Sight · Franconia Notch State Park
A governor’s memorial, a brookside bridge, and Mount Lafayette beyond.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Franconia Notch Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Franconia Notch State Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Franconia Notch audio tourRecorded for this place
Governor Gallen Memorial and Sunset Bridge“Up ahead is Governor Gallen Memorial, a quick stop pairing local history with a mountain view. Park beside the bronze bust, then take the short walk to Sunset Bridge for Mount Lafayette above Lafayette Brook.”
Plays as you drive up to Governor Gallen Memorial in the Parkwolf Franconia Notch Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Governor Gallen Memorial honors Hugh J. Gallen, a New Hampshire governor, with a bronze bust on a signed stone pedestal. Park beside it, then take the short walk to Sunset Bridge over Lafayette Brook. That pairing makes this a worthwhile pause on the Franconia Notch drive: the bridge opens a view toward Sunset Hill and Mount Lafayette, while the memorial gives the stop a story beyond the scenery.
The bridge is the main scenic payoff. Lafayette Brook runs below, with Mount Lafayette beyond and Sunset Hill in the wider view. For a photo, leave a little brook in the foreground and the mountain above it; fall color can add another layer, but its timing varies from year to year.
Gallen moved to New Hampshire in 1948 and built a business and political career in Littleton. He won election in 1978 and 1980, then died in office on December 29, 1982, shortly before his second term ended. The memorial plaque honors the dignity and worth he aimed to advance; a local account says friends gave the bust and plaque.
Wildlife
66 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
38 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
19 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
19 sightingsGreat Blue HeronMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
13 sightingsTurkey VultureMost seen around noonSighting map
23 sightingsRavenMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Franconia Notch. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateArtists Bluff and Bald Mountain Loop1.3 mi · 1.3 hr · 0.9 mi awayEcho Lake below, big peaks ahead, in a short two-viewpoint loop.
ModerateBald Mountain Trail0.7 mi · 30 min · 0.9 mi awayA short scramble to open rock and Franconia Notch views.
ChallengingMount Lafayette via Greenleaf Trail6.6 mi · 6.5 hr · 0.9 mi awayEagle Pass, Greenleaf Hut, and a hard climb to Lafayette.
ChallengingCannon Mountain via Kinsman Ridge Trail4.1 mi · 3.5 hr · 1 mi awayA hard climb earns a clear view across Franconia Ridge.
ChallengingKinsman Ridge Trail15.8 mi · 12 hr · 1 mi awayA full day across Cannon, the Cannon Balls, and both Kinsmans.
EasyProfile Lake via Pemi Trail1.3 mi · 45 min · 1.1 mi awayA short, rocky shore walk below Eagle Cliff
EasyPemi Trail4 mi · 2.5 hr · 1.1 mi awayA rough river trail connects Profile Lake with The Basin.
ChallengingMount Lafayette via Skookumchuck Trail10.2 mi · 8.5 hr · 1.4 mi awayA full-day climb to Lafayette’s quieter north ridge.
Sight · 0.5 mi awayArtists BluffA short, steep climb buys the Notch's best Echo Lake panorama.
Beach · 0.6 mi awayEcho Lake BeachA mountain-framed swim beach with kayaks at the water’s edge.
Campground · 0.7 mi awayCannon Mountain RV ParkSeven RV sites beside Echo Lake Beach, close to Franconia Notch.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayEcho Lake Boat LaunchA public put-in for your own boat on Echo Lake.
Sight · 0.9 mi awayNew England Ski Museum (Franconia Branch)New England ski history, from vintage gear to the 10th Mountain Division.
Sight · 0.9 mi awayCannon Mountain Aerial TramwayA 1938 lift that carried generations of skiers to the summit.
Sight · 0.9 mi awayOld Man of the Mountain MuseumFive granite ledges shaped a face woven into New Hampshire's story.
Sight · 0.9 mi awayCannon Mountain Ski AreaA steep, old-school hill that puts skiing ahead of frills.Parkwolf’s Franconia Notch ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
