This was a cool hike up. We parked in the parking lot that was right at the midpoint where you can…read morego left or go right. It was muddy as heck that day, so I would recommend not going that route because once we were done with the climb, we noticed that there was literally a shortcut at the bottom to the main road with a parking lot across the street, so there was no need for that extra hike to get to the climb. You're welcome!

Amazing hike with a payoff view that is spectacular. This is a moderate level hike and should be…read moretaken only by people who are OK with climbing rocks, boulders and can handle heights well. That said, my wife and 2 daughters (both under 12y/o had no problem traversing the trails and were ear to ear smiles at the end.

I hiked here twice. One in summer, one in winter. Both are differently nice. Summer I did Franconia…read moreloop, which is a good view, but a little crowded. In winter, I did just Lafayette from Greenleaf. It is tough, but winter view is pretty. I think this is top-ranked for New England hikes.

We hiked this yesterday (fourth of July). We arrived at about 7am - parking lot was maybe 1/5th…read morefull and we were able to park right by the trail head. We took falling waters trail up and old bridal trail down. The views were spectacular, I highly recommend this hike - the reward is high both in the views and the glute workout! This hike took us about 6 hours in including the extra hour we had to hike when we made a wrong turn at the peak. Crowds weren't a huge problem for us. Hike was difficult, but doable. I hike a couple times a summer and workout a lot so I am in pretty good shape. Tips: 1. Wear sunscreen and bring a hat/sunglasses (you start off hiking in the woods under shade cover but once you hit above tree line you are in the sun for a significant amount of time) 2. Bugs: There are black flies once you hit above tree line - a lot of them. I ended up putting my long sleeve on to try to avoid them which helped a little. If you hike fast they won't bite you. I had some bug spray on from the parking lot but it either washed off (from the sweat storm I was) or didn't work. 3. DO follow the signs. We took the wrong trail down from the peak of Mt. Lafayette and ended up having to hike an extra hour BACK up to the peak so we could then take bridal down. DO NOT DO THIS, I was at a breaking point and out of water. 4. Water, water, water. I had three water bottles and all were gone by the time I reached Mt. Lafayette Peak. It was a hot day (93 on the ground). There is a hut that you pass on old bridal trail about 1.1 miles from lafayette peak where you can fill up your water bottle for free, use the restroom, and buy goodies. It was a savior! 5. Wear good footwear. There are LOTS of rocks you need to jump on, crawl up, maneuver around. Having good traction was extremely important on this hike!

Arrive late and thankfully there was still sites available. $25 per night. Drinkable water, clean…read morebathrooms, coin operated showers. Found a level site, enjoyed a fire, ate and slept great. We chose sight 90 if leveling is a need. Bathrooms really close by. Happy with our stay & the young man in the store/check in area was great & helpful. Would recommend a stay if doing the basin, hiking trails etc of the area.

Only stayed here for a night, as a friend and I drove into Franconia from Boston and planned to…read morecamp overnight before hitting up the Franconia Ridge Loop early the next morning. The campground is conveniently located for most of the major hikes in the area. The interesting thing about being so close to 93 is that you need to constantly be "looping around" if you're trying to get into one of the neighboring towns (or off to a hike near Cannon Mountain, for example) and then back to the campsite or whatnot. I had reserved our site, #26, online and checking in to the registration desk in the campground store was quick and easy. We were given our parking receipt, warned about the bear that had been seen wandering (mostly at night - and they don't care about people...just your food), and given some basic information on showers/bathrooms and what was available on site. The store has the basic necessities for cooking, snacking, hygiene needs, and so on. Generally, the sites are pretty close together - and, because of the location, sites at the camp still sell out quickly. There was no vacancy on the night that we stayed. Having looked at the calendar weeks in advance to book space for our single night, it seems they're booked pretty solid for most of summer too. Noise/lack of privacy may be the only real issue with this campsite. While we were in site #26, the site below us was empty for most of the night (though reserved). The folks who reserved it showed up after 10pm though and were PRETTY loud while setting up and made it difficult to fall asleep (multiple people at really high volume, etc.); normally, I wouldn't have cared...but when you're waking up at 7am the next morning to hike up something like the Franconia Ridge Loop? Sleep is a necessity. (The campground also has quiet hours that are between 10pm and 7am, but I didn't really notice it being enforced.) The cars from 93 weren't as much of a noise issue though. Also, we didn't see the bear... though apparently the folks in the site above us were visited. When a trapper was making the rounds the next morning, it seems there were some massive pawprints on the back of their truck cab...so yeah, keep your food tucked away and secure, peeps! All in all? Convenient location. Might not be my pick for a long stay, but it's nice for an overnight or two and the fire pit/grate, store, and level ground are super helpful.

Difficulty wise, I'd rate Artists Bluff as a 3/5. The hike is a 1 mile loop but there's a lot of…read moresteep inclines and the path is pretty narrow. I wouldn't recommend bringing young kids along. The overlook of the lake is the best part of the hike. I hiked this in June during a weekday, and there were only about 3 cars in the entire parking lot. Compared to the Flume Gorge hike, this was pretty solitary and peaceful. There were a ton of bugs and mosquitoes out and about, so bring bug spray.

