Take Rte. 93 north to exit 34C, take a left on Rte 18 pass Echo Lake and park on right across from Cannon Mountain. Trail starts in back left corner of Cannon Mountain parking lot. Follow red blazes up .3 mile, a spur to the left takes you to Bald Mountain, turn to the left and you go to Artist Bluff. You will climb up and then down as you approach the left to the bluff. As you come down a steep area you will see a large bolder on your left, the trail goes to the left on the back side of this bolder(no sign) to Artist Bluff, if you go past the bolder and look back at it you will see a sign to Artist Bluff. Continue done the trail and follow the trail to the left just before Rte 18 to get back to the parking lot.
Go on Rte 18 south towards Cannon Mountain. Take first left after intersection of Rte 116 & Rte 18, Dow Rd. Cross bridge go straight, Fox Hill Park is on the left about 2 miles. There are two trails; the Scenic Trail and the Gale River Trail.
This 9 mile paved bike path goes through Franconia State Park and passes Echo Lake, the Old Man of the Mountain, the Basin, and the Flume Gorge which are all main attractions of the White Mountains. This is a multi use trail, snowshoeing, cross country skiing & snowmobiling. To access the path in the north the parking lot and bike path start is at the lot on the right just after you enter Rte 3 north to Twin Mountain Exit 35 from Rte 93 north. To start the trail from the south you can park at the Flume Gorge parking lot Exit 34A off Rte 93, go all the way over to the left and you will see the start. The best way to enjoy this trail is to start at one end and leave your car at the other parking lot, north to south. The best way to do the trail round trip is to start at The Flume parking lot. There are bike rental places in both Franconia and Lincoln.
Hiking and Nature Trails
Kilburn Crag Littleton, NH
Distance: 1.8 miles
Rating: Beginner
Nice view of the Presidential range and the Town of Littleton
An easy trip to a viewpoint overlooking the town of Littleton and many high peaks. Take Rte. 93 north to exit 43 and take a right on Rte 135. At the intersection of Rte 18/135 take a left. A sign on the left about .5 mile designates the parking area
Pemi-Trail-Franconia Notch
Distance: 4 miles one way
Rating: Beginner
Lovely views of the Cannon Cliffs, Profile Lake, The Basin & Pemigewasset River
You can start in 4 places: Old Man (Exit 34B) right parking lot, Parking lot south of Profile Lake, Lafayette campground parking Lot, the Basin parking lot, or the Liberty Springs parking area. It roughly parallels the river, the highway and the bike trail.
MORE CHALLENGING TRAILS IN AREA
Bald Peak-Easton
Distance: 4.6 miles
Rating: Intermediate
Beautiful view of the Easton valley and Vermont
Take Rte 93 north to exit 38. Take a left, go straight at the lights and follow Rte 116 for 4.4 miles. Trail is on the left beside a green sign marking the Easton/Franconia town lines. There are no trail signs; it starts as a road with 2 stone pillars and a chain entrance. This trip goes to an open ledge jutting out of the side of Kinsman Mountain. At mile 2.1 you will come to the Kinsman Flume Trail (Do not take this trail in the winter), stay left, shortly after that you come to the spur trail to Bald Peak branching off to the right. The Kinsman Trail continues to the left but is for experts only.
Basin-Cascade Trail Franconia Notch, NH
Distance: 1 mile
Rating: Intermediate
Up close to two different falls, Kinsman & Rocky Glen with a great view of Mount Liberty
Take Rte 93 north to the Basin between exit 34A and 34B. Leaving the Basin area, the trail ascends near to Cascade Brook and a beautiful series of cascades leading in a half-mile to Kinsman Falls and then to Rocky Glen Falls. Soon the brook is crossed on a log-bridge and is joined by the Cascade Brook Trail; the trail gets rougher after this on your way to Lonesome Lake.
Cascade Brook Trial:-Franconia Notch
Distance- 3.1 miles
Rating: Intermediate
Beautiful views of nature and the Notch
Take Rte 93 north to exit 34A. Park at the Flume parking lot and take the Whitehouse Trail for .8 mile to join the Cascade Brook Trail. At 1.5 miles this joins the Basin-Cascade Trail in another .5 mile the Kinsman Pond Trail goes to the left. This leads to Lonesome Lake Hut.
