kids are on the younger side so this was a first for us. The boardwalk is not only a great help to get through the gorge, its craftsmanship is amazing. The hand railings are rounded and smooth, and we were even able to chat with one of the carpenters on our visit as he installed a new section of boardwalk. The caves themselves are not really caves in the traditional sense, rather the negative space between boulders and the earth & other boulders. That didn't detract from their awesomeness as it's amazing to think that these giant boulders were moved by ice. We spent about 2 hours going through the caves and doing the extra loop through the suspension bridge. My boys tried a few caves more than once and even made it through the Lemon Squeeze! The main building looks newer, is very clean and comfortable. There isn't somewhere to sit in the shade, but we weren't there long enough to really miss that's however, if you brought a lunch or had someone in your party who needed to wait this one out, there are some picnic tables surrounding the main building. read more

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I read that this place has 1,000 stairs. I believe it. LUCKILY, there were not all on one spot and kind of separated throughout the trail. I did some of my caves but my husband did all of them. I like that they have an option to do them or bypass them. I don't have kids but this would be a WONDERFUL place tire kids out. This place was very comparable to Polar Caves (which we did right after) and this place was much better. If you could pick between the two, do Lost River. It's cheaper, larger attraction as a whole and a lot better. They also had a rather large gift shop with lots of items as well as restrooms. read more

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We come every summer and walk the Lost River. We make a 930 appointment. Just before the crowd comes. There's caves you go into. Bring knee pads. read more

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Very scenic and easy path. You do not have to go into the caves - you can walk around them. Perfect place for adventurous boys and girls ages 8-28! You need to be able to climb lots of stairs - but there is a cave pretty much every flight so lots of opportunities to stop and take photos and rest if needed. Not wheelchair or ADA accessible from what I could see. read more

Such a fun time! This would be a great place to take the kids. My wife and I are older and the kids are grown up and we had the best time on our own as well. read more

This was a great adventure for our family of 8, ages 4 to 60+ and we all did it!!! Lost River is absolutely beautiful!! I don't understand how I never made a point to visit before? This is quite a walk and going down was pretty easy (I've read somewhere it's 1,000 steps and I'm not sure if that's one way or not!), but dang coming back up all those steps was a killer!! I stayed on the main paths, but everyone else went through all the caves....even our 4 year old loved it!! After we were done we all got an ice cream treat from the gift shop and the 2 older kids wanted to buy a bag of sand to 'mine' for rocks and crystals, they both really enjoyed it and liked looking at the enclosed pamphlet that described and named the different treasures they found. I would definitely recommend this hike for families, personally I don't think my heart could do it again!! read more

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What a cool place! There's something for everyone, as long as you are able to walk a lot of stairs. We visited on a rainy day. Plus: the river and falls were flowing. Minus: two cave were closed due to flooding. Plus: we practically had the place to ourselves! The paths are well maintained. The descriptions are written in a clever way, and we enjoyed reading them. Not all the caves worked for our aging, stiff bodies, but it was fun to see kids squeezing through. We were so glad we visited. It was totally worth the experience. read more

For this Florida girl, exploring Lost River Gorge while visiting New Hampshire was a treat for the senses! As we remain in the COVID-19 pandemic, we are preferring outdoor activities when compared with indoor activities. At Lost River Gorge, they ask that you wear a mask/face covering when indoors (gift shop, restrooms, etc.) and adhere to social distancing. These precautions definitely don't dampen the experience in any way and still lends for a wonderful adventure. Visiting in the Fall, we saw BEAUTIFUL Fall foliage, smelled (even through the face masks we wore) the crisp Autumn air and felt a slight chill in the air - all of which enhanced our experience. It took us about an hour and a half to go through the entire trail (opting out of exploring some of the caves and caverns as I do not like small, confined spaces) - including stopping to enjoy the atmosphere and take pictures. I really liked the fact that you can still enjoy the entire trail without having to go into each and every nook and cranny and that you could still ready about the caves and caverns without venturing inside them. Also, it's a pretty easy "hike" as you remain on a wooden boardwalk for the duration of the trail, but there are a lot of steps (going both down and up), so take note if you have any mobility issues. If we have the opportunity to visit New Hampshire again, we definitely plan to return to explore Lost River Gorge! read more

