Lonesome Lake, Franconia Notch NH
• 4-star hike
• 3 mile out-and-back
• Moderate | Gain 1,030 feet
• Lincoln, NH | White Mountains
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Lake views towards Mounts Lafayette and Lincoln.
Hike just a-mile-and-a-half from the hustle and road noise of Franconia Notch to enjoy the tranquility of Lonesome Lake among panoramic mountain views. The trail begins by Lafayette campground and climbs a thousand feet on a gently inclined trail with terrain that should be comfortable for most people. The trail on our map terminates at the AMC Lonesome Lake Hut, but you can continue to hike around the perimeter of the lake to enjoy all the views this spot has to offer. We visited on a summer weekday and found it not too busy, though this area can become packed, particularly on weekends and holidays.
The AMC Lonesome Lake Hut offers overnight accommodations as well as breakfast, dinner and naturalist programs. All visitors can use the facilities bathrooms, water refill stations and can buy snacks, hot drinks and soup at lunchtime. In addition to hanging about the lake or taking a swim, the hut is a great base from which to explore neighboring mountain peaks and to have snowshoeing adventures in the winter months.
Expand ↓ Map
⬤ 4★ Lonesome Lake Trail
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions |
Driving directions linked above lead to the large Old Bridle Path parking area on the east side of Interstate 93, and the Lonesome Lake trail is accessible by a trail under the freeway. This is the first parking opportunity if you are driving up from the South and the one with the greatest chances of finding an available spot. There are two other parking areas across the interstate (directions) and both are closer to the trailhead, but there is no connecting road under the freeway at this location and driving between the two sides requires four to five miles of additional driving.
Lonesome Lake Trailhead, near Lafayette Campground.
Cascade Brook Trail boardwalk by the lake.
Inside the AMC Lonesome Lake Hut
Tangents:
• Official: AMC Lonesome Lake Hut
• Public Maps at AllTrails: Lonesome Lake
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article
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