Hiking: The Falling Waters and Bridal Path Trails Loop Over Mount Lincoln and Mount Lafayette | White Mountains, NH | June 27, 2008

The Falling Waters, Franconia Ridge, and Bridal Path Trails take hikers on a loop up and over Mount Lincoln and Mount Lafayette above Franconia Notch in what is one of the classic New Hampshire hikes of the White Mountains.

About the Hike

This hike takes you from the floor of Franconia Notch, up to the summit of Little Haystack. From there, you hike across the fairly narrow Franconia Ridge to reach Mount Lincoln. You descend on the ridge and then make the final climb up to the summit of Mount Lafayette. From Lafayette, you start hiking back down along the Greenleaf Trail until you reach the AMC Greenleaf Hut. That’s where you get on the Bridal Path, finish descending the ridge and hook back into the Falling Waters Trail before reaching the Lafayette Place Trailhead parking lot.

All told it’s about a 9 mile loop with and a gain and loss of several thousand vertical feet.

It’s best to start out early and take your time. Not only that, but you’ve got to watch the weather, since the two miles or so of hiking along the Franconia Ridge and the descent from Lafayette are all above treeline are exposed to the full force of the weather. You have to watch out for thunderstorms and any other kind of inclement weather since there is no protection up there. We had our eye on some thunderheads throughout the day but thankfully they all stayed to the north and south of us.

Getting there

Parking for this loop hike is available at the Lafayette Place Trailhead just off of Interstate 93 in Franconia Notch.  This is a large parking area that supports the Bridal Path and Falling Waters Trails, but on weekends it can fill quite quickly and it is best to get there as early as possible.  Even better, plan the hike for a weekday and parking is a lot easier.

Since the parking area is located within a State Park (Franconia Notch State Park), there is no day use fee for parking.

The Hike

Starting out at the Lafayette Place Trailhead parking lot in Franconia Notch State Park, the Bridal Path and Falling Waters Trail start out together for about a quarter mile or so of fairly easy walking.

The Falling Waters Trail crosses over the creek and then makes its way across the slope to the Dry River where it turns and starts to climb up the creek’s ravine. There’s a reason this trail is called the Falling Waters trail. You hear the falling water the entire time and for about half the trip, you are basically walking up the river, fording it and climbing around the waterfalls along the way.

Before reaching the summit of Little Haystack, there’s a short side trail out to Shining Rock. We didn’t bother going out, but it offers views of Franconia Notch and Cannon Mountain.

From there, it’s a fairly quick scramble up to the summit of Little Haystack where you break above treeline just below the summit area. From here on out, you are above treeline until you drop back down on the shoulder of Lafayette on your way to the Greenleaf Hut.

The trail descends slightly after Little Haystack before climbing over a small hump and then slowly making its way up to the summit of Mount Lincoln. Nothing is overly difficult about this hike, the grades are fairly mild and the trail is well marked, however you are on a fairly narrow ridge that is well above treeline.

You quickly reach the summit of Mount Lincoln and from there, you can finally see Mount Lafayette beyond (at Little Haystack it’s hidden behind Lincoln). The summit area offers a 360 degree view of the surrounding area and if the weather is good, it offers a good place to stop and take in the Franconia Ridge and surrounding mountains.

The trail descends a bit more than it did after Little Haystack from Lincoln as you continue along the ridge on your way to Lafayette.

Again, not a difficult hike, but it is exposed and in bad weather it could be a tough, if not impossible hike. You make your way along the ridge, over a smaller hump and then begin the ascent of Lafayette itself.

The top of Lafayette offers some great views of the Franconia Notch and Ridge, along with views into the Pemigewasset Wilderness and the North Country.

From there, you begin descending down a shoulder of Lafayette on the Greenleaf Trail. This trail is fairly exposed for about half the trip down to the hut.

It eventually makes its way to treeline and then shortly passes by Eagle Lake and then reaches the Greenleaf Hut. During the summer months the hut is open (you need reservations to say overnight) to the public. There are bathrooms and running water.

It’s about 3 miles from the hut down to the Lafayette Place Trailhead and it’s a whole lot of down. You’re in the woods right after you leave the hut but then as you make your way down the ridge, the woods opens up a bit along a cliff line and you have views back up to Lafayette, Lincoln and the rest of the Franconia Ridge.

After that you drop fairly steeply off the end of the ridge and then eventually come back to the point where the Falling Waters Trail had veered off. From here, it’s just a bit back to the trailhead and your vehicle at the parking lot.

You can see the entire photoset for this hike on Flickr.


For more information on Hiking, Climbing and Skiing in the White Mountains

We have produced a short guide to the recreational opportunities available in Franconia Notch State Park. If you are looking to hike, the best guide to the trails of the White Mountains is published by the Appalachian Mountain Club. The White Mountain Trail Guide provides descriptions and maps for all of the hiking trails of the White Mountains. AMC also produces a map for the trails in the Franconia Notch Region, as does National Geographic in their Trails Illustrated series.

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You can find this hike:

• Described in the White Mountain Guide
• Shown on the AMC White Mountain Map
• Shown on the White Mountains Trail Map

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Important Hiking Considerations:

1. Weather: Check the weather forecast before your hike and be prepared for changes in conditions. Weather can be unpredictable, so bring appropriate clothing and gear. 
2. Safety: Some sections of the trail can be steep and rocky, so use caution and watch your footing. It's also a good idea to hike with a friend or let someone know about your hiking plans. 
3. Leave No Trace: As with any outdoor activity, remember to follow the principles of Leave No Trace. Pack out any trash, stay on the trail, and be respectful of the natural environment.

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