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Hike the Franconia Ridge Loop

Franconia, New Hampshire

5.0/5
based on 8 reviews

Details

Distance

8.9 miles

Elevation Gain

3600 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Heidi Dallas

Take in amazing views of Franconia Notch State Park on this ~9-mile loop.

Starting from the parking lot, the two trails initially begin together. Less than a mile in the trails split into Old Bridle Path to the left, and Falling Waters Trail to the right. Most people choose to go up and down on the same trail. To those doing to loop, most choose to hike up Falling Waters, and down Old Bridle. (I recommend the opposite.)

Old Bridle has magnificent views which start at about 1.4 miles. The first true "lookout" is at 1.7 miles. Once you've reached this lookout, you are exposed for most of the remaining trail. Old Bridle is 2.9 miles. At the end of Old Bridle there is Greenleaf Hut which has food, cots, water, and bathrooms. From here you will take Greenleaf Trail another 1.1 miles to the Mt. Lafayette summit. The last half mile of this trek is fondly referred to as "Agony Ridge" as it is a near scramble up a barren rocky mountainside. Although it is not necessarily more difficult, the exposure makes the terrain feel particularly steep. Follow the cairns up to the summit as they're used in lieu of traditional trail markings here.

Once at the summit, turn right to go over the rocks and continue on Franconia Ridge Trail for 1.8 miles. Although there are some extremely steep moments, the majority of this section is a well-lined rock trail several feet wide with a steep slope to either side, rather than a cliff. Although there were many dogs on the trail, I do not recommend this trail for dogs which are not very experienced hikers due to some tricky maneuvering over steep rock formations.

From this direction, the ridge trail starts at Mt. Lafayette, crosses Mt. Lincoln, and finally there is a turn to the right (from the summit of Little Haystack) to descend down Falling Waters Trail. Falling Waters is surprisingly steep and 3.2 miles long. Initially you are on an old logging road which resembles a steep dried up riverbed. Half mile down, you will come to a crossing with the trail for Shining Rock; turn right to continue on Falling Waters and proceed down the mountain. After 1.5 miles you begin crossing the river. You will continue crossing the river back and forth until the 2.5 mile mark. From here you have another .5 until you meet back up with Old Bridle, and then another .2 to the parking lot.

The entire loop is just shy of 9 miles and can take anywhere from 5 to 10 hours depending on speed, picture breaks, and whether or not you stop at the summits/hut.

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Features

Hiking
Easy Parking
Forest
Scenic

Reviews

Loved this hike so much! A lot of elevation gain- not for the faint of heart be ready to scramble! Once you reach the ridge line you get endless views of the white mountains. Absolutely stunning! We also did the off shoot to shining rock which added about .2 miles and a few hundred feet of elevation but it was also worth it! Get to the trial head early for a parking spot and pack layers for the ridge line. Lots of wind and be prepared for changing conditions. Highly recommend

Did this hike Sept 2021 with my dad. Very cloudy and chilly on the way to the summit but we found some sunshine up top. Took us 4 hr 45 mins of active hiking.

This is an awesome hike. The trail is challenging, but the views at the top and along the ridge are worth it 100%. I would definitely recommend getting an early start (I started a little before 6) and going up Old Bridle Path, and coming down Falling Waters. This is a really great hike.

This trial is absolutely incredible. It is challenging but even more rewarding. We did this in late September. We started at 9:00am and finished at 5:00pm. We decided to take the trail counter clockwise, up Falling Waters trail first. One tip I would suggest is to not pack too heavily. You will want to keep your bag as light as possible, and if you are a photographer like me, you know that is a difficult task! Food, water, and layers are the top priority as far as packing goes.

The view on top is worth the hike !

An iconic New England day hike.

Best hike in New England

This is one of my favorite hikes, the views are incredible! Make sure you bring some warm clothes, I am always shocked at how cold and windy it is at the top. This one also gets very busy so it's best to do during the week instead of going on the weekend. Despite the crowds, this is definitely worth it!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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