Sight · Franconia Notch State Park
On calm days, Eagle Cliff doubles in Profile Lake.
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
Profile Lake and the Eagle Cliff View“You're approaching Profile Lake's southern viewing area, a quick stop for Eagle Cliff across the water. If the lake is calm, the cliff and forest can reflect in it; I'd give this ten minutes rather than plan a long walk.”
Plays as you drive up to Notch Viewing Area 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
Notch Viewing Area is a roadside scenic vista at Profile Lake’s southern end, east of the Franconia Notch Parkway. The state map marks it as its own viewpoint beside parking. It’s a good quick pause if you want a clear look across the water to Eagle Cliff and the forested walls of the notch.
Profile Lake sits below steep, wooded slopes and Eagle Cliff. On a calm day, the cliff and trees mirror in the water; include some lake in the frame so the reflection gives the rocky wall shape and scale. That still-water view is the best reason to stop.
The park map also marks the viewpoint accessible, but doesn’t describe the path or surface between parking and the exact view. The Old Man of the Mountain Historic Site is a separate stop across the parkway, not this lakeshore viewpoint.
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
EasyPemi Trail4 mi · 2.5 hr · 0.5 mi awayA rough river trail connects Profile Lake with The Basin.EasyProfile Lake via Pemi Trail1.3 mi · 45 min · 0.5 mi awayA short, rocky shore walk below Eagle Cliff
ChallengingMount Lafayette via Greenleaf Trail6.6 mi · 6.5 hr · 0.8 mi awayEagle Pass, Greenleaf Hut, and a hard climb to Lafayette.
ChallengingCannon Mountain via Kinsman Ridge Trail4.1 mi · 3.5 hr · 0.8 mi awayA hard climb earns a clear view across Franconia Ridge.
ChallengingKinsman Ridge Trail15.8 mi · 12 hr · 0.8 mi awayA full day across Cannon, the Cannon Balls, and both Kinsmans.EasyCannon Mountain Rim Trail Loop0.4 mi · 45 min · 1.1 mi awayA short summit loop with Franconia Notch views and exposed ledges.
ChallengingNorth and South Kinsman via Fishin’ Jimmy Trail9.8 mi · 9 hr · 1.3 mi awayA long, rough climb links two Kinsman summits above Franconia Notch.
ChallengingOld Bridle Path to Greenleaf Hut5.8 mi · 6 hr · 1.3 mi awayA steep hut climb with two open ledges and Franconia Notch views.Sight · At the trailheadProfile LakeA fly-fishing lake beneath the vanished Old Man profile.
Sight · 0.3 mi awayOld Man of the Mountain Profile PlazaStand at the marker and line up the face that fell.
Sight · 0.5 mi awayBoise RockA glacial erratic paired with a wintry survival legend.
Lodging · 0.8 mi awayGreenleaf HutWarm drinks and water refills soften the climb to Lafayette.
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 Aerial TramwayA 1938 lift that carried generations of skiers to the summit.
Sight · 0.9 mi awayNew England Ski Museum (Franconia Branch)New England ski history, from vintage gear to the 10th Mountain Division.
Sight · 1.1 mi awayEcho Lake Boat LaunchA public put-in for your own boat on Echo Lake.Parkwolf’s Franconia Notch ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
