Cannon Mountain Rim Trail Loop

This 0.4-mile loop circles the viewing area on 4,080-foot Cannon Mountain. It links a short piece of Kinsman Ridge Trail with the Rim Trail and Short Trail by the summit observation area, returning to the tram-station side. Allow about 30–60 minutes for the loop itself; the distance does not include a climb up from the valley.

The payoff is the open look into Franconia Notch and toward Franconia Ridge. The summit observation tower and a coin-operated viewer give you a clear place to stop; the viewer sits among low balsam fir with the ridge beyond. Cloud can hide much of that panorama.

This is a walk at the summit, not a valley-side trailhead. When the tram is operating, the loop is a short add-on from the upper station. Reaching the summit on foot takes a separate, strenuous hike such as Kinsman Ridge or Hi-Cannon, and that approach is not included in the 0.4 miles. Cannon's 1980 tram carried more than nine million passengers before its last season in 2025. As of October 2026, published information did not confirm whether these short summit paths remain open to hikers during replacement work, so check with the mountain before making a trip specifically for this loop.

The Rim Trail passes beside exposed cliff edges, including an unguarded section; skip the loop if heights are a problem. Franconia Notch State Park limits pets to marked dog walks near the Tramway and Flume lots, so pets are not allowed on this route.