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Ok as Indian i did not found it wow, trust me, we have this type of attraction everywhere and this is our part of life. What I really liked is they preserved and maintained it so beautifully otherwise it is nothing, just drift of water in rocks... but..but..they build wooden trails around it, have 5-10 feet caves at various places. The Wooden bridge, so that is fun... you should visit this when you are around... It is something 2 hr visit. rs learn about great local businesses. Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees. read more

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Awesome place to bring the kids. There is A LOT more to see than we ever expected. Staff was friendly. No pressure, go at your own pace kind of deal. Was fun. read more

Absolutely beautiful and worth the drive The caves are fun to go into and the scenery is breathtaking read more

Lost River Gorge - Parks Near Me - North Woodstock, New Hampshire

Fabulous hike through boulders and caves, great for all ages, a bit strenuous, but with plenty of rest spots. Walkways are in great condition (you are on wooden walkways & stairs the entire hike) and the views and sights are unspoiled in their natural beauty. Great gift shop with rocks & gemstones, stuffed friends & shirts. Nice clean bathrooms before the hike are a must. A water bottle & bug spray are a great idea. Kids of all ages will love it. Waterfalls and vernal pools stunning. read more

We enjoyed it so much. My husband, who never understood why I like caves so much, finally realized how much fun it is to climb caves. He even crawled through some difficult caves. After the caves, he even suggested to do the Polar caves. Though the Polar caves gave us disappointment in the end due to the confusion about the routes. My 4 years old and my 8 years old now love climbing caves as well. They didn't make fun of me whenever I suggest to go to see caves anymore. read more

We were iffy about coming here, because the price is a bit steep for a family of 4. But we bit the bullet, and took our 7 year old twins here. And just... Wow. I lack the words to describe just how beautiful and interesting this place is! The boardwalk / stairs trail is a one way loop, and there are several optional areas to explore or bypass. Word to the wise, don't bypass the overlooks! And the caves were a blast to explore! I would highly recommend wearing closed toe shoes and long pants, even in summer. Otherwise you might scratch your legs up a bit in some of the more challenging caves. The caves are incredibly interesting, and each one of different. Some require squeezing through some tight spaces / crawling / scooting on your booty. The kids handled these with ease. And my slightly rotund mom bod managed to Winnie the Pooh squeeze through all except one. If I can do it, you probably can too! Wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty, though. Those who are less adventurous about the caves or unable to explore them will still have plenty of amazing things to look at, so fear not if the other members of your party are spelunking and you're benched! You'll get get extra time to take in all the scenery. They have provided hand sanitizer at regular intervals, and the social distancing wasn't a problem, even at a busy time. They stagger out entry times to assure as much, and we really appreciated that. If you're wondering if you should splurge on this place... do it! My kids will never forget this adventure, and you won't either! read more

Lost River Gorge - Parks Near Me - North Woodstock, New Hampshire

Great please to visit. Don't forget to get your tickets online to be safe in this post COVID-19 world. I was bummed that flume gorge tickets were sold out online and then we went to lost river gorge and got the tickets ahead of time online and glad it worked out because this place was a lot less crowded and more peaceful. read more

Lost River Gorge - Great photo ops. - Parks Near Me - North Woodstock, New Hampshire

