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The East Side Trail starts at the same parking area as the Lincoln Woods Trail and runs up the opposite (E) side of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River, hence its name. For many years it was a truck road used for administrative purposes and little known to hikers, but it receives heavy hiker traffic now that the Franconia Brook Campsite has been moved to the E side of the river. As far as the gate at the Wilderness boundary just beyond the campsite, the road has a packed gravel surface and is easy walking or mountain biking. Wheeled vehicles including bicycles are now forbidden in the Wilderness so the road beyond the gate is no longer maintained for them, hence the trail is narrower and muddier with a significant unbridged stream.
Hikers who prefer long flattish hikes can do a loop of about 11 miles by going up the East Branch Trail and back the Wilderness/Lincoln Woods Trail with a total gain of about only 600 feet.
Distance: Parking lot to Cedar Brook Trail, about 5.0 miles one-way
Elevation gain: About 600 feet on the ascent, minor on descent
Maps:
USGS Mount Osceola
AMC Franconia-Pemigewasset or Moosilauke-Kinsman or Crawford Notch-Sandwich Range
Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2003-2004 map H-7
DeLorme NHA&G 43-H13/44-G1 - Lincoln
Lincoln is located at Exit 32 of I-93
Trailhead: Lincoln Woods visitor information center, off NH Route 112 just E of bridge over East Branch of the Pemigewasset River, elevation about 1180 feet
44.0638°N, 71.5884°W (WGS84)
WMNF fee site
Take I-93 Exit 32 at Lincoln and go E on NH Route 112 (Kancamagus Highway) about 5.7 miles to sign and parking lot on L
Far End: Junction with Cedar Brook Trail, elevation about 1716 feet
Owner: White Mountain NF
Maintainer: White Mountain National Forest
Special regulations: No fires or camping within 1/4 mile of trail before Franconia Brook Campsite, after Campsite the Pemigewasset Wilderness regulations apply
Official vehicles drive through a metal gate near the highway end of the parking lot. The Lincoln Woods Trail soon crosses the gravel road, coming down stairs from the visitor center to the R and heading across a suspension bridge to the L. Most hikers will take a wide path from the visitor center and join the gravel road just beyond.
The gravel road runs parallel to the river, with a good viewpoint over the river about .5 miles in. At .6 miles, the Pine Island Trail branches L, to rejoin at 1.4 miles. The near end of the Franconia Brook Campground is reached at 2.6 miles; campers should register with the ranger or at the signboard. For the next .2 miles there are campsites along the road, until the gravel road swings L to more campsites and the East Branch crossing. The trail follows a grassy road straight ahead through a metal gate near the Wilderness boundary.
The gravel surface ends once in the wilderness, replaced by dirt, rock, and grass. The trail soon runs along the river above ledges and deep pools, then swings away and fords Cedar Brook at 3.8 miles. The trail swings R again and ascends briefly to end at the Cedar Brook Trail at 5.0 miles. The Wilderness Trail is .6 miles to the L, down a slight downgrade with many railroad ties remaining.
Lot plowed, trail may be groomed for skiing and hiking.
Map Notes: The USGS map does not show the new parking lot on the E side.
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