Thornton Gap — Gaps 48.0 Miles SW of Chapman Inn
Grafton County, New Hampshire · USGS Waterville Valley Quadrangle · GNIS 872811
48.0 miles southwest of Chapman Inn, on the USGS Waterville Valley topographic quadrangle, Thornton Gap is a mountain gap recorded in Grafton County, New Hampshire by the federal Geographic Names Information System.
Landmark Profile
Classification & USGS reference
The USGS Waterville Valley 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle places Thornton Gap in Grafton County, New Hampshire (FIPS 33/009), classified as a mountain gap in the federal GNIS (Feature ID 872811). Catalogued in GNIS since 08/27/1980.
Coordinates & physical setting
Thornton Gap sits at 43.98396° N, 71.55924° W (DMS 43°59′02″ N, 71°33′33″ W).
Other gaps in Grafton County, New Hampshire
Grafton County, NH contains 10 gaps catalogued in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, counting Thornton Gap itself. The ones closest to Thornton Gap:
| Feature | USGS Quadrangle | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Mad River Notch | Mount Osceola | 3.5 mi |
| Kancamagus Pass | Mount Carrigain | 4.4 mi |
| Livermore Pass | Mount Tripyramid | 4.9 mi |
| North Slide | Mount Tripyramid | 5.5 mi |
| South Slide | Mount Tripyramid | 5.9 mi |
| Hancock Notch | Mount Carrigain | 6 mi |
| Lost Pass | Mount Tripyramid | 6 mi |
| Carrigain Notch | Mount Carrigain | 10.7 mi |
| Franconia Notch | Franconia | 13.1 mi |
Features on the USGS Waterville Valley Quadrangle
The Waterville Valley 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle holds 19 catalogued natural features alongside Thornton Gap. A sampling nearest to this location:
| Feature | Type | County | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Tecumseh | Summits | Grafton County, NH | 1.2 mi |
| Breadtray Ridge | Ridges | Grafton County, NH | 1.2 mi |
| East Pond Brook | Streams | Grafton County, NH | 1.8 mi |
| Clear Brook | Streams | Grafton County, NH | 2.2 mi |
| Osceola Brook | Streams | Grafton County, NH | 2.2 mi |
| Green Mountain | Summits | Grafton County, NH | 2.3 mi |
| Little East Pond Brook | Streams | Grafton County, NH | 2.4 mi |
| Tecumseh Brook | Streams | Grafton County, NH | 2.4 mi |
| Cascade Brook | Streams | Grafton County, NH | 2.7 mi |
| Greeley Brook | Streams | Grafton County, NH | 3 mi |
Visiting from Chapman Inn
Distance, bearing & drive time
Chapman Inn sits 48.0 miles southwest (bearing SW) of Thornton Gap. At moderate back-road speeds the drive runs about 82 minutes — comfortably inside a half-day outing window after breakfast.
Best time to visit
Late May through October; avoid black-fly peak in late May. At this latitude (43.984°), the shoulder seasons are workable — April and November can be comfortable on mild years. At 48.0 miles from the Inn, block the full day — sunrise start, late return, packed meals. Conditions at Thornton Gap track the nearby Mount Tecumseh summit (1.2 mi away) closely — if that is runnable, so is this.
Nearest features to Thornton Gap
| Feature | Type | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Tecumseh | Summits | Grafton County, NH | 1.2 mi |
| Breadtray Ridge | Ridges | Grafton County, NH | 1.2 mi |
| East Pond | Lakes | Grafton County, NH | 1.7 mi |
| Sandwich Range | Ranges | Grafton County, NH | 1.7 mi |
| Mount Osceola | Summits | Grafton County, NH | 1.7 mi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Thornton Gap located?
Thornton Gap is in Grafton County, New Hampshire, approximately 48.0 miles southwest of Chapman Inn in Bethel, Maine. It appears on the USGS Waterville Valley topographic quadrangle.
How far is Thornton Gap from Chapman Inn?
The drive runs about 82 minutes, 48.0 miles southwest (bearing SW) of the Inn.
What type of natural feature is Thornton Gap?
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies Thornton Gap as a mountain gap, catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 872811 on the Waterville Valley quadrangle.
When is the best time to visit Thornton Gap?
Late May through October; avoid black-fly peak in late May.
How many other gaps are in Grafton County, New Hampshire?
GNIS lists 9 other gaps in Grafton County, New Hampshire.