Hiking in Mount Lafayette, New Hampshire: trails, map and practical info

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The Mount Lafayette loop via Falling Waters and Old Bridle Path ranks among New England's most spectacular day hikes, combining three 4,000-foot summits with the famous knife-edge traverse of Franconia Ridge. This 12.87-kilometer loop gains 1,600 meters of elevation over 6 to 8 hours, making it a very hard but incredibly rewarding challenge that's best tackled from April through October.

Mount Lafayette stands as the highest peak outside New Hampshire's Presidential Range at 5,260 feet, and is the 6th highest 4,000-footer in New Hampshire. The loop takes you over three peaks—Little Haystack (4,800 feet), Lincoln (5,089 feet), and Lafayette—with the highlight being the exposed 2-mile ridge walk that connects them. On clear days, you'll have stunning views of Mount Washington and the Presidential Range to the east, and you can even spot peaks in the Adirondacks.