Home States  Colorado  Connecticut  Maine  Massachusetts  New Hampshire  New York  Rhode Island  Utah  Vermont  View All Lists  NE 4,000 Footers  NE 100 Highest  NH 4,000 Footers  NH 100 Highest  NH 52 With A View  NH Belknap Range  NH Ossipee 10 Links Trail Conditions Trip Log  Sunrises  Sunsets About Little Haystack Mountain, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Truman, Mt. Lafayette Franconia, NH, Lincoln, NH Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below. Looking up the Falling Waters Trail Route: Old Bridle Path, Falling Waters Trail, (Little Haystack Mountain), Franconia Ridge Trail, (Mt. Lincoln), Franconia Ridge Trail, (Mt. Truman), Franconia Ridge Trail, (Mt. Lafayette), Greenleaf Trail, Old Bridle Path With the first quasi-summer temperatures of the year, I was itching to get outside. Thus, I took off a few hours and headed out for the day a bit early. The bluebird day and warm temperatures helped get me moving, despite being somewhat tired. The Falling Waters Trail was quite scenic, as the numerous waterfalls were roaring. Of course, the trail was also packed with folks descending at the end of their loops. Shortly before reaching treeline, I passed the last people I would see all day. Thus, I had the entire alpine zone portion of the hike (as well as the descent) completely to myself - just about impossible on the Franconia Ridge in good weather! While much of the ridge was bare (except for some drifts from the recent snow), the descent off Mt. Lafayette was brutal - the recent snow was covering up slush and running water, making things very slippery and wet. As a result, the hut was quite a welcome sight. The Old Bridle Path wasn't much better, until I finally dropped below the new-snow line. After that, things were increasingly easier, eventually transitioning to dry, bare ground. Other than the nasty hodgepodge of spring conditions, it was a beautiful afternoon/evening for a hike! Hike Ratings Getting To Trailhead: Easy Destination: Little Haystack Mountain Length: Moderate Steepness: Difficult Navigation: Easy Views: Excellent Crowds: Heavy Destination: Mt. Lincoln Length: Moderate Steepness: Difficult Navigation: Easy Views: Excellent Crowds: Minimal Destination: Mt. Truman Length: Difficult Steepness: Moderate Navigation: Moderate Views: Excellent Crowds: Minimal Destination: Mt. Lafayette Length: Difficult Steepness: Moderate Navigation: Moderate Views: Excellent Crowds: Minimal Hike Stats Date Hiked: Friday, April 24, 2009 Hike Commenced: 1:51 PM Parking Elevation: 1,770' Destination: Little Haystack Mountain Ascent Commenced: 1:52 PM Summit Reached: 3:48 PM Time Elapsed: 01:56 Trailhead Elevation: 1,785' Summit Elevation: 4,780' Vertical Gain: 3,195' Destination: Mt. Lincoln Ascent Commenced: 3:48 PM Summit Reached: 4:14 PM Time Elapsed: 00:26 Trailhead Elevation: 4,780' Summit Elevation: 5,089' Vertical Gain: 469' Destination: Mt. Truman Ascent Commenced: 4:17 PM Summit Reached: 4:31 PM Time Elapsed: 00:14 Trailhead Elevation: 5,089' Summit Elevation: 5,000' Vertical Gain: 130' Destination: Mt. Lafayette Ascent Commenced: 4:33 PM Summit Reached: 4:54 PM Time Elapsed: 00:21 Trailhead Elevation: 5,000' Summit Elevation: 5,260' Vertical Gain: 380' Hike Ended: 7:32 PM Hike Time Elapsed: 05:41 Hike Distance: 9 miles Hike Vertical Gain: 4,354' Old Bridle Path trailhead Looking south from near the summit of Little Haystack Mountain The Franconia Ridge Trail on the way to Mt. Lincoln Looking over the Twins and Bonds at the Presidentials from Mt. Lincoln The Franconia Ridge Trail on the way to Mt. Truman Mt. Garfield as seen from Mt. Truman Looking the Franconia Ridge Trail between Mt. Truman and Mt. Lafayette Looking southeast from Mt. Lafayette Directions to trailhead: Take Interstate 93 north from Lincoln to the Lafayette Place exit. Back to Little Haystack Mountain Profile Back to Mt. Lincoln Profile Back to Mt. Truman Profile Back to Mt. Lafayette Profile Copyright 2002-2021, All Rights Reserved. www.FranklinSites.com