Screw Auger Falls
Grafton Notch, Maine · 1,057 ft
Typical peak
Oct 1 – Oct 9
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best under flat overcast
The Bear River drops through a polished granite slot only a few feet wide, with yellow birch and maple leaning in over the gorge walls. Flat overcast light keeps the wet rock from blowing out and buys you multi-second exposures.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
moderate
Often busier by mid-morning; consider arriving at first light.
Getting there
Signed paved lot directly on ME 26 in Grafton Notch State Park about 8 miles north of Newry, with a 100-yard walk to the gorge.
What turns here
- sugar maple
- yellow birch
- american beech
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 5Typical color progression for Screw Auger Falls. No change from Aug 28 to Sep 14. First color from Sep 14 to Sep 23. Approaching peak from Sep 23 to Oct 1. Peak from Oct 1 to Oct 9. Past peak from Oct 9 to Oct 19. Bare from Oct 19 to Nov 2.
Screw Auger Falls is typically at bare on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
Oct 17
6 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
56°F / 35°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Screw Auger Falls on October 5, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:17 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 96° | 6:46 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 39 min of low, warm light | 7:25 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:32 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 39 min before sunset | 5:39 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 264° | 6:17 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:46 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 32m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.