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Grafton Notch — Gaps 15.2 Miles NNW of Chapman Inn
Oxford County, Maine · USGS Old Speck Mountain Quadrangle · GNIS 567019
Catalogued on the USGS Old Speck Mountain quadrangle in Oxford County, Maine, Grafton Notch — a mountain gap — lies 15.2 miles north-northwest of Chapman Inn.
Wikidata short description: “State park in Oxford County, Maine”
Landmark Profile
Classification & USGS reference
Catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 567019, Grafton Notch is recorded as a mountain gap on the USGS Old Speck Mountain quadrangle in Oxford County, Maine (FIPS 23/017). Catalogued in GNIS since 09/30/1980.
Coordinates & physical setting
Grafton Notch sits at 44.59339° N, 70.94785° W (DMS 44°35′36″ N, 70°56′52″ W).
Other gaps in Oxford County, Maine
Oxford County, ME contains 18 gaps catalogued in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, counting Grafton Notch itself. The ones closest to Grafton Notch:
| Feature | USGS Quadrangle | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Notch 2 | Old Speck Mountain | 3.4 mi |
| Miles Notch | Old Speck Mountain | 3.4 mi |
| Mahoosuc Notch | Old Speck Mountain | 4.3 mi |
| Dunn Notch | B Pond | 4.6 mi |
| Carlo Col | Shelburne | 8.1 mi |
| Jakes Notch | Gilead | 8.5 mi |
| Whites Notch | Gilead | 9.7 mi |
| Sawyer Notch | Andover | 10.4 mi |
| Black Brook Notch | Andover | 12.2 mi |
| Roxbury Notch | Ellis Pond | 15.9 mi |
Features on the USGS Old Speck Mountain Quadrangle
The Old Speck Mountain 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle holds 36 catalogued natural features alongside Grafton Notch. A sampling nearest to this location:
| Feature | Type | County | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hedgehog Hill | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 1 mi |
| Moose Cave Gorge | Valleys | Oxford County, ME | 1.1 mi |
| Mother Walker Falls | Waterfalls | Oxford County, ME | 1.5 mi |
| Hemenway Ridge | Ridges | Oxford County, ME | 1.6 mi |
| Old Speck Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 1.6 mi |
| Mahoosuc Range | Ranges | Oxford County, NH | 1.6 mi |
| Sable Hill | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 1.9 mi |
| West Peak | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 2.3 mi |
| Screw Auger Falls | Waterfalls | Oxford County, ME | 2.4 mi |
| Speck Pond | Lakes | Oxford County, ME | 2.4 mi |
Historical record
Grafton Notch State Park is a public recreation area in Grafton Township, Oxford County, Maine. The state park occupies 3,129 acres (1,266 ha) surrounding Grafton Notch, the mountain pass between Old Speck Mountain and Baldpate Mountain, mountains in the Mahoosuc Range. The park is abutted by the eastern and western sections of the Mahoosuc Public Reserved Land, which total 31,807 acres (12,872 ha). The park is managed by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Open the Wikipedia article →
Visiting from Chapman Inn
Distance, bearing & drive time
A 26-minute drive along back roads separates the front door of Chapman Inn from Grafton Notch — 15.2 miles north-northwest as the crow flies, on compass bearing NNW.
Best time to visit
Late May through October; avoid black-fly peak in late May. At this latitude (44.593°), the shoulder seasons are workable — April and November can be comfortable on mild years. At 15.2 miles from the Inn, plan on a comfortable day trip with time for lunch on the road. Conditions at Grafton Notch track the nearby Hedgehog Hill summit (1.0 mi away) closely — if that is runnable, so is this.
Nearest features to Grafton Notch
| Feature | Type | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hedgehog Hill | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 1 mi |
| Moose Cave Gorge | Valleys | Oxford County, ME | 1.1 mi |
| Mother Walker Falls | Waterfalls | Oxford County, ME | 1.5 mi |
| Hemenway Ridge | Ridges | Oxford County, ME | 1.6 mi |
| Old Speck Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 1.6 mi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Grafton Notch located?
Grafton Notch is in Oxford County, Maine, approximately 15.2 miles north-northwest of Chapman Inn in Bethel, Maine. It appears on the USGS Old Speck Mountain topographic quadrangle.
How far is Grafton Notch from Chapman Inn?
The drive runs about 26 minutes, 15.2 miles north-northwest (bearing NNW) of the Inn.
What type of natural feature is Grafton Notch?
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies Grafton Notch as a mountain gap, catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 567019 on the Old Speck Mountain quadrangle.
When is the best time to visit Grafton Notch?
Late May through October; avoid black-fly peak in late May.
How many other gaps are in Oxford County, Maine?
GNIS lists 17 other gaps in Oxford County, Maine.
Wikidata: Q1541870.