Franconia Notch State Park

Location: On I-93/Route 3, Franconia Notch Parkway, Lincoln/Franconia

Phone: General Information:603-823-8800
Flume Gorge & Visitor Center :603-745-8391
Lafayette Campground: 603-823-9513
Cannon Mountain, Echo Lake Beach, Cannon RV Park:
603-823-8800

Activities: Camping, swimming, hiking, picnicking, fishing, boating, biking, skiing/snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowmobiling

Amenities: Campground, RV campground, restrooms, cafeterias, gift shops, 8-mile paved recreation path, canoe, paddle boat and bike rentals, boat launch, covered bridges, hiker information center, New England Ski Museum, full service ski area

Fees: Franconia Notch in General: None

The Flume Gorge opens for the season May 9, 10:00am - 5:00pm, and closes October 26, 2008, weather permitting. Entrance fee is Adults $12.00; Children (6-11) $8.00 and 5 & under is free. Last tickets are sold at 5:00pm.

Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway: Adult round-trip ride: $11.00, children ages 6-12 round-trip ride: $ 7.00, children age 5 & under: FREE with an adult, and adult one-way ride: $9.00

Echo Lake Beach Adults: $4 for adults; $2 for children ages 6-11; children ages 5 and under and NH residents age 65 and over are admitted free.

Lafayette Campground Campsite: $24 (no hookups)

Cannon Mountain RV Park:RV site: $34 (water, electric, & sewer hookups)

Operation Schedule: Franconia Notch in General: Year-round

The Flume Gorge & Open daily from May 11 to October, 9am to 5pm, weather permitting. During July and August there are extended hours from 9am to 5:30pm.

Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway: Summer: Cannon is open daily from 9am to 5pm, opening for the season on Friday, May 25 and closing in October.

Winter (skiing/snowboarding): Late November to Mid-April

Lafayette Campground:
Please note: Information and rates for the 2008 camping season are subject to change.

Payment: Payment is required at the time of making a reservation.

Visa, Discover, and Mastercard are accepted. Personal checks are not accepted.

Family Camping Rates: Rates cover two adults and two children on the site. Each additional adult and each additional child is charged an additional fee per night.

The maximum number of adults per site is 4, except in designated areas.

Acreage: 6,692 acres

Waterfront: Pemigewasset River - runs through the park, Echo Lake, Profile Lake, and other brooks

Number of Campsites: Lafayette Campground: provides 97 wooded tent sites2 are for youth group reservations, and 7 are for first-come/first-served campers, Cannon RV Park: 7 sites, with full hookups

Pets: Pets are permitted in the designated dog walks near the Tramway and Flume parking lots only, not in the campground.

More Information:
Welcome to Franconia Notch State Park, located in the heart of the popular White Mountain National Forest. Franconia Notch is a spectacular mountain pass traversed by a unique parkway which extends from the Flume Gorge at the south to Echo Lake at the north. For eight miles, I-93 winds between the high peaks of the Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges.

Franconia Notch was the home of the famous Old Man of the Mountain, the same "Great Stone Face" immortalized by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Daniel Webster. While you are here, stop at the Flume Gorge Visitor Center and walk through the renowned Flume Gorge, ride the exciting aerial tramway at Cannon Mountain, and visit the New England Ski Museum. Take your time, stop for a swim at Echo Lake, net a trout while fly fishing at Profile Lake, ride your bike on the Recreational Trail, watch for rock climbers, hawks, and falcons on Cannon Cliffs, or hike on the Appalachian Trail.

Bring the family, stay awhile, and enjoy Franconia Notch State Park.

Franconia Hiking Map
You can access the Franconia State Hiking Map at:

http://nhparks.state.nh.us/library/pdf/state-parks/franconia-notch.pdf

The Flume Gorge & Visitor Center
Welcome to the Flume Gorge and Visitor Center at Franconia Notch State Park, in the heart of the popular White Mountain National Forest.

Discovered in 1808, the Flume is a natural gorge extending 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty. The walls of Conway granite rise to a height of 70 to 90 feet and are 12 to 20 feet apart. A trip into the Flume begins and ends at the Flume Visitor's Center.

Framed by a spectacular vista of Mount Liberty and Mount Flume, the Visitor Center houses the Flume ticket office, information center, cafeteria, gift shop, and the state park system's historic Concord Coach. A 20-minute movie showcasing beautiful Franconia Notch State Park is available for viewing.

The Flume Gorge opens for the season May 9, 10:00am - 5:00pm, and closes October 26, 2008, weather permitting. Entrance fee is Adults $12.00; Children (6-11) $8.00 and 5 & under is free. Last tickets are sold at 5:00pm.

For lodging options, call one of the following lodging bureaus: Franconia Notch Chamber 800-237-900 Lincoln/Woodstock Lodging Bureau 800-227-4191.

The Basin
The beautiful waterfall at the Basin, has at its base, a granite pothole 20 feet in diameter. It is believed to have been eroded 15,000 years ago while the North American ice sheet was melting. It has been smoothed by small stones and sand whirled around by the Pemigewasset River. Below the Basin is a water-eroded rock formation called the Old Man's foot.

Lafayette Campground
The camping and hiking hub of the Notch is centrally located in the Park at Lafayette Place. It provides a great base from which to enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, and many attractions in the White Mountains. Information about hiking trails, safety, and the natural and cultural history of the park is available at the cabin near thecampground entrance.

A lodge houses a registration desk and offers a selection of camping supplies. Each campsite is wooded and has a picnic table, car parking, and an open fireplace. There are coin-operated showers and a camp store.

