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One of the easiest and most heavily used trails in the White Mountain National Forest.


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Map Key

3.0

Miles

4.8

KM

Point to Point

1,478' 450 m

High

1,197' 365 m

Low

283' 86 m

Up

8' 2 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

6%

Max Grade (3°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views

Description

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, hikers, 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.

Contacts

Shared By:

Tom Robson

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 7 votes

#3

in Lincoln

#6914

Overall
  4.6 from 7 votes
5 Star
57%
4 Star
43%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
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1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#3

in Lincoln

#143

in New Hampshire

#6,914

Overall
22 Views Last Month
8,796 Since Oct 22, 2015
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

40%
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Photos

Lincoln Woods...Walking in a Winter Wonderland.
Jan 16, 2021 near Lincoln, NH
1908 rail in foreground overlooking the Pemi
Jul 30, 2018 near Lincoln, NH
PEMI Loop / Franconia Ridge and BondCliff
Apr 10, 2018 near Lincoln, NH
View from bridge leaving Lincoln Woods Trail to the Pemi Wilderness
Jul 30, 2018 near Lincoln, NH
Transition from Lincoln Woods Trail to Franconia Brooks Trail.
Aug 5, 2021 near Lincoln, NH
Lincoln Woods Trail. Wide and easy
Jul 30, 2018 near Lincoln, NH

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