Franconia Notch State Park, NH
A brookside climb ends at Lonesome Lake beside an AMC hut.
Overview
Cascade Brook Trail from the Whitehouse access is about 6.7 miles out and back to Lonesome Lake, roughly 3.35 miles each way. Expect about 1,300 feet of climbing and around four to five hours. This is the longer way to the lake; if you only want to see it, the separate Lonesome Lake Trail from Lafayette Place is listed at about 3 miles round trip. Choose Cascade Brook for the brookside approach and a longer mountain walk, not the shortest lake visit.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the hike for you?Map & elevation
Plan your hike
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 trailhead
Mount Liberty via Liberty Spring Trail“Whitehouse Trailhead is coming up, the starting point for Mount Liberty via Liberty Spring Trail. This is a six-to-seven-hour day, about seven and a half miles round trip, with a very steep, rocky upper climb.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead 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!!!!”
Trail guide
Begin on Whitehouse Trail, then follow Cascade Brook through the forest. Early on, the route meets the Pemi Trail and crosses Whitehouse Brook at an unbridged ford. Cascade Brook climbs steadily over uneven ground. The Basin-Cascade connector branches off near a footbridge; farther along, the Kinsman Pond Trail turns away. Stay on Cascade Brook toward Lonesome Lake. Those branches lead to separate hikes and aren't included in this route.
The route reaches Lonesome Lake's south shore beside the AMC hut. From the water, Franconia Ridge rises across the lake, though cloud can hide the view. A short path circles the shoreline and adds about 0.3 mile; it isn't included in the mapped out-and-back. For a photo, frame the far ridge with a little of the rocky shore in front.
Published directions use the Flume parking area, then Whitehouse Trail for about 0.8 mile to Cascade Brook. A separate surface lot named Whitehouse Trailhead is mapped at this route's start, but public hiker parking there couldn't be confirmed. If you start at the Flume lot, add about 0.8 mile each way to the 6.7-mile figure. NH State Parks permits dogs on hiking trails; dogs aren't allowed inside Flume Gorge or at the campground.
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
ChallengingMount Liberty and Mount Flume via Liberty Spring Trail10.2 mi · 8 hr · At the trailheadTwo rugged summits, a rocky ridge traverse, and broad mountain views.
ChallengingMount Liberty via Liberty Spring Trail7.5 mi · 6.5 hr · At the trailheadSteep climb, big summit views, and Mount Flume’s slides.
ChallengingFranconia Ridge Traverse16.7 mi · 12 hr · 0.2 mi awayFour 4,000-footers, a long day, and miles of exposed ridge.
ModerateFlume Gorge Trail2 mi · 1.8 hr · 0.2 mi awayA two-mile loop through a granite gorge, waterfalls, and a glacial pool.
ModerateMount Pemigewasset Trail3.3 mi · 2.8 hr · 0.3 mi awayA steady forest climb to an open granite summit above the Notch.
EasyRoaring River Memorial Nature Trail0.3 mi · 30 min · 0.4 mi awayA short woodland loop with a 1988 memorial gazebo.
ModerateIndian Head Trail3.8 mi · 3 hr · 1.4 mi awayA rocky climb to open summit ledges with broad views.
ModerateBasin Cascade Trail2 mi · 2 hr · 1.4 mi awayCascade Brook's granite ledges and small falls earn the extra walk.
Visitor center · 0.3 mi awayGilman Visitor CenterTickets, park info, food and exhibits at the Flume entrance.
Sight · 0.6 mi awayFlume GorgeFollow a brook through an 800-foot granite gorge and two bridges.
Sight · 0.9 mi awayMount PemigewassetBroad ledges turn a steady climb into a Franconia Notch view.
Sight · 1.4 mi awayThe BasinA river-carved granite bowl and waterfall, reached by a short paved walk.
Sight · 1.5 mi awayKinsman FallsA narrow cleft sends Cascade Brook into a dark plunge pool.
Sight · 1.9 mi awayRocky Glen FallsA stepped gorge waterfall worth the uphill finish.
Campground · 2.1 mi awayLiberty Springs TentsiteA useful backpacking stop just below the Franconia Ridge junction.Sight · 2.2 mi awayMount LibertyA long climb earns a rocky summit and wide Franconia Ridge views.Parkwolf’s Franconia Notch ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
