Screw Auger Falls
Maine • 23 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrainBefore you go
Vehicle access is through the KI-Jo Mary checkpoint, which charges a per-person day-use fee (cash or check only). The trail from the Gulf Hagas Parking Area fords the West Branch of the Pleasant River, which can be unsafe in high water; use the Head of the Gulf Parking Area then.
Photo Credits (5)
Difficulty
Moderate
Trail Length
3.5 miles
Trail Type
Out And Back
About Screw Auger Falls
Screw Auger Falls is a waterfall on Gulf Hagas Brook at the eastern end of Gulf Hagas, the slate gorge of the West Branch of the Pleasant River in Maine's Hundred-Mile Wilderness. The brook drops through a narrow, sculpted channel into a deep pool. The Gulf Hagas trails are part of the Appalachian Trail corridor and are maintained by the Maine Appalachian Trail Club. It is not the Screw Auger Falls in Grafton Notch State Park.
The Setting
Screw Auger Falls sits at 915 feet within Appalachian National Scenic Trail, in the foothills of Maine. The falls drop 23 feet.
Height: 23 feet
Trail & Hike Details
Trail Description
From the Gulf Hagas Parking Area, the Appalachian Trail fords the West Branch of the Pleasant River (often knee-deep and 100 to 150 feet wide) and continues to the start of the Rim Trail. Screw Auger Falls is on a short side trail about 0.2 miles along the Rim Trail, for a round trip of about 3.5 miles. Gulf Hagas Brook is usually a rock-hop but can be a ford in high water.
What to Expect
The falls drop a gentle 23 feet. Dogs are welcome.
Accessibility
The trail is not wheelchair accessible. Uneven terrain and elevation changes require steady footing.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Screw Auger Falls?
✅ Dogs are allowed
Dogs are allowed on the Gulf Hagas trails but should be leashed and kept under control, especially along the cliff edges of the Rim Trail.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🤑 Fees are required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Screw Auger Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Summer and early fall, when the ford is usually manageable. Flow over the falls is strongest in spring, but high water can make the river crossing hazardous.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited. Check the National Park Service website for current conditions.
Safety Information
Do not attempt the West Branch ford in high water after heavy rain or snowmelt. The Rim Trail runs close to cliff edges, and the rocks at the falls are slippery.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Sebec River, 17.6 miles away, not on Screw Auger Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
820 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 71 years of record
3.65 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year.
About This Gauge
This gauge is on a regional waterway. Conditions at the falls may differ, especially after local rain.
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge Sebec River at Sebec, Maine (28 km away).
Today
Moderate
886 cfs
6/10Tomorrow
Moderate
850 cfs
6/10Thu
Moderate
796 cfs
9/10Fri
Moderate
841 cfs
6/10Sat
Moderate
927 cfs
6/10Sun
Moderate
962 cfs
6/10Mon
Moderate
919 cfs
9/10Best window: Thu — moderate flow, partly sunny (trip score 9/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from mid March to early June, peaking in April.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Brownville Junction hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Screw Auger Falls Frozen?
Updated about 9 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately strong flow slows freezing
Screw Auger Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 45°F to 34°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 828 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in Maine.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
1-meter lidar shows the creek losing roughly 45 feet through Screw Auger Falls over a long run of ledges. Only part of that is the waterfall, which is listed at 23 feet; the rest is the canyon carrying on downstream. Elevation at the pin is about 931 feet.
The ground changes about 89 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 30 feet in the 500 feet below. Facing east, the falls catch soft morning light.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 931 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 45 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- East
- Catches soft morning light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading east).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
From Route 11 about 3.5 miles north of Brownville Junction, turn left onto Katahdin Iron Works Road and drive about 6.5 miles to the KI-Jo Mary checkpoint to register and pay. Cross the bridge, turn sharply right, drive about 3.5 miles, bear left at the fork following Gulf Hagas signs, and continue 2.9 miles to the Gulf Hagas Parking Area on the right.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
Park at the Gulf Hagas Parking Area. When the river is too high to ford, the Head of the Gulf Parking Area, 4.4 miles farther along the road, avoids the ford but makes the walk to Screw Auger Falls much longer.
Elevation
915 feet above sea level
Coordinates
45.484491° N, -69.306439° W
Land Management
Managed by NPS
Visitor Tips & Gear
Bring cash or a check for the checkpoint fee and sandals or water shoes for the river ford. The trails are busiest on summer and fall weekends from mid-morning to late afternoon.
Where to Stay
Abbot Trailside Lodging
Waterfront home on Moosehead Lake
Leisure Life
All-Season Sanctuary: Steps to Moosehead Lake
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Additional Information
Nearby Attractions
The Rim Trail continues west past Hammond Street Pitch, The Jaws, Buttermilk Falls, Stair Falls and Billings Falls to the Head of the Gulf, a loop of about 8 to 9 miles. The Hermitage, a stand of old-growth white pines, is along the trail near the parking area.
Wildlife
The area is home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, deer, and small mammals. Visitors may also spot wildflowers and other native plants.
Cities near Screw Auger Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
LiDAR
Other waterfalls named Screw Auger Falls
1 other waterfall shares this name across the U.S.
Writing about Screw Auger Falls? Embed this waterfall on your site for free.