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Very few places have so seamlessly blended the powerful rawness of nature with the safeguard you need to explore it with ease and peace of mind. This place has found that perfect balance and it is truly an amazing wonder world! The well-maintained boardwalk guides you through rapid creeks, cascading waterfalls, several beautiful viewing points overlooking the White Mountains, and most of all, the incredible caves. The caves came in handy on the day we visited as an unexpected downpour took place half way through. We ran towards the closest cave and huddled with a dozen people for about 40 minutes until the rain subsided. The boardwalk, and certainly the rocks, were slippery and wet afterwards, but it didn't stop my young children from continuing to explore the caves. For those of us who are not 3-feet tall, getting through the Lemon Squeezer and the Dungeon required being completely on our elbows, knees and even stomach. But with rushing rapids and under-cave waterfalls just inches away, the experience was well worth the scraped-up knees. There are lanterns and stairs inside the caves. Every turn of the trail leads to a breathtaking view. At the end of the trail, several sets of stairs take you to the high point where a panoramic view of the White Mountains opens up. This is an experience not to be missed! read more

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Came here over the past weekend. I love how it's kids friendly. The hike is actually all stairways. There's stops along the way for resting or capturing the perfect moments. I like how there's a bunch of mini caves, some are easy while others are harder to go through. The caves aren't for all types of people. Some caves are very narrow and tight so be wary. Nevertheless the scenery was perfect at the top. read more

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This is the place you bring your kids and friends and family from out of town who don't hike to experience the granite state. I tried it because having grown up in NH I've never heard of it, it opened in 2014 if I remember correctly and the was a Groupon on line. We spent a good hour or more wondering the the gorge with hidden areas to explore and take in the views. There were a lot of interesting facts and places kids can climb in and out of that I as an adult decided was not for me. When my son was young I'd in the mountains on vacation he would have loved this place. I loved it. read more

Remember when you were a kid and you used to built forts with pillows and blankets? Afterwards you would climb through them exploring or just hanging out under the canopy of what you had created? Well Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves is kind of like that. Kind of. Only without the safety of softness from duvets and with the threat of ancient rocks falling in around you. But it makes for an incredible adventure! I came here a few years back with my then boyfriend; it was a Sunday and overcast/drizzly. Because of that, there were few people exploring the area and we ended up only running into a handful of other people - specifically two German men who were too tall to go into some of the caves but had a grand ol' time watching little me squirrel in and out of the spaces they couldn't go. That's the thing about this place, though: you WILL end up waiting in front of or behind certain groups of people for your entire time here. So become friendly with them because essentially they become part of your experience. Also, you should know, it's impossible not to get dirty here - unless you're just observing and not enjoying it hands-on. You are literally going into caves and closed rock formations - some of which you will need to lay prone and slide through on your belly. Claustrophobes beware! Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves is open May to October, about a mile walk, includes over 1000 stairs, and has some deep descending/ascending areas - so wear appropriate shoes! It's currently $20 per adult - which if you ask me is also darn steep - and, as others have mentioned, they do close certain caves depending on what the weather has been/is currently, but it's gorgeous and nature at it's most mystical and magical, so worth it for sure! read more

Don't go if it has been raining, even if it is sunny that day, I'd say ANY rain (especially a day to a few days of it before your planned trip) will ruin much that the gorge and caves have to offer. Better yet, call ahead and demand they let you know what caves are open. Once we handed over our $14 (seems it might have been a discount due to 6 out of 11 caves being closed) we were then told that the majority of the caves were closed due to water and flooding. This is not a grueling dark and scary hike. The boardwalks are well marked and you are not scaling rocks or anything. Some of the caves are a bit of a squeeze. The gorge and the water flowing throughout it are all pretty and clear. Children won't have trouble on the boardwalks and there really isn't any fear of them wandering off or getting into an area they shouldn't be in. There are also some free trails just off of the parking lot, but beware the Dilly Cliff is nothing to mess with, practically vertical at points, with water flowing onto the rocks making scaling almost impossible towards the top. read more

Lost River Gorge - Fenris the wolf - Parks Near Me - North Woodstock, New Hampshire

