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Author:
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LisaDensmore
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Activity:
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Hiking
ActivitySearchHiking
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State:
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New Hampshire (NH)
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Distance:
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8.2 mi
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Difficulty:
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7 / 10
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USGS Topo Map:
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Franconia
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Rating:
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 5 rating(s)
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Add this classic loop in the White Mountains to your life list. Boasting wooded waterfalls, bald rock overlooks, and three 4,000-foot peaks, this 8.2-miler has it all. Begin hiking southeast through hardwood forest on the Fallen Waters/Old Bridle Path Trail. The two trails share a treadway for 0.2 mile before splitting at Walker Brook. Stay right for a counterclockwise loop (a better route in wet conditions), and begin climbing a steeper grade.
Less than 2 miles in, the trail reaches Cloudland Falls, an 80-foot cascade on Dry Brook. At the top of the falls, the creek splits and the trail continues along the north branch. A mile later, take a short spur trail to Shining Rock, an overlook with views of Mount Moosilauke. From here, it's another 450 feet of climbing to Little Haystack Mountain, the first summit of the day. At Little Haystack, turn north onto the Appalachian Trail (also the Franconia Ridge Trail) for a 1.5-mile stretch of knife-edge, ridgeline hiking.
Ahead, the trail crests the summit of Mount Lincoln en route to Mount Lafayette. From Lafayette's summit, turn west down Greenleaf Trail for a scree field descent. The trail re-enters the forest shortly before reaching AMC's Greenleaf Hut (reservations required). On the west side of the hut, the Old Bridle Trail turns left down the spine of Agony Ridge, descending above Walker Ravine for another 2.5 miles to close the loop and return to the trailhead.
-Mapped by Lisa Densmore, DensmoreDesigns.com
TO TRAILHEAD: Take I-93 to Franconia Notch State Park. The trailhead is on the east side of the highway (opposite Lafayette Campground).
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Datum: |
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Franconia Ridge
| Dist: 8.17 mi |
Points: 1680 |
Calories: none |
| Time: none |
Speed: 0.0 mph |
Pace: 0:00 / mi |
Franconia Ridge
FNC001
Location: 44.141797°, -71.681070°
Begin hiking southeast through hardwood forest on the Fallen Waters/Old Bridle Path Trail.
FNC002
Location: 44.139740°, -71.679621°
Bear right to continue on the Falling Waters Trail; just ahead the trail crosses Walker Brook on a plank bridge and begins climbing at a steeper grade. In 0.5 mile, the trail crosses Dry Brook and continues uphill, parallel to the stream.
FNC003
Location: 44.138502°, -71.664784°
The trail passes Cloudland Falls, an 80-foot cascade. Just ahead, Dry Brook splits and the trail follows the north branch, continuing on a steep climb over rough terrain.
FNC004
Location: 44.140234°, -71.650858°
A spur trail to the right leads a short distance to the Shining Rock Overlook and views of Kinsman Mountain and Mount Moosilauke. From here, another 450 feet of climbing remains to the first ridgeline overlook atop Little Haystack Mountain.
FNC005
Location: 44.140504°, -71.645826°
Little Haystack Mountain (4,760 ft.): Enjoy ridgetop views of neighboring White Mountain peaks before turning north (left) to join the Franconia Ridge Trail as it traces its namesake spine en route to Mount Lincoln. The climbing continues ahead, but at a much easier grade. Views abound on this ridge walk: look west to Vermont's Green Mountains and east across the Pemigewasset Wilderness.
FNC006
Location: 44.148795°, -71.644625°
Mount Lincoln (5,089 ft.): After climbing a knife-edge ridge, the trail crests its second significant summit: Mount Lincoln. Continue north for another mile of exposed ridgeline to the trip's highpoint, Mount Lafayette.
FNC007
Location: 44.160717°, -71.644544°
Mount Lafayette (5,260 ft.): Take in the last of the ridgetop views (and maybe a bit of lunch) before turning west (left) down the Greenleaf Trail. The trail begins its descent through a scree field; this stretch is marked by cairns and aided by occasional stone steps. To the west, Cannon Mountain serves as a grand backdrop until the trail re-enters the trees.
FNC008
Location: 44.160311°, -71.660374°
Just past Eagle Lake, the trail reaches the Appalachian Mountain Club's Greenleaf Hut (reservations required). From the clearing, look back east for a broad view of Franconia Ridge. On the west side of the hut, the Old Bridle Trail departs left down the spine of "Agony Ridge" (named for the effort required to climb it). The forest mix of evergreen and birch becomes more dense on the descent, but there are intermittent views down Walker Ravine. Continue descending for 2.5 miles back to Waypoint 2, and then turn right to backtrack to the trailhead.
Franconia Ridge
Location: 44.149981°, -71.644388°
© Lisa Densmore
Franconia Ridge Trailhead
Location: 44.141866°, -71.681124°
© Lisa Densmore
Walker Brook Crossing
Location: 44.139618°, -71.679563°
© Lisa Densmore
Cloudland Falls
Location: 44.138502°, -71.664591°
© Lisa Densmore
Shining Rock
Location: 44.139472°, -71.651416°
Look west to the Kinsman peaks and Mount Moosilauke. © Lisa Densmore
Approaching Little Haystack
Location: 44.140411°, -71.646309°
© Lisa Densmore
Mount Lafayette
Location: 44.160719°, -71.644421°
© Lisa Densmore
Descending the Ridge
Location: 44.161234°, -71.648154°
The scree field descent from Mount Lafayette is marked by cairns and aided by occasional stone steps. © Lisa Densmore
Franconia Ridge from Greenleaf Hut
Location: 44.160311°, -71.660267°
© Lisa Densmore
