FRANCONIA NOTCH RECREATIONAL TRAIL:
FRANCONIA-LINCOLN, NEW HAMPSHIRE
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: January 21, 2025
Length: Franconia Notch Recreational Trail; 8.6 miles
Franconia Notch Recreational Trail [Northern Section]; 3.9 miles
Franconia Notch Recreational Trail [Southern Section]; 4.7 miles
Route 3 BIKE LANE; 3.7 miles
Difficulty: Franconia Notch Recreational Trail [Northern Section]; Moderate. Paved hilly trail.
Franconia Notch Recreational Trail [Southern Section]; Easy. Paved, mostly downhill if starting from the North.
Directions:
To Start from Flume Gorge Visitor Center [Southern End]; From I-93 take exit 34A to Route 3 and follow signs.
To Start from Skookumchuck Trailhead [Northern End];
From I-93 Northbound take exit 35 to Route 3 N. Parking lot is on your right.
From I-93 Southbound take exit 36 to Route 141 E to Route 3 and head left, south. Parking lot is on your left.
The Franconia Notch Recreational Trail travels through Franconia Notch State Park. It follows I-93 through the notch, crossing back and forth along both the Eastern & Western Sides of the highway. The Northern Section of the trail is hilly and may be tough for kids on bikes. It travels South, from the junction of Route 3 and I-93, as it turns Northwest. It takes you past Echo Lake Beach, Cannon Mt Tramway & Old Man of the Mt Historic Site. The Southern Section is mostly a downhill grade heading South, as it takes you past Lafayette Place Campground & The Basin before ending at the Flume Gorge Visitor Center. A shuttle is available ($) that will drop you off at either the Skookumchuck Trailhead or Cannon Mt or pick you up at the Flume Gorge Visitor Center, so you can ride one-way (easiest to start at the Northern End and travel South). For more information visit; SPORT THOMA BIKE RENTALS/SHUTTLE & FRANCONIA NOTCH STATE PARK .
Northern Section:
Starting from Skookumchuck Trailhead [Northern End]; The paved Franconia Notch Recreational Trail travels South, along the Eastern Side of I-93, up a long gradual hill, along an open wooded corridor. Cross Lafayette River at 1.5 miles before coming to the Profile Road parking circle. Here the trail narrows as it turns right, down a steep incline (Caution sharp curves with no fencing) before traveling underneath I-93 to the Western Side of I-93. What goes down must now go up. Tough hill climb. Travel through a tunnel underneath Profile Rd and come to an intersection at 2.2 miles.
Note; Right will bring you to Echo Lake Beach.
The trail is level as it takes you around Echo Lake, where it skirts the highway. Across the lake are the ski slopes of Cannon Mt. Come to another intersection at 2.8 miles.
Note; Right will bring you to the CANNON MT TRAMWAY and parking lot. Here you can ride the tram up to the 4,080' summit.
Continue straight along a hilly, curvy section. Cross the Cannon Mt entrance road and quickly come to the Old Man of the Mt Historic Site access road. Continue straight down this road to the Old Man of the Mt Historic Site parking lot. The trail continues straight to another intersection at 3.3 miles.
Note; Straight, another 0.2 miles, will bring you to the Old Man of the Mt Profile Plaza and the Northern End of Profile Lake. Informational signs.
Head left, North, through the tunnel underneath I-93 up along a ridge as the trail continues South, along the Eastern Side of I-93. Come to a second Old Man of the Mt Historic Site parking lot. Hilly, winding trail. Views of Profile Lake across the highway. Cross a bridge over a stream before a tunnel underneath I-93 brings you back along the Western Side. Come to a Trailhead parking lot at 3.9 miles at the Southern End of Profile Lake. Look right to spot the granite face of Cannon Mt.
Note; A Trail leads to the Pemigewasset River as it exits the lake.
Continue alongside the parking lot before the trail heads back into the woods. This is the start of the Southern Section.
Southern Section:
Continuing South, through the woods, cross a bridge over the Pemigewasset River and travel along a ridge. After about 4.2 miles you'll begin a mile long descent. Cross the river again before coming to Lafayette Place Campground at 5.3 miles. Bear right, then left, on-road past the log cabin (blue bike signs). Stay straight as you pass through the picnic area. This next section is very scenic as it follows and crosses the Pemigewasset River. Come to the 1st Basin parking lot at 76.7 miles. Restrooms. You then come to the Basin Trailhead. More restrooms. Be sure to check it out. The bike trail also passes by an overlook of the Basin if you don't have time to walk the trail. Another tunnel takes you underneath I-93 brings you back along the Eastern Side, where you'll pass the 2nd Basin parking lot. Cross over the Pemigewasset River again at 7.8 miles. Finally one last hill to climb before heading down to the Flume Gorge Visitor Center parking lot after 8.6 miles. Head left through the parking lot to check out the FLUME GORGE & VISITOR CENTER . 2 mile Loop Trail.
Note; If you exit the Flume Gorge Visitor Center parking lot to Route 3, you can follow a narrow BIKE LANE South, along Route 3. Not recommended for novice bikers or kids on bikes. After 0.6 miles the BIKE LANE widens and the traffic slows as you travel past lodgings and shops. Travel underneath I-93 at 2.5 miles, where the wide BIKE LANE continues past more lodgings and shops. After 3.7 miles the BIKE LANE ends at Connector Rd, next to Clark's Trading Post.
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