This Is the Most Claustrophobic Hike in New Hampshire—Would You Try It?

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m really not much of an athlete. Unlike many members of my family, I lack the coordination, drive, and stamina required to go very far in the world of sports. However, despite my athletic limitations, I have always considered myself to have an adventurous spirit. In my younger years, I relished activities like whitewater rafting, rappelling, and parasailing, and was constantly up for new experiences. As the years progress, this spirit continues to stir inside me, but it is now mixed with a great deal of caution and the sad realization that my body is not as resilient as it once was. One wrong move and I can now be laid up for days. Regardless, my outdoor bucket list still includes a few items that I would like to complete sooner rather than later, and a recent family trip to the Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves in North Woodstock, New Hampshire, checked off an important one: an adventurous cave hike.

Dark, mysterious caves have often intrigued me, and I have often wondered if I would be brave enough to crawl through one of them. Even though I’m not claustrophobic, the thought of being confined to such a small, dimly lit space is quite scary. The Lost River Gorge hike not only afforded me an opportunity to test out my bravery, it actually gave me 11 chances to do so. Yes, that is correct. This scenic mile-long trail includes 11 caves that you can crawl through and explore, including one particularly narrow cavern appropriately named the Lemon Squeezer (more on this coming up).

Our adventure started as we hopped on the trail from the Lost River visitor center. We made our way along a well-marked wooden path and were met with gorgeous scenery and stunning views of the gorge, which was carved by glaciers more than 15,000 years ago. Despite lots of gradual stairs (there are more than 1,000), the actual hike was relatively easy. There were incredible sights to take in along the way, including a historic covered bridge, a cascading waterfall, and a cool suspension bridge, not to mention lots of breathtaking fall scenery.

The hike allows you the option to explore each cave as you walk along the trail. You can also bypass them and stay on the path. Because I didn’t want my kids to outshine me, I psyched myself up and chose the first option. The caverns really couldn’t be that difficult to navigate. Or could they? 

I was able to crawl the first few caves without too much trouble and was very proud of myself for doing so. Being inside the cool interiors of these rock formations was such a unique experience. One even had a waterfall flowing inside. However, as we progressed further along the trail, fear slowly began to creep back in, and I seriously questioned my sanity. Some of these caves looked really dark and creepy. 

As the caverns grew more challenging, I let the kids go first and trailed behind. Taking my time (and using my phone’s flashlight for extra light), I soon found myself climbing ladders, ARMY crawling under rocks, and shimmying through narrow openings. I kept my composure and somehow made it out of each one without getting stuck or whacking my head on a wall. With each cave I explored, my bravery increased, and I couldn’t wait to attempt the next one. That was until we reached the infamous Lemon Squeezer.

At only 16 inches wide, the Lemon Squeezer is the narrowest of the Lost River's caves. In fact, the opening is so small that the park has placed a "squeezer gauge" right outside the entrance to the cave. The gauge allows you to see if you can fit through the opening before actually making your way inside.

I thought about it. I really did. I even approached the tester and checked out the opening before turning back and continuing on the path. In retrospect, I may have been able to somehow contort my middle-aged body and narrowly squeeze my way through the teeny opening, but I didn’t want my family vacation to be tainted by the memory of a horrifying search and rescue mission, so I left the kids to fly solo on this one. They both made it through without difficulty and declared that it really wasn’t that bad.

While I didn’t make it through the Lemon Squeezer, I was elated that I was able to complete the other 10 caves. The entire hike was beautiful and so much fun. Even if I had just stayed on the path, the walk would have been worth the visit.

We ended our trip with a quick stop at the Lost River Gorge gift shop, where we purchased an authentic "I Got Squeezed" patch for my son. We then headed to the Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery to rest and rejuvenate before exploring more of Woodstock and the nearby town of Lincoln. I was tired and a little sore from all of that crawling around on my hands and knees, but I was glowing with pride inside. I can’t wait to see what my next adventure holds.

Would you attempt the Lemon Squeezer? Find out more about this claustrophobic hike in New Hampshire at the Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves website and the Lost River Gorge Facebook page. If you are extra brave, you may even consider taking a nighttime tour of the caves. Before visiting the area, be sure to use our Only In Your State's itinerary planner to make the most of your visit. You can find even more New Hampshire cave hikes at the Polar Caves in Rumney and at the top of nearby Loon Mountain.