Screw Auger Falls
Maine · 23-foot drop · Grafton Notch State Park · Last verified 2026-05-23
Flow at Screw Auger Falls is light today (42 cfs) — visit for the geology, not the volume. October averages 4.9" of precipitation here — expect high flow.
Right now
Streamflow
41.7 cfs
Ellis River at South · 38m ago
Today
59°F
Sunny
Tonight
38°F
Mostly Clear
Today's daylight
Sunrise 7:11 AM · Sunset 5:43 PM · 10h 33m
Snapshot built 7m ago. Sources: USGS · NWS GYX.
Screw Auger Falls is a 23-foot cascade through a sculpted basalt gorge on the Bear River in Grafton Notch State Park — one of Maine's most photographed roadside waterfalls. The 0.2-mile path is wheelchair accessible and the pools above and below the gorge are popular swimming holes, but the narrow chute itself has injured visitors who got swept in. Park is open seasonally May 15 to October 15.
The trail
0.2 miles each way, rated easy with 6 feet of elevation gain. Screw Auger Falls picnic area lot off ME-26, 14 mi north of Bethel.
Why the waterfall is there
Glacial meltwater carved the narrow gorge through Devonian-era granite, leaving smoothly polished walls and circular potholes.
- Rock type
- granite
- Formation age
- Devonian (sculpted in Pleistocene glaciation)
Source: Maine Geological Survey
Is the water flowing right now?
Most waterfall sites don't tell you this. The waterfall itself is almost never gauged, but a USGS streamgage in the same watershed can tell you whether snowmelt has started, peaked, or run dry.
USGS gage 01054300 · 8.4 mi away
Ellis River at South Andover, Maine
View live discharge data →
30-day streamflow
Near 30-day average↻ Same date last year: 108 cfs · 41% of last year — significantly drier
When to go (from the climate data, not our opinion)
Monthly averages from Open-Meteo's reanalysis dataset (2020–2024). Highlighted months are when we think the waterfall is at its best — but the numbers are the numbers regardless.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip (in) | Snow days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27 | 12 | 3.8 | 18.8 |
| Feb | 29 | 12 | 2.7 | 15.2 |
| Mar | 38 | 22 | 4 | 11.4 |
| Apr | 49 | 32 | 4.8 | 3.2 |
| May | 64 | 45 | 3.7 | 0.2 |
| JunBest | 72 | 55 | 4.9 | 0 |
| JulBest | 76 | 61 | 5.9 | 0 |
| AugBest | 74 | 59 | 4.4 | 0 |
| SepBest | 68 | 53 | 3.6 | 0 |
| OctBest | 57 | 43 | 4.9 | 0.8 |
| Nov | 44 | 30 | 3.6 | 5.6 |
| Dec | 34 | 20 | 5.6 | 14.6 |
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API · ERA5 reanalysis 2020–2024.
Compare to nearby falls
If this one isn't the right fit, here's how it stacks up against the closest documented falls. Every column is filterable on the site — not buried in 13,000 reviews.
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Trail | Dogs | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screw Auger Falls (this page) | — | 23 ft | easy · 0.2 mi | Y | $3 |
| Mother Walker Falls | 1 mi | — | — | — | — |
| The Cataracts | 5 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Dunn Falls | 6 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Ellis Falls | 11 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Silver Ripple Cascade | 11 mi | — | — | — | — |
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~23 ft)
- Cedar Cliff Falls23 ft
- Fawn's Leap23 ft
- Green Hole Falls23 ft
- Hobo Falls East23 ft
- Lanterman's Falls23 ft
Questions visitors ask about Screw Auger Falls
Answers built from our structured data. If a question isn't here, the fact is unverified — we'd rather omit than guess.
How tall is Screw Auger Falls?
Screw Auger Falls is 23 feet (7 m) tall. Height is sourced from Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.
Is Screw Auger Falls in a national or state park?
Yes — Screw Auger Falls is inside Grafton Notch State Park. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Screw Auger Falls?
Yes — dogs are allowed (Grafton Notch State Park permits leashed dogs in most areas). Always leash and pack out waste.
Is Screw Auger Falls wheelchair accessible?
Yes — Screw Auger Falls has a wheelchair-accessible viewing area with ADA parking. Conditions can change seasonally; verify with the land manager before driving.
Can you swim at Screw Auger Falls?
Screw Auger Falls has a swimmable area. Pools above and below the gorge cascade are popular swimming holes. The narrow gorge itself is dangerous — stay in the wider pools.
When is the best time to visit Screw Auger Falls?
Peak flow is typically June, July, August, September, October. Season-wise: summer, fall. Snowmelt and recent rain affect day-to-day volume.
Is there a fee to visit Screw Auger Falls?
Yes — entry costs around $3. Most Grafton Notch State Park entrances accept the America the Beautiful annual pass.
How far is Screw Auger Falls from a major city?
Screw Auger Falls is 13 miles from Bethel (about 18 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in Maine
Where it is
44.5717, -70.9014
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Official land manager
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/parks-lands
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafton_Notch_State_Park
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-05-23
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Marina and Theo verify pages one road trip at a time. If you've been to Screw Auger Falls recently, your local knowledge improves the page for everyone. Pick the kind of contribution that fits — every email lands in our inbox and gets read (and credited when we publish).
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