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The Franconia Ridge Trail follows near the spine of the Franconia Range from just S of Mount Flume to the summit of Mount Lafayette. Most of the trail is part of the Appalachian Trail, and the section N of Little Haystack Mountain is one of the most spectacular hikes in New Hampshire, all above treeline on a narrow ridge.
The loop using the Franconia Ridge Trail and upper Greenleaf Trail to connect the Falling Waters Trail and Old Bridle Path is one of the classic hikes in New Hampshire, summer or winter. The loop distance is about 9 miles with an elevation gain of about 3800 feet. Of course this hike should be done only in good weather, as it is hazardous when slippery or windy and during lightning storms.
Distance: Osseo Trail to Mount Lafayette, about 5.0 miles one-way
Elevation gain: About 2400 feet northbound, 1400 feet southbound
Maps:
USGS Lincoln, Franconia
AMC Franconia-Pemigewasset or Moosilauke-Kinsman
Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2003-2004 map H-6
DeLorme NHA&G 43-G13 to 43-E12 - Lincoln/Franconia
The trail is located E of I-93 in Franconia Notch, between Exits 34A and 34B
South End: Junction of Osseo and Flume Slide Trails about .1 miles S of Mount Flume, elevation about 4200 feet
Far End: Junction of Greenleaf and Garfield Ridge Trails at summit of Mount Lafayette, elevation about 5260 feet
Owner: WMNF
Maintainer: Appalachian Mountain Club
Special regulations: No fires in alpine zone, camping requires 2 feet of snow
From the junction of the Osseo Trail and Flume Slide Trail, the Franconia Ridge Trail ascends moderately, then suddenly comes out in the open with a cliff to the L and scrub to the R. It circles along the cliff edge to the summit of Mount Flume at .1 miles, which can be hazardous in slippery or windy conditions. The summit offers views in all directions. The trail continues along the cliff edge into the woods, and descends moderately across a flattish col. The trail then ascends moderately to the summit of Mount Liberty at 1.2 miles, except for the final pitch up a steep gully. The summit of Mount Liberty is a rock outcrop with views in all directions, but dangerous in slippery or windy conditions.
The trail passes over a lower rock outcrop before descending to the junction of the Liberty Spring Trail at 1.5 miles, which leaves L for Liberty Spring Campsite and the highway. The Appalachian Trail comes up the Liberty Spring Trail and continues along the Franconia Ridge Trail. The Franconia Ridge Trail climbs slightly then descends gradually to a flattish col. It ascends gradually then moderately over a bump, then steeply to a narrow ridge. The last pitch before the ridge is up exposed bedrock. The trail ascends moderately along the wooded ridge, then breaks out above treeline to reach the summit of Little Haystack Mountain at 3.2 miles. The Falling Waters Trail leaves L for the highway while the Franconia Ridge Trail continues ahead to Mount Lincoln and Mount Lafayette.
From Little Haystack, it is about 1.8 miles with 800 feet of elevation gain to the summit of Mt. Lafayette via the Franconia Ridge Trail. Nearly the entire trail is above treeline and exposed to the weather, and the ridge is narrower than most of the Presidentials making for a spectacular trip. In the 1970s, concern about trail widening and destruction of rare plants led to construction of rock walls along the trail; please try to hike within the walls. Unfortunately, some of the material for the walls was obtained by removing and downsizing the cairns used to mark the trail. While the cairns may be less necessary in August now that you can follow the walls, this is not true in snowy seasons when no cairns or walls may be visible and you just hope you are not cramponing rare plants.
The trail descends slightly from Little Haystack, then passes R of a crag and climbs to the summit of Mt. Lincoln at about 4.0 miles. Another descent and then a minor climb over a bump (unofficially North Lincoln) leads to a final climb to the summit of Mt. Lafayette at 5.0 miles, with the footings of a former hotel just below. From here the Greenleaf Trail leads W to the AMC Greenleaf Hut and Franconia Notch while the Garfield Ridge Trail leads N then E to Mount Garfield and the AMC Galehead Hut carrying the Appalachian Trail to Mount Katahdin.
The trail from Little Haystack to Mount Lafayette is even more of an alpine experience in the winter. Both snowshoes and crampons may be required on the approach.
Map Notes: NA
Franconia Ridge Trail, knife edge
Mount Lincoln from Mount Lafayette
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