I visited here this summer on the family trip North. Prior to this visit I hadn't been to the Lost River since I was little, however that did not stop my claustrophobic self from thinking of the lemon squeeze as we drove there. It's such a beautiful place to go, and I like that you can go through some tunnels and caves, but it's totally optional. I also like that they rank them for difficulty, which means folks like me can skip out on anything that's too restricting I can just skip. I had actually gone planning to skip it all, but was able to slightly get over my fear, just slightly though. The downside to this place is that it's a bit overpriced when you add it up for a bit group, and the walk around isn't that long. Perfect length for my 3 year old nephew, not as good for those of us a bit older who wanted a bit more. That said, just plan to make a day of it, grab some lunch and eat it waterside at the Kancamagus before or after your trip! read more

Lost River Gorge - Parks Near Me - North Woodstock, New Hampshire

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I am a 6 foot 6, 240 pound man and I made it through every cave except Lemon Squeezer. And I had a great time. The hike itself is not physically intense (a mile long, with 300 feet of elevation loss). And the caves are offshoots from the trail, so you can skip any that don't strike your fancy. But as cool as the gorge is, the caves are way more fun. The pinprick openings from the trail into the caves require an unattractive combination of twisting, contorting, slithering and grunting, and are definitely not for the claustrophobic or people who don't like getting dirty. But it's an adventure and we loved it. Like an all-ages natural jungle gym. I recommend wearing long pants (I wore shorts and lost some skin on my knees) and checking Groupon for discounts. read more

Came here on an off-season date when the gorge had just opened. Our experience was somewhat hindered by the endless rain and the unmelted ice in the caves that weekend, which meant most of the caves were flooded and closed for safety reasons. We still had fun, we got in the gorge at a reduced price, took a copy of the mini map and embarked on our gorge adventure. The path is well paved, there are a lot of steps to climb up and down, the 'hike' is rather light, the views are misty with the rain, there are a lot information about the gorges to learn and ponder. I would suggest taking the time thoroughly at each spot to get most of it, since walking the straight path is a rather short hike. We did get a taste of two of the caves by squeezing ourselves into impossibly proportions to crawl through and meeting a tiny garden snake in the other one. Will definitely be back again when the gorge is fully opened, the lantern tours sounds really fun! read more

Lost River Gorge - Parks Near Me - North Woodstock, New Hampshire

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This place definitely deserves 5 stars. It's unique and refreshing fun for the whole family. Went on a sunny, clear and dry day. Had a fantastic experience taking in the lush scenery NH has to offer. Amazing views throughout the self guided 1.3 mile journey. The place is clean, well mapped out and not overwhelming. I don't know if it's a place I'd visit during my yearly trip to NH due to not having many caves but I'd definitely go back ever so often especially if they keep adding to the experience. The kids were at constant attention exploring and were entertained throughout the whole experience. Some recommend wearing pants for this adventure but I did just fine with shorts. I would recommend comfortable sneakers for the hike as well as some pre-planned frozen water bottles to keep cool. There are some caves that are very refreshing w cool air and the lost river crossing in and out of your path but nowhere to get wet to cool off. read more

Lost River Gorge - Parks Near Me - North Woodstock, New Hampshire

Good family fun. Great views, well maintained, and super friendly staff. If you bring a small child you have to be okay to carry them, or patient enough to hold up groups of people. Not a lot of opportunities to pass or be passed. read more

Lost River Gorge - One of the many beautiful spots on the walk. - Parks Near Me - North Woodstock, New Hampshire

This was probably one of my favorite things I have ever done! Beautiful scenery and my family had the best time crawling around in the caves exploring! My 3 year old was so excited to crawl through each cave, there were only a few we skipped. Unlike any other place I've ever been, this was a very special outing! read more

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What an awesome treasure this place is, I'm glad someone found it!! Beautiful walkways through hidden caves and breathtaking mountain views. This place is a natural wonder for the whole family and people of all ages. Scenic trails and beautiful water falls dot the way through the mountainside of adventure. Those willing and NOT clostaphobic can squeeze their way through caverns and caves with hidden waterfalls. We had a blast!! Highly recommended well worth the 21.00 admission. read more

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This place was fun beautiful and adventurous. It was worth every penny and a great day out.

