| Franconia Ridge Traverse Route |
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| Franconia Ridge Traverse   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: New Hampshire, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 44.16080°N / 71.6444°W Route Type: Hiking Time Required: Most of a day Difficulty: Class 1
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| Page By: EastKing Created/Edited: Feb 27, 2002 / Feb 27, 2002 Object ID: 156248 Hits: 4531 Loading... Page Score: 87.07% - 5 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Approach
See the Main Page about Information about the LAFAYETTE PLACE TRAILHEAD.
Route Description
FRANCONIA RIDGE TRAVERSE: 8.9 miles
FALLING WATERS TRAIL (3.2 MILES)
FRANCONIA RIDGE TRAIL (AT) (1.7 MILES)
GREENLEAF TRAIL (1.1 MILES)
OLD BRIDLE PATH (2.9 MILES)
From the Lafayette Place Trailhead. Takes the clearly marked trailway east of the parking lots for 0.2 miles until you hit juction where the Old Bridle Path is on your left and Falling Waters is on your right. Take the Fallings Waters Trail that immediately crosses Walker Brook. At 0.7 it crosses Dry Brook (2000') and then begins it climb up the brook. From there the trail will begins it at times steep climb up the side of Dry Brook, where it crosses very beautiful successive falls from lower to higher elevation: Stairs Falls, Swiftwater Falls (60ft.), and Cloudland Falls. It crisscrosses the stream several times until the highest crossing of Dry Brook at 1.6 miles (2860').
From here it angle uphill on an old logging road. It takes the road to a series of steeper switchbacks. It continues up the switchbacks until the last switchback, where there is a side path to Shining Rock (4,130 ft.) at 2.8 miles. Shining Rock has incredible views, but do not attempt to climb it without rock climbing gear. From here it is a a steep but straight line to the Franconia Ridge Trail (3.2 miles) (4760').
Take a left on the Franconia Ridge Trail as it ascends steeply to the summit of Little Haystack. Here is you will get your first taste of panorama view, and where you will first be above treeline. Off to the north is Mt. Lincoln while to the west is Mt. Mooselauke, Franconia Notch, The Kinsmans and Cannon Mtn. while to the east is Mt. Washington and the Presidentials in the distance with the The Bonds, Twins, Owl Heads and the rest of the Pemigwasset Wilderness in the background. From here continue the level hike along the knife edge ridge (not like Kathadin though) up to the base of Mt. Lincoln where the trail becomes steep until the summit. When up at the top of Mt. Lincoln (5089') take a short break and enjoy the views. Some argue that these are the best views on Franconia Ridge, while others argue that Mt. Lafayette as the best while others yet believe that North Lafayette has the best views. You be the judge.
The trail then descends another sag, climb a lage hump then descends another sag to a scrub patch where it then climbs a moderate up to the top of Mt. Lafayette (5260'). On top of Mt. Lafayette enjoy the beautiful views that surround you. The view of the rest of Franconia Ridge to the south is among the most popular view all of the Eastern United States Mountains. The view, north, east or west are world class as well.
Take the Greenleaf Trail down to Greenleaf Hut (4220'). At point 0.2 miles down the trail you will come up on a spring near a ledge. The trail continues to drop at a moderate grade until scrubby grow 0.5 miles from Mt. Lafayette. At 0.6 miles from Mt. Lafayette there is an open sandy area with extremely good views of Mt. Lincoln. The trail then descends to the beautiful Eagle Lake then rises a short hump to the Greeanleaf Hut where ghreat views of Mt. Lafayette are all around.
Then takes the Old Bridle Path which will be on your left. 0.5 miles down the trail you hit a side path which leads to some very good views. The trail then descends Agony Ridge. Though not as steep as some sections on the Falling Waters this part of the trail can give you problems if you carrying heavy loads. About 1.0 from Greenleaf Hut you hit a number of beautiul views of Walker Ravine and Franconia Ridge. At 1.3 miles it leaves the ridge on rock steps and lowers elevation at a moderate grade where the Franconia Notch State Park sign can be seen at 1.8 miles. The Old Bridle Path than it hits the Falling Waters Trail junction at 2.7 miles and heads back into the parking lot.
Essential Gear
In wintertime and early spring crampons and full winter gear are a requirement due to a number of slippery areas along each side of the loop hike. The Falling Waters Trail is especially difficult without crampons in winter. An Ice Axe isn't a bad idea either.
In summer and fall taking this hike doesn't any special gear except hiking boots, and essential hikng gear. However weather like on Mt. Washington can change very rapidly especially in fall, so keep an eye on the weather can dress accordingly.
Do not climb this or an of the other high peaks in April or May due to the fact that it is mud season and the trail can become easily eroded at this time. June is a good time to climb, but bring the strongest bug repellent known to man. It is black fly season.
One major item you will need is camera and LOTS OF FILM. I can't tell you how many photo contest have been won from photographers who have climbed Franconia Ridge.
Side Hike From Summit of Mt. Lafayette
If Mt. Lafayette or Mt. Lincoln views don't impress you or you want good views without the Times Square (in terms of many people) feel that Mt. Lafayette sometimes have, take the Garfield Trail 0.6 mile to North Lafayette. This is where some hikers argue that the best views can be seen from.
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White Mountains (NH/ME)
