Franconia Ridge Loop Hike Route Map

Various hiking and backpacking trips in the White Mountains of New Hampshire from my years at Plymouth State College, NH.

Mt Eisenhower Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 44.248935, -71.391638

Mileage Hiked: 6.2 miles Difficulty: VERY HARD (Petzoldt Rating: 11.70 )

Min. Elevation: 2,030' Max. Elevation: 4,780'

Total Vertical Gain: 2,750' Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile: 887'

Trails Used: Edmands Path

Mt Moosilauke Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 43.993768, -71.814953

Mileage Hiked: 7.8 miles Difficulty: EXTREME (Petzoldt Rating: 13.00 )

Min. Elevation: 2,380' Max. Elevation: 4,802'

Total Vertical Gain: 2,600' Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile: 333'

Trails Used: Appalachian, Gorge Brook

Franconia Ridge Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 44.141861, -71.680908

Mileage Hiked: 8.5 miles Difficulty: EXTREME (Petzoldt Rating: 16.30 )

Min. Elevation: 1,770' Max. Elevation: 5,260'

Total Vertical Gain: 3,900' Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile: 459'

Trails Used: Falling Waters, Franconia Ridge, Old Bridal

Fall 1995 - Spring 1996

Mt. Eisenhower (6.2 miles; d=11.70), Mt. Moosilaukee (7.8 miles; d=13.00), & the Franconia Ridge (8.5 miles; d=16.30)

Mount Eisenhower Hike Route Map
My hike of Mount Eisenhower via the Edmands Path as depicted a la Google Earth...
Mount Eisenhower Hike Route Map
The approximate track of my hike up Mount Eisenhower via the Edmands Path...
Edmands Path -- 4,000'
MT. EISENHOWER - Dave climbing a snow gully between rime-covered trees. Behind and 2000 feet below lies the Twin Mountain area already green in the balmy 65' temps below...
Edmands Path -- 4,200'
Entering the Alpine Zone, Dave stands next to the warning sign normally eight feet tall. Mt. Clay rise beyond...
Mount Eisenhower -- 4,761'
The Mt. Eisenhower summit cairn. Rime ice up to a foot thick points in the direction of the prevailing winds...
Mount Eisenhower -- 4,761'
MT. EISENHOWER - Photo-op time! You can see from this picture why I consider the views from the top of Eisenhower the most be the most beautiful in the White Mountains. Mt. Monroe, in a cloud shadow, rises to the right. Then Mt. Washington and to the left Mt. Jefferson. Clouds moving in didn't allow for a long stay at the summit...
Mount Eisenhower -- 4,761'
MT. EISENHOWER - To the west storm clouds darken the sky, obscuring the upper slopes of the distant Franconia Range...
Mount Moosilauke Hike Route Map
My hike of Mount Moosilauke as depicted a la Google Earth...
Mount Moosilauke Hike Route Map
The approximate track of my hike up Mount Moosilauke...
Gorge Brook Trail -- 3,500'
MT. MOOSILAUKE - A hot and hazy day made for poor views on our ascent of the Gorge Brook Trail. The view here is to the southeast towards Plymouth...
Gorge Brook Trail -- 3,500'
MT. MOOSILAUKE - Getting up near treeline, views to the north of neighboring Mt. Blue open up. (Approx. 4000 ft.)
Mount Moosilauke -- 4,802'
MT. MOOSILAUKE - This is one of the giant cairns that can be found on the summit of Moosilauke. This one is over six feet tall...
Mount Moosilauke -- 4,802'
MT. MOOSILAUKE - Mt. Moosilauke summit. Somewhere behind me through the haze is Plymouth. The sign marks the direction of our ascent...
Appalachian Trail -- 4,700'
MT. MOOSILAUKE - The old stone summit house used to stand on the foundation visible left-center just to the south of the summit...
Mount Moosilauke South Peak -- 4,523'
MT. MOOSILAUKE - This is the summit ridge of Moosilauke, looking back on the main summit. From the South Peak...
Mount Moosilauke South Peak -- 4,523'
MT. MOOSILAUKE - Taking a break on the north slope of the South Peak. Behind me and a half mile down you can just make out Tunnel Brook. Beyond are countless more peaks...
Franconia Ridge Loop Hike Route Map
My hike of the Franconia Ridge Loop as depicted a la Google Earth...
Franconia Ridge Loop Hike Route Map
The approximate track of my hike around the Franconia Ridge Loop...
Old Bridal Path -- 2,900'
FRANCONIA RIDGE - Looking up Walker Ravine to Mt. Lincoln (left) and Little Haystack (right). Taken from Agony Ridge on the Old Bridal Path heading up Mt. Lafayette..
Old Bridal Path -- 4,200'
FRANCONIA RIDGE - Eagle Lake and the summit cone of Mt. Lafayette as seen from Greenleaf Hut...
Old Bridal Path -- 4,700'
FRANCONIA RIDGE - Greenleaf Hut and Eagle Lake as seen from treeline on the summit cone of Mt. Lafayette...
Mount Lafayette -- 5,260'
FRANCONIA RIDGE - Mt. Lafayette summit. Looking south along the Franconia Ridge to Mt. Lincoln...
Franconia Ridge Trail -- 4,900'
FRANCONIA RIDGE - Shining Rock Cliff as viewed from between crags along the Franconia Ridge Trail about halfway between Lafayette and Lincoln. This section of the trail is known as the 'knife edge' because the mountainside drops off nearly as quickly to the opposite side of the trail. (~4900 ft.)
Mount Lincoln -- 5,089'
FRANCONIA RIDGE - Mt. Lincoln summit. Looking south along the Franconia Ridge to Mt. Flume(far left), Mt. Liberty(middle left), and Little Haystack Mtn.(center)...
Franconia Ridge Trail -- 4,500'
FRANCONIA RIDGE - Looking at Little Haystack Mtn. from the Franconia Ridge Trail on the way from Mt. Lincoln...
Little Haystack Mountain -- 4,760'
FRANCONIA RIDGE - Little Haystack Mtn. summit. Looking north to Mt. Lincoln. The trail we've been following runs from left to right along the ridge and over Lincoln's summit...
Little Haystack Mountain -- 4,760'
FRANCONIA RIDGE - Owl's Head Mountain and the Pemigewassett Wilderness lie to the east. This view is also from near the summit of Little Haystack Mtn...