Coppermine Trail to Bridal Falls Easton, NH
Distance: 5 miles round trip
Rating: Intermediate
Trail to the beautiful Bridal Falls
Take Rte 93 north to exit 38 take a left on to Rte 116. At blinking lights, go straight and follow Rte 116 for 3.4 miles. Look for Coppermine Rd on the left. Trail starts off the road up ahead. Trail follows Coppermine Brook. About 2 miles the trail crosses a bridge and Bridal Falls is .2 miles after the bridge.
Falling Waters Trail Franconia Notch, NH
Distance: 2.6 miles round trip
Rating: Intermediate
Great hike viewing of 3 waterfalls, Stairs, Swiftwater & Cloudland
Start at Trailhead parking lot on the right on Rte 93 north between exit 34A & 34B or park at the Lafayette Campground and cross under the highway. This is one of the most popular trails in the area. This trip will only go as far as the ledges hanging on the edge of the deep ravine of Walker Brook (going any further is for experts only). At .2 miles the Falling Water Trail goes to the right and the Old Bridle Trail goes straight. This trail follows Dry Brook. You will pass 3 waterfalls: Stair Falls, Swiftwater Falls, and Cloudland Falls. Follow the trail to the top of the falls for a beautiful view. Good point to turn around, rest of the trail goes to Little Haystack (difficult).
Indian Head Trail North Lincoln, NH
Distance:1.9 miles
Rating: Intermediate
Great Views up the Franconia Ridge and down toward Lincoln
Take Rte 93 north to exit 33 Rte 3 north. The path begins at a parking lot on the left off Rte 3 and follows an old logging road for the first 1/4 mile through the woods. The trail then heads north, climbing more steeply and passes below the cliffs of the famous "Indian Head". From the junction with Mt. Pemi Trail, it is a short distance to the summit.
Lower Georgiana Falls No. Lincoln, NH
Distance: 1.6 miles round trip
Rating: Intermediate
Trail to the base of Georgiana Falls
Take Exit 33 off Rte 93 head north on Rte 3 for .2 miles, turn left on Hanson Farm Rd. In .2 miles when the main road bends right you go straight to a plowed parking area. Go under the highway and follow the signs for the Georgiana Falls, yellow blazed trail which change to red blazes. Stay stay close to the brook.
Lonesome Lake Franconia Notch, NH
Distance: 3.0 miles round trip
Rating: Intermediate
Trail to pristine mountain lake with great views of the Franconia Ridge
Park at Lafayette Campground parking area off Rte 93 south. Trail starts at the left side of the parking lot. Follow the yellow blazed Lonesome Lake Trail. After ? mile, Hi-Cannon Trail splits to the right- stay on Lonesome Lake Trail. The trail now becomes steep. When you get to the top, take the Cascade Brook Trail along the south side of the lake.
Mount Pemigewasset Trail Franconia Notch, NH
Distance: 3.6 miles round trip
Rating: Intermediate
Great Views up the Franconia Ridge and down towards Lincoln
Start at the Flume parking lot (exit 34A) left side. Follow bike path till you find the sign for the Mount Pemi Trail on the left. Follow the blue blazed trail. This is a ledge with beautiful views.
Old Bridle Path-Franconia Notch
Distance: 4 miles round trip
Rating: Intermediate
Great views of the Notch
Start at Trailhead parking lot on the right on Rte 93 north between exit 34A & 34B, or park at the Lafayette Campground and cross under the highway. This is one of the most popular trails in the area. At .2 miles the Falling Water Trail goes to the right and the Old Bridle Trail goes straight. At 1.9 miles you will emerge on the first of two spectacular open ledges, the next is 100 feet further. This might be a good place to turn around since the rest of the trip up Agony Ridge to the Greenleaf hut is very difficult
MOST DIFFICULT TRAILS IN THE AREA
Appalachian Trail - The AT passes thru Franconia Notch as it winds its 2100 mile way from Georgia to Maine. It coincides with segments of the Kinsman Ridge, Fishin' Jimmy, Cascade Brook, Liberty Springs, Franconia Ridge and Garfield Ridge Trails. From Gordon Pond Trail to Mt Garfield is 23 miles.
Fishin' Jimmy Trail
Distance: 2.0 miles
Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
This path has some rough footing and steep ascents. It connects the Lonesome Lake Hut with Kinsman Pond Shelter.
