Franconia Notch State Park

Basin cascade is a beautiful hiking trail. Small falls along the way. It's easy at the beginning. But if you want to climb up to the lake. It's getting sketchy and rocky. The lake is very nice too. It takes us about 2.5h up to the lake around 2.5 miles of up hill path from the parking.

“Franconia Notch State Park in the fall is nothing short of magical! The vibrant foliage transforms the entire park into a breathtaking sea of reds, oranges, and yellows, making every trail feel like you’re walking through a postcard. Hiking through the Flume Gorge or taking the Aerial Tramway at Cannon Mountain offers stunning panoramic views of the fall colors. The crisp autumn air and the peaceful atmosphere make it the perfect time to visit. Whether you’re here for a scenic drive or a more active hike, Franconia Notch in the fall is an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend for anyone looking to soak in New Hampshire’s fall beauty!

Franconia ridge loop was beautiful! Trail is in excellent condition on the lower 1/3 of both falling waters and old bridal path. Some incredible maintenance and stonework was done recently. Still a difficult hike with terrific views on a clear day! Remember to check the weather. Know your limits. Wear really grippy shoes.

One of New England’s nature gems - and probably one of the best hiking areas I’ve ever been to anywhere in the world. *update for anyone hiking Fall of 2024, they have (recently?) made it so that you cannot park along the highway, and parking in the lots is EXTREMELY limited. There is a shuttle that carries hikers to and from an overflow lot a few miles away, but there may be lines for the shuttle as it fills up at busy times of the day. It also stops running at 7pm. Highly recommend doing the full Franconia ridge loop and ascending via the Falling Waters trail! I had only ever done the reverse, but I think descending via the Old Bridle trail was a bit easier and you get better views the whole time while ascending towards Mt. Lafayette on the ridge. Cannon mountain and lonesome lake are also great day hikes!

Words can't describe how beautiful this place truly is. I felt like I was on another planet. It's the perfect place to go hiking with your dog, which is what I live to do. The trail head to the falls is about 7 mi, took us about 2 hours not including stopping to see the beautiful river that runs throughout the park. The cool thing about this place is that The trail is mostly shaded so it's the perfect spot to hike in the summer with your furry friend and when they get hot they can swim and drink the water from the falls. The clearest water I've ever seen. If I ever visit New Hampshire again, I will for sure revisit this place. If you're looking for a magical hike, this is it.