My brother and I met at Lafayette campground on Friday evening, set up camp and shared amazing craft beers from our respective states. In the morning we set out for one of the most epic hikes in the Northeast, the Franconia Loop. Though I didn’t know it at the time, Lincoln and Lafayette would become my first New England 4000 Footers. It was a lousy day for hiking, it was cloudy and rainy, many people we turning around at the ridge. We pushed on and enjoyed it raining upward from the strong wind gusts blowing the rain up and over the ridge. On the way down we heard the oddest sound which turned out to be the small wind turbine on the roof of Greenleaf Hut whirring and cooing like an enormous pigeon.

ROUTE

• Started from Lafayette Place Campground off Route 93 in Franconia, NH
• Walked along path under highway to trailhead
• Hiked Falling Waters Trail to Shining Rock spur path
• Right on Shining Rock spur path and back
• Right on Falling Waters Trail to Franconia Ridge Trail
• Left on Franconia Ridge Trail over Little Haystack Mountain, Mount Lincoln, and Mount Lafayette to intersection with Greenlead Trail
• Left on Greenleaf Trail to intersection with Old Bridal Path
• Left on Old Bridal Path to intersection with Falling Waters Trail
• Right on Falling Waters Trail back to campground

PHOTOS

STATS

Date: 11 June 2011
Distance: 8.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 4100′

Tracing White Mountains Trails:
Falling Waters Trail
Old Bridal Path