The 6 Most Amazing Peaks in Franconia Notch State Park

Franconia Notch State Park offers several peaks with breathtaking views. The Franconia Ridge, featuring Mount Lafayette, Mount Lincoln, and Little Haystack Mountain, provides incredible panoramic vistas. For a different perspective, Cannon Mountain offers a viewing platform accessible via an aerial tramway, showcasing the ski area and surrounding summits.

Yes, for easier options, consider the short loop hike to Bald Mountain and Artists Bluff. Bald Mountain Peak itself is an easy offshoot of the Artist's Bluff loop trail, offering excellent views of Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch. You can also find other easy hikes in the area, such as the Flume Gorge Trail, listed in the Easy hikes in Franconia Notch State Park guide.

The Franconia Ridge Loop is a renowned 8.9-mile (14.3 km) strenuous hike that traverses the rocky cones of Little Haystack Mountain, Mount Lincoln, and Mount Lafayette. It is widely considered one of the best hikes in New England, offering expansive 360-degree views from its alpine summits.

Mount Lafayette, as the highest peak on Franconia Ridge, offers expansive 360-degree views of Franconia Notch, the Pemigewasset Wilderness, and the entire ridge. Mount Lincoln, also above the treeline, provides panoramic views of the Franconia Notch region. For a different kind of panoramic view, Cannon Mountain's summit viewing platform is easily accessible.

The Franconia Ridge Loop is a challenging option, encompassing Little Haystack Mountain, Mount Lincoln, and Mount Lafayette. To reach Mount Lafayette, the Old Bridle Path is a steep and strenuous route that leads to the AMC Greenleaf Hut before ascending to the summit. The Falling Waters Trail is another popular, challenging route to Little Haystack Mountain.

Yes, Cannon Mountain features an aerial tramway that takes visitors to the summit in under ten minutes. This provides easy access to the summit for a bird's-eye view of the surrounding mountains and Franconia Notch without the need for a strenuous hike.

Mount Lincoln, part of the Franconia Ridge, has a dramatic ridge trail connecting it to Mount Lafayette that has attracted hikers since the 1800s, making it a historically significant hiking destination in the region.

Little Haystack Mountain is a crucial part of the Franconia Ridge, marking the southern end of its most exposed and beautiful section. The Falling Waters Trail, a popular route to its summit, is known for its picturesque waterfalls, including Cloudland Falls. Its summit provides unobstructed views.

Beyond hiking, you can explore various running trails, such as the Bald Mountain and Artist's Bluff Loop Trail, or the Franconia Notch Bike Path. For more options, check out the Running Trails in Franconia Notch State Park guide. Cannon Mountain is also New Hampshire's only state-owned ski area, offering diverse terrain for winter sports.

Visitors appreciate the breathtaking vistas from Mount Pemigewasset/Indian Head Summit. A nearby vantage point offers stunning southern panoramas, while the summit itself grants beautiful views of Mount Liberty and the Flume Gorge in the east, making the hike well worth the effort.

Yes, the Falling Waters Trail, which is a popular route to Little Haystack Mountain on the Franconia Ridge, is known for its picturesque waterfalls, including Cloudland Falls. You can find more waterfall-focused routes in the Waterfall hikes in Franconia Notch State Park guide.