It was supposed to be a short 1.5 miles loop trail, however, the trail wasn't clearly marked. Many…read morepeople came down from the same trail as how they got up to the top as they were unable to find the other part of the trail. The first part of the trail was going downhill, but that was actually right! It got more difficult and steeply toward the end of the trail (before we got up to the top). Hiking boots are strongly recommended. The view from the top was awesome, especially during foliage season. We actually went during foliage season and the trail got very crowded during mid-day. Please give yourself enough time to enjoy the view from the top, so you should leave yourself about 2 hours for this hike.

So this is just a huge rock BUT how it was formed makes you think how amazing our world is…read more Anyways, signs are clear for the direction for this BUT you could only access if you are northbound of I-93, use the exits at flume gorge if you are from the north and traversing the southbound. There is also a viewing deck which we did not see how far it goes. Parking space is not alot but people would not stay long after taking pics

Just off Rt 93 in White Mountains. Nice picture of it here:…read morehttp://www.cannonmt.com/boise_rock.html. It's a quick 10 minute stop. The precarious balance of this enormous rock is a nice, quick photo opportunity, which has a tale to go with it, as to why it was named after Thomas Boise: a guy who apparently became stranded, killed his horse for it's hide, and was found the next day wrapped inside it. It's no more than a quick stop, but it's a nice photo to add to those you'll take of this amazing area of NH.

Nice view with many wild flowers. I did a loop hike. 9.2…read moremile, 2625 feet elevation gain. Hiked up via Gorge Brook trail, then checked out South peak which is a small detour. Then, continued on Carriage road to the Mount Moosiluke. Hiked down via Beaver brook trail and Asquam ridge trail. The top area is green meadow. This is very unusual in the White mountains. It is nice to sit down in the meadow and have lunch with view.

Took my first winter hike today following the Gorge Brook-Carriage Road-Snapper Trail loop…read more Amazing is all I have to say! I highly recommend this trail for a half day 4-5 hour outing as the full loop is about 7.5 miles. There is a little stretch near the top that's so windy it will freeze up your face and any liquids you're carrying will instantly turn into ice. I'm pretty sure with the windshield factor up there, it's below zero. As long as you've got the proper gear (gloves, multiple layers of clothing, hat and definitely microspikes or crampons) to tackle this baby, the summit is absolutely worth all the hard work. Such gorgeous views.

Great trail, especially since it was early May and the park wasn't fully open yet, so this felt…read morelike the best option. Very kid friendly and also had handicap accessible viewing areas. It wasn't mind-blowing, but it was a fun little adventure and really enjoyable for what it was.

Nice place to walk. Opens at 9. Get there early before all the other tourists come and then it…read moregets crowded.

Me entire family went hiking together and it was beautiful!! The views, the climb, the weather,…read moreeverything. It was never overly crowded, so we were able to make quick stops along the hike for a snack or to take pics or even just stop to take in the view without feeling like a disturbance to anyone trying to pass. Hiking around Flume Gorge was also pretty lengthy which made for a camera roll loaded with pictures and a tired Sophie by the end of it. :) Such a fun place to check out. W the amazing views and variety of different elevations on this hike! Highly recommend!

Happy Earth Day again. You thought I was finished? HA!…read more Words fail to describe my love of Franconia. I am a Dartmouth alum - not one of the rich ones lmao so I did not have a car at college. If I did tho, you couldn't have pulled me away from the beauty of the White Mountains. I am however one of the old alums so I remember when there used to be an Old Man of the Mountain before his nose fell off lol. Anyways, this place has my entire heart and I only share it with people I trust. I took my friend here for a weekend getaway of rustic camping and hiking last April and I can safely say she also fell in love. We ran up and down I-93, I showed her the remnants of the Old Man, we stopped by the lake (lord it was cold), then we went to the Basin - beautiful in ALL seasons - and hiked a trail on-site. God I love Franconia so much. If you haven't gotten the chance to visit please make it a priority. It's stunning in all seasons! Things to know: -you can access The Basin from either side of 93. If on the far side you just need to cross under the overpass. -The Basin is paved. There are some stairs to get a closer look but it is largely accessible to view. -Still snow in some sections in late April - you're ok without spikes imo -parking was still free as of last year

Fun Fact: The first passenger aerial tramway in North America began operation on this site in 1938…read more Of all the things to do in Franconia Notch State Park, taking a ride in the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway is one of the most unforgettable ways to see the park! a single cabin can carry up to 80 passengers, and the fee is $25 PP both ways. Take a scenic eight-minute ride in one of two enclosed cable cars to the 4,200-foot summit of Cannon Mountain. Along the way, enjoy panoramic views of the distant valleys, mountains, Echo Lake, and black bears (no we did not find any, but the guide said so :P ) Also, you'll be able to view parts of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New York, and Canada! Once at the summit you can hang out on the outdoor deck that overlooks the mountains or grab lunch & drinks at Cafe 4080 that's located next to the air tram. Fee: $25 PP but make an online reservation, Time is allotted and if you are late, you would have to wait for another cabin and if that is full, then wait for another cabin. our time slot was 2:!5, we reached 2:30, they stopped us and at 3:15 - there were few spots, so then they allowed us. so be mindful

Love the view location and would definitely go again maybe to try and ride/ but very niceread more