Massive 80-ton boulder comes crashing down after more than a century at New Hampshire attraction
The Mysterious Hanging Boulder was one of the park’s most popular features, with tourists often stopping to take photos or seek shade beneath the 80-ton rock.
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THE TAKEAWAY
- An 80-ton boulder fell at Polar Caves in New Hampshire.
- No one was injured in the fall.
- Polar Caves will assess the site during the offseason before reopening in 2027.
RUMNEY, N.H. – An 80-ton historic boulder that hung above visitors’ heads for more than a century came crashing down at a New Hampshire natural attraction on the final day of its 2026 season.
Polar Caves, a set of glacially formed talus caves in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, announced that its "mysterious hanging boulder" fell on Oct. 18, impacting a walkway used by thousands of visitors each year.
"We are incredibly grateful that no one was injured in this incident," Polar Caves Park said in a press release.
Fall foliage blankets the mountains surrounding Crawford Notch as Route 302 winds through the valley below, seen from the Conway Scenic Railroad's Mountaineer excursion in New Hampshire's White Mountains on October 8, 2026.
(Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images / Getty Images)
With the colossal collapse occurring on the final day of the 2026 season, the park said it will assess the site and determine its next steps during the offseason.
The White Mountains draw visitors year-round with their dramatic scenery and vibrant fall foliage, with the Polar Caves serving as a popular attraction in the region since opening in 1922.
THIS ROCK IN ARCHES NATIONAL PARK WILL FALL, IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
The caves formed during the last ice age, when a continental glacier moved across New Hampshire and left behind massive granite boulders.
The Mysterious Hanging Boulder was one of the park’s most popular features, with tourists often stopping to take photos or seek shade beneath the 80-ton rock.
The Conway Scenic Railroad's Mountaineer excursion winds through Crawford Notch in New Hampshire's White Mountains, surrounded by colorful fall foliage on, October 8, 2026.
(Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The attraction features nine glacial granite boulder caves, nature trails, a boulder maze, an animal park with fallow deer and a gem-mining sluice.
Polar Caves said it remains committed to preserving the site as a safe destination for visitors and employees.
"We look forward to welcoming everyone back for the 2027 season," officials said.