Franconia Notch State Park

State: New Hampshire. Type: state park spanning 6,692.8 acres in the towns of Lincoln and Franconia, Grafton County, within White Mountain National Forest. Established 1928. Contains the site of the former Old Man of the Mountain rock formation (collapsed May 2003), Flume Gorge, Cannon Mountain ski area, and The Basin. Interstate 93 passes through an eight-mile parkway corridor within the park.

Franconia Notch State Park protects a dramatic mountain pass between the Franconia and Kinsman mountain ranges in New Hampshire's White Mountains, established in 1928 and now spanning nearly 6,700 acres in the towns of Lincoln and Franconia. The park is best known as the former home of the Old Man of the Mountain, a natural granite profile that served as New Hampshire's state symbol until it collapsed in May 2003; the site is preserved and interpreted today even without the formation itself. Other highlights include Flume Gorge, a narrow natural chasm with boardwalk trails and waterfalls; Cannon Mountain, a state-owned ski area dating to the 1930s with an aerial tramway (closed as of a 2026 replacement project) and the New England Ski Museum at its base; and The Basin, a glacially carved granite pothole on the Pemigewasset River. Interstate 93 narrows to a two-lane parkway through an eight-mile stretch of the notch, one of the few places in the U.S. interstate system built to minimize impact on a sensitive natural area. The park offers extensive hiking, biking, and ski trails, along with swimming and fishing at Echo Lake and Profile Lake.

The park spans the towns of Lincoln and Franconia in Grafton County, New Hampshire, within White Mountain National Forest, with Interstate 93 running through an eight-mile parkway section at its core. The park office address is 260 Tramway Drive, Franconia, NH 03580.

The notch has a humid continental climate typical of the White Mountains, with warm summers, cold snowy winters, and cooler conditions than lower-elevation parts of the state given its mountain-pass setting.

Late September to mid-October brings peak fall foliage through the notch. Summer is the main season for hiking, swimming at Echo Lake, and visiting Flume Gorge, while winter draws skiers to Cannon Mountain and cross-country skiers/snowshoers to the park's trails.

Franconia Notch State Park was established in 1928 to protect the pass and its landmarks, including the Old Man of the Mountain, a naturally formed granite profile on Cannon Mountain that had already become a widely recognized symbol of New Hampshire (it remains on the state's license plates and quarter design). The formation collapsed in May 2003 due to natural erosion and freeze-thaw action. Cannon Mountain's ski area dates to the 1930s, among the earliest developed ski areas in the eastern U.S., and later added the New England Ski Museum at its base. Interstate 93 was built through the notch as a narrow two-lane parkway rather than a standard four-lane interstate, a compromise reached to limit the highway's impact on the park's natural and scenic resources.

Popular activities include touring Flume Gorge's boardwalk trail system, hiking to Lonesome Lake (an easy day hike with an Appalachian Mountain Club hut offering meals and lodging), swimming and boat rentals at Echo Lake Beach, and skiing or riding at Cannon Mountain. The park also offers biking on the Franconia Notch bike path and fishing at Echo Lake and Profile Lake.

Key sites include Flume Gorge and its visitor center, the former Old Man of the Mountain viewing site, Cannon Mountain (with the New England Ski Museum at its base), The Basin glacial pothole, Echo Lake, and Profile Lake, plus trailheads for Lonesome Lake and other AMC hut destinations.

The park is directly accessible from Interstate 93, which runs through its eight-mile parkway corridor; exits serve Flume Gorge, the tramway/Cannon Mountain area, and other park features. The nearest airport with substantial commercial service is Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, roughly 1.5 hours south by car.

The park is generally open for recreation year-round, as it is 'always open for recreation unless closed or restricted by posting,' though staffing, facilities, and gated areas are reduced in the off-season. Individual attractions like Flume Gorge operate on their own seasonal schedules, generally spring through fall.

The park office (603-823-8800) can provide current day-use and parking fee information; specific dollar amounts were not available from the page accessible during this research. Flume Gorge and Cannon Mountain each charge their own separate admission/lift pricing, not covered by a general park entry fee. Cannon Mountain RV Park camping was listed at $50/night in peak season and $25/night off-season as of research.

A half day covers Flume Gorge and a scenic overlook or two; a full day allows time to add a hike to Lonesome Lake, a swim at Echo Lake, or a Cannon Mountain visit.

Lafayette Place Campground within the park offers 97 wooded tent sites with tables, fireplaces, and coin-operated showers, and the Cannon RV Park offers 7 sites with seasonal hookups; both also provide winter camping. Nearby Lincoln and North Woodstock offer additional motels, inns, and vacation rentals just outside the park.

Dining within the park itself is limited to seasonal concessions at sites like Flume Gorge; a fuller range of restaurants is available in nearby Lincoln and North Woodstock, a short drive from the park's main attractions.

The Kancamagus Highway begins near Lincoln, just outside the park's southern edge, and White Mountain National Forest surrounds the park on all sides, making it easy to combine a Franconia Notch visit with a Kancamagus drive or other White Mountains hikes.

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, roughly 1.5 hours south, is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service; there is no rail or scheduled bus service directly into the park, so a car is the practical way to visit.

As of the time of this research, the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway was closed for a replacement project, so visitors hoping to ride it should check current status before planning a trip. Trails to Lonesome Lake and other backcountry destinations can involve steep or rocky terrain, so appropriate footwear is advised, and swimmers at Echo Lake should be mindful of changing mountain weather. For any emergency, dial 911.

Comfortable walking shoes for Flume Gorge's boardwalk and any hiking trails, a swimsuit if visiting Echo Lake in summer, and layered clothing given the notch's cooler mountain-pass climate compared to surrounding lowlands.

Check the current status of the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway before visiting, since it was closed for a replacement project as of this research. Arrive early on fall-foliage weekends, since Flume Gorge and roadside overlooks draw heavy crowds and can fill parking areas. Combining a Franconia Notch stop with a drive along the nearby Kancamagus Highway is a popular way to see more of the White Mountains in one trip.

Dial 911 for any emergency. The park office can be reached at 603-823-8800 or by email at nhparks@dncr.nh.gov for general visitor questions.

Franconia Notch State Park (NH State Parks) - https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/franconia-notch-state-park

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.