We had a fantastic time walking this well-maintained hike. Our teens had a great time too. The caves were a lot of fun and the views were terrific. The Flume was great too but the caves here made it more interactive, and overall we preferred this a little, but I would highly recommend doing both. We got some great pictures to remember this worthwhile experience. read more

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This was by far the best experience of our trip so far. It is strenuous and some of the caves require work (all caves have opt-out paths) but it is all worth it. It took us 1 hr 40 min with stopping for hundreds of picts and a small lunch along the way. I am afraid of heights and small spaces but this is doable. It closes at 5 but the last time to start is 4pm. If you stay at any motels nearby they have discount tickets. This was less touristy and crowded than Franconia Notch. A must do!! read more

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Two of my favorite things to do when I was a kid were look for treasure and see if I could fit in small places. Lost River combines both of these somewhat strange passions. This is a great place to visit with your family. It is so much fun to explore the caves. The narrowest area (the lemon squeeze) has a little structure out front which, if you can squeeze your body through, you can make it through the crevice within the rocks. If you don't want to get dirty or risk getting stuck and needing Ranger Rick come to save you, there are routes around the caves. You won't be missing out on much, the scenery and informational signs will keep you occupied. Back at the gift shop, you can buy bags of dirt and rocks to clean at the sluice. They contain gemstones, nothing very rare, but I LOVE treasure hunting. read more

If you have kids, go to the gorge. If you're looking for a challenge, and are wondering about those trails you can enter from the parking lot, this review's about the Dilly Cliff Trail. It is for "experienced hikers only" as the sign claims. We don't have much hiking experience but if your in good athletic shape you are fine. Basically you're climbing up over exposed tree roots and large rocks in order to get to an observation point. The trail is clearly marked in blue paint. The climb was pretty steep at times and some rocks are slippery. Definitely need to be wearing sneakers/hiking shoes and comfortable clothing. Bringing water is a good idea. The hike up took about 45 minutes, and had some confusion as to where the observation point was. We finally found it and it was a little anticlimactic - this is why we couldn't give it 5 stars. Need to be careful on the way down, stay focused as there is potential for some falls. Bottom line: This was a good find in an otherwise family oriented attraction and its free. The site was not busy midweek, midday, midsummer. read more

Wow. This place is so cool. The staircases and boardwalks throughout the site are amazing. It's a beautiful site and not far off of highway 93 when coming down from the White Mountains. Leave the bag in the car and exchange your flip flops for some sturdy shoes. You will be crawling and climbing in tiny cave openings, underneath giant boulders... in the dark. I didn't do the lemon squeeze but my bf did. He's a tall but slim guy (about 6'1" maybe) and when he fit through the "test" he went in long ways... it was crazy. At one point, I was definitely doing a shimmy through on my stomach. The lanterns don't really give you as much light as they just give you markers to lead you. I'm not incredibly outdoorsy but each little excursion was pretty exciting and cool. $14 each adult and you can spend as much time as you want there. I recommend this as a cool, stop-on-the-way when returning from NH/VT. read more

Four if us went to the night tour with tickets we won on Whitemountaintv.com. it was fun and entertaining. Steve was our quid and he was informative. Only Jen made it through every cave. It was a lot of walking and quite the work out. A different way of seeing the gorge. They also gave us free next day passes to come back. read more

