Day Hike in New Hampshire's White Mountains: Franconia Falls

New Hampshire's White Mountains offer dozens of spectacular day hikes, longer treks and scenic pit stops along the Kancamagus Highway. If you're looking for an easy, kid-friendly day hike with a spot to take a dip in cool mountain-water, taking the Lincoln Woods trail to Franconia Falls is a great option.

Distance & Location The parking lot for the Lincoln Woods trail is located directly off the Kancamagus Highway (NH 112). The total distance to the falls from the parking lot is 3.2 miles one way. The Lincoln Woods trail, a wide, shady trail without any real views, is 2.8 miles long. Once you reach the end of the Lincoln Woods trail, you take the Franconia Brook trail to the falls.

The Hiking Experience

The trails are signposted and easy to follow. Lincoln Woods to Franconia Falls (via Franconia Brook) is relatively flat and only gains 300 feet in elevation. Although wide, the trail is not flat. It is suitable for biking but not for bringing a baby stroller along. When my husband and I hiked this trail, we saw an abandoned baby stroller about half a mile into the trail. My guess is the parents just gave up and carried the baby the rest of the way!

As the trail is in the shade, it's a great option for a hot and sunny day. We had originally set out with ambitions of summiting a peak in the White Mountains, but when the temperature reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit we decided to go for a relaxing mountain stroll instead. As the trail doesn't get much sun, it can be muddy

The first part of the Lincoln Woods trail runs parallel to a river, but the rest of it doesn't offer any exciting views. The most rewarding part is when you reach the falls. The falls themselves are not high and cascading, but are more like sloping slabs of rock gradually descending. People like to swim or sunbathe on the rocks, and on some of the flat rocks you can enjoy a natural water slide. The water is cold, so make sure you bring your towel to warm up after a dip! I'd recommend bringing a snack and a good book to curl up with while the fresh mountain water runs over your toes.

The hike back to the parking lot is not very exciting, as your only destination is your car, but it's a good way to do 3.2 more miles of brisk walking, jogging or biking.

Practicalities

There are restrooms, trail maps and filtered tap water available at the Lincoln Woods parking lot, but there are not any refreshments. Any drinks or picnic food should be brought with you. You'll need a valid parking permit to park; you can pay for these at the lot's self-service center or you can buy them from various outlets. See http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/passes/ for more information.