Lafayette Campground provides 97 wooded tent sites - 88 are by reservation only, 7 are for first-come/first-served campers, and 2 are for youth group camping. Reservations for youth groups are required.

The campground is open for reservable stays from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend. Self-service/self-pay camping with limited staffing and facilities is available during the off season, weather permitting

Youth Group-Use
Youth groups reservations are done by calling 603-271-3628 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.

Youth group reservations will be required to pay a non-refundable $8.75 reservation fee.

A $25 deposit will be required at time of placing a reservation.

All additional fees will be collected at the park except for remote sites.

All remote Youth Group campers at Umbagog must pay in advance.

Youth groups must camp in tents only and must maintain 1 adult for every 4 children.

Please ask for our youth group camping brochure for a complete list of all the youth group camping policies.

� The cancellation policy applies to youth group camping.

Old Man of the Mountain
(Great Stone Face, Profile) The Profile is a natural rock formation that was formed by a series of geologic happenings that began an estimated 200 million years ago. Hovering majestically 1,200 feet above Profile Lake, the Old Man is made of 5 separate granite ledges arranged horizontally to form a man's profile. From chin to forehead, the Profile measures about 40 feet and is 25 feet wide.
The Old Man of the Mountain, nicknamed the Great Stone Face, was located in Franconia Notch State Park. The Old Man of the Mountain was scenically set 1,200' above Profile Lake. Discovered in 1805, the rocks that made up the profile collapsed on May 3, 2003.
Before his collapse, The Old Man of the Mountain could be viewed year-round from two different viewing areas on I-93 in Franconia Notch State Park. On the northbound side of the highway there is a pull-off and on the southbound side take Exit 34B and follow signs.

A short distance to the north (right) of the Profile is a natural rock formation silhouetted against the skyline resembling the barrel of a cannon poking out from the parapet of a fortress. The shape of this rock formation has given Cannon Mountain its name.

Profile Lake
This small, clear body of water is the headwaters of the Pemigewasset River. Directly below the Old Man of the Mountain, it is often called the Old Man's Washbowl. The lake is well-known for its brook trout and is open to fly-fishing only.

Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway
The first passenger aerial tramway in North America began operation on this site in 1938. Almost 7 million passengers were carried to the top by the first tram. Tram II was completed in 1980, and today, you can take a scenic 5-minute ride in one of two enclosed cable cars to the 4,180-foot summit of Cannon Mountain and enjoy panoramic views of the distant valleys and mountains. Each tram car has a capacity of 80 persons and ascends 2,022 feet vertically over a horizontal distance of more than one mile. Walking trails to a summit observation platform leave from the tram station. A gift shop and cafeteria are located in the tram base station. Cannon Mountain Ski Area, a favorite among skiers, has 26 miles of trails and slopes for both the beginner and experienced. Cannon is the home of the New England Ski Museum, which is located near the base of the tramway. It is open daily from 10:00-4:00, and is on the same seasonal schedule as the tramway. For more information on Cannon Mountain Ski Area

Echo Lake Beach & Cannon Mountain RV Park
Beautiful Echo Lake, at an elevation of 1,931 feet, offers swimming, fishing, and small boat access, as well as views of Mt. Lafayette and Cannon Mountain. In a different watershed from Profile Lake, its waters flow westerly toward the Connecticut River.

Hiking
Briefly described below are a few of the more popular family hikes in Franconia Notch State Park. For more specific information, or for descriptions and maps of lengthier hikes into the White Mountain National Forest and on the Appalachian Trail, consult the Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide. It is important to wear sturdy walking shoes and remember that in the mountains weather changes suddenly and darkness falls quickly. Keep close tabs on children, as unforeseen hazards may exist or develop suddenly on mountain trails.

Bald Mountain and Artists Bluff, reached by a short hike, offer fine views of Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch. The 1 1/2 mile loop begins in the parking area across Route 18 from Peabody Base Lodge. After 1/4 mile a short, steep path diverges left for 1/10 mile to the open summit of Bald Mountain. The main trail continues on from the junction and bears right, up and across the low ridge. A short, unmarked path diverges left to the open top of Artists Bluff. The main trail continues down to Route 18 near Echo Lake.

Lonesome Lake, nestled in the mountains 1,000 feet above the floor of the notch, is a popular hiking destination. It is reached by a 1 1/2 mile (one way) trail that begins at Lafayette Place, just south of the cabin near the campground. A lakeside trail leads to the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) hut at the far end of the lake and passes by an inactive beaver lodge.

Kinsman Falls, a beautiful, secluded and oft overlooked spot on Cascade Brook can be found by following the Basin-Cascades Trail for 1/2 mile from the Basin. Many potholes and ledges in the brook along the way make for an enjoyable twenty minute (one way) walk. A rough path diverges left off the trail to the cool base of the falls. Follow the main trail a short way to a brook crossing to the left that leads to Rocky Glenn Falls.

The open ledges at the 2,557-foot summit of Mt. Pemigewasset (Indian Head) afford excellent views of Franconia Notch, the Franconia Range and the valley to the south. The 1.4 mile (one way) trail climbs moderately to the summit from the Flume Visitor Center parking area. Return can be made by the same route or via the Indian Head Trail that diverges from the Mt. Pemigewasset Trail just below the summit, and leads one mile to Route 3, one mile south of the Flume Visitor Center.

Important: This information was posted on June 4, 2008 and all information, services and fees are subject to change.

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