The hubby and I visited Lost River Gorge on a rainy day. Because it was so rainy outside there was one other family in the park other than us, and they had crazy teenagers so they quickly got ahead of us, leaving us alone in this beautiful place. In the silence, all that could be heard was our footsteps, singing birds, and the raging waterfalls all around us. It was very peaceful and beautiful. Lots of staircases loop around boulders and trees and waterfalls. In a strange way reminded me of something you might see in Harry Potter's world. You ascend and descend a lot of stairs on this trip, so if you have bad knees or get winded easily this might be a bit of a challenge, but most people in decent health/shape should be fine. There are plenty of resting spots and places to stop and soak in the sights. In addition to the staircases, there are a bunch of caves to crawl through. I was a little bit apprehensive about this cave thing as I am pretty claustrophobic. I tried some of the easy ones, ignoring the irrational voice in my head that kept telling me the rocks were going to collapse on me and crush me to death. Despite my irrational fears and general craziness, it was pretty cool inside some of them which were lit by laterns and required some weaving and bobbing to get out of. I left the more challenging ones to the hubby to do without me, as you can bypass them entirely if you want to. Those of you out there who are claustrophobic like me and are wondering if this place is worth your time and money, it is. The setting is magnificent and beautiful and you can fully bypass all of the caves while still enjoying the sights. This place gets 1 star removed however because due to the rain a significant number of the caves were blocked off that day due to flooding. Not like one or two, but about half of them. While I realize this is out of the control of the staff and is for the safety of the visitors, we also didn't get any notification of this when we were buying our tickets. And we paid quite a bit for our tickets (like $16 a piece). Had we come here with the express purpose of playing in the caves we would have been extremely disappointed. read more

Drove out here yesterday all the way from Provincetown, MA with a friend! The 3.5 hour drive was tough - but it was worth every second! As we were nearing the gorge, a little rain started to fall, so I called to make sure they would stay open during the rain to which they responded they would indeed. There is a ticketing end-time so make sure you arrive with plenty of time to explore the gorge before the close at 5pm! At a very steady/quick pace, my friend and I were able to see every section in just about 1.5 hours. The long paths and staircases into the gorge give you a great workout as you breathe in the wonderful fresh air of the mountain; the ferns and pines were abundant and aromatic. Wildlife such as chipmunks, squirrels and beautiful birds were chirping and scurrying about throughout the gorge. The views of cascading waterfalls, glacial carvings, and the intense root structure of trees will overload your senses. We climbed up, down, left, right, and sometimes diagonal through the amazing caves (some of which were lit with lanterns). Many times I was nervous the few extra pounds I had put on would not allow me to make it through some of the tight passages, but I pulled through (sometimes literally - I was PULLED through, haha). The only cave that I could not complete was the lemon-squeeze which in a very smart manner has some bars to test your body shape on before you attempt it... for good reason! The staff were all very friendly and accommodating and gave advice to the best spots to check out. I was glad to see that they had periodically placed first aid kits and rescue rafts in case someone were ever to be injured. I can not wait to go back! Highly recommend!! read more

Great place for a day trip for kids in the summer. Not only can you climb around the wilderness and rocks and river for a long time...but you can also do mining! I loved that stuff when I was a kid, always dreamed of striking it rich! The prices can get a little steep if you have a lot of people going...2007 rates were: Adults: $12.00 Ages 4-12: $8.00 Ages 4-12 with Mining Sluice (Gemstones): $12.00 Ages 3, 2 & 1 are FREE read more

My wife and I enjoy finding fun, out of the way places to spend our vacations. This was a gem of the places we visited this trip to the Portland, Maine area this time. It's a short drive from where her college class reunion was, and a great offset to the coast culture we enjoyed for half our stay. This is a river gorge, which has many geological formations, glacial erratics and fallen rocks which form caves, of sorts, along the river. The area was once affected by glaciers and their voluminous runoffs, but is now a peaceful valley with a wonderfully crafted boardwalk along the length, both above and within the cut. No, it's not spelunking the way we've enjoyed in the past, with deep, dark, dusty caverns, but rather a very well maintained access to some of the fascination one would find in other caves. This is a great place for those with small children, or even those who are more experienced in their bodies and capabilities. Some caves are very narrow and hard to get through while others are just challenging enough to give the feel of climbing below ground. All are on boardwalks so once you're done with the adventure, you can go straight to a nice dinner. No dusty pants (or shirts, front and back, like I'm used to), and a lot of great information on what you are seeing to fill your head as well. read more