Lincoln Woods Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views

This trail is a main route into the headwaters of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River and leads into one of the largest roadless areas in the eastern United States known as the Pemigewasset Wilderness.

Backpackers, runners, fishermen, and mountain bikers all share this very popular multiple use trail. Motorized vehicles are prohibited. Summer is the heaviest use season, but with increased popularity of cross country skiing, the trail is also extensively used in winter. The fall season provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy hiking trails with cooler temperatures, fewer bugs, and fall foliage colors.

The Lincoln Woods Trail comes close to the river at 1.7 miles providing a nice view of Mt. Bond, and then crosses Birch Island Brook on a foot bridge at 1.8 miles. At 2.8 miles, the former Franconia Brook Campsite, now a Forest Protection Area, remains closed for health and safety reasons. An interim camping area with 24 sites has been established across the river on the northern end of the East Side Trail (truck service road). Camping in the Franconia Brook East - no fee is charged.

Past the former campsite is a stone wall and a narrow 75-foot bridge that crosses Franconia Brook. At the stone wall, a path veers left, leaving the trail, to follow the brook upstream 0.4 mile to scenic Franconia Falls, a large rock outcrop about an acre in size with cascading water. Franconia Falls restrooms have been closed. Unacceptable sanitary conditions and improper human waste disposal have caused general deterioration of this area. A sanitation kit is available for a nominal fee at the Visitor Center.

After crossing the bridge over Franconia Falls, the Lincoln Woods Trail ends and becomes the Wilderness Trail as it enters the Pemigewasset Wilderness.