Flume Slide Trail
Distance: 3.3 miles
Time: 3 hours
Elevation gain 2700'.
The path departs from Liberty Spring Trail 0.6 mi from its start at Whitehouse Tr. The first mile ascends moderately, then steepens, and finally becomes very steep, we and dangerous. Watch for loose rocks on the slide; avoid descent of the trail, especially with heavy packs. At the top are excellent views near the summit of Mt Flume.
Green Leaf Trail
Distance: 3.8 miles
Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
Elevation gain 2200'.
This trail climbs steeply out of the Notch, with occasional views, to Greenleaf Hut. Beyond here the route is exposed to storms on Mt Lafayette. Eagle Pass is reached in 1.5 mi/ 1 hr 20 min; Greenleaf Hut, 2.7 mi/ 2 hr 30 min; Mt Lafayette, 3.8 mi/ 3 hr 40 min.
Hi-Cannon Trail
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 2 hours
The trail leaves the Lonesome Lake Trail 0.4 mi from Lafayette Campground and climbs steeply up the south side of Cannon Mountain. The Dodge Cut-Off joins it at 0.8 mi; beyond here are many outlooks over the lake and Notch, but the path is rugged, using a ladder at Cliff House rock. From its end at the Kinsman Ridge Trail, it is 0.4 mi/ 20 min to the summit.
Kinsman Pond Trail
Distance: 2.5 miles
Time: 2 hours
Elevation gain 1300'.
This rough, wild and very beautiful trail leaves the Cascade Brook Trail (2 mi from its start), soon crosses the brook and enters lush forests. The trail is wet in many places and climbs steadily; Kinsman Pond is reached at 2.1 mi.
Kinsman Ridge Trail
Distance: 17 miles
Time: 12 hours.
This trail traverses the entire western half of the Notch passing over several peaks; much of it is part of the Appalachian Trail. Beginning at the tramway parking lot in the Notch, Kinsman Ridge Trail climbs steeply 2000' up Cannon Mountain. There is a side path at 1.5 mi leading to excellent views down into the Notch and across Franconia Ridge. Further along its length are fine views from the summits of the two Kinsmen's and Mt. Wolf. Distances from tramway parking area: Cannon Mountain, 2 mi/ 2 hr; Lonesome Lake Trail, 3 mi/ 2 hr 30 min; Kinsman Junction (AT), 5.4 mi/ 4 hr 30 min; North Kinsman, 6 mi/ 5 hr; South Kinsman, 7 mi/ 5 hr 35 min; Harrington Pond, 8 mi/ 6 hr 15 min; Eliza Brook Shelter, 9.5 mi/ 7 hr; Reel Brook Trail, 10.5 mi/ 7 hr 40 min; Gordon Pond Trail, 13.6 mi/ 9 hr 30 min; Rte 112 at Kinsman Notch 17 mi/ 12 hr.
Liberty Spring Trail
Distance: 3 miles
Time 3 hours
Elevation gain 2700'.
From the Whitehouse Trail, 0.8 mi north of the Flume parking area, the Liberty Spring Trail climbs east as part of the AT to join the Franconia Ridge Trail near the summit of Mt Liberty. Distances to: Flume Slide Trail, 0.5 mi/ 35 min; stream crossing, 1.1 mi/ 55 min; Liberty Spring Tent site, 2.6 mi/2 hr 35 min; summit of Mt Liberty, 3.2 mi/ 3 hr.
Mt. Kinsman Trail
Distance 3.7 miles
Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Elevation gain 2800'.
Trail leaves Rte 116 about 4 mi south of Franconia and follows a logging road for the first mile or so. At 2.1 mi/ 1 hr 50 min from the start, a side path leads west 0.2 mi to fine views from Bald Peak. The next 1.5 mi are moderate, with a few steep scrambles, before Kinsman Ridge Trail is reached 0.2 mi from Kinsman Jct.
Old Bridle Path
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Elevation gain 2400'.
The trails leaves from the Lafayette Place parking lots on the Parkway and heads east, then north up the "Agony Ridge" to Greenleaf Hut.
Skookumchuck Trail
Distance: 4.4 miles
Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
Elevation gain 2800'.
From the parking area on Rte 3 at the north end of the Bike Path, this trail climbs thru the woods to the Garfield Ridge Trail, 0.7 mi/ 45 min north of Mt. Lafayette.