Profile Lake via Pemi Trail

Profile Lake via Pemi Trail is a 1.3-mile out-and-back from the Old Man of the Mountain Historic Site parking area. Follow the Pemi Trail down to the lake’s rugged west shore, then return the same way; allow about 45 minutes. The payoff is a close look at the water and Eagle Cliff across Franconia Notch. The distance is short, but the shore is not a smooth stroll.

The path begins by a large Pemi Trail sign and climbs cut granite steps before dropping toward the lake. Along the shore, large rocks interrupt the tread, so watch your footing and take your time. This is the rustic Pemi route, not the separate accessible walk to Profile Plaza.

Profile Lake is the headwaters of the Pemigewasset River. It sits below the cliff where the Old Man of the Mountain once formed a granite face; locals also called the lake the Old Man’s Washbowl. The five-block formation stood about 40 feet high and collapsed overnight on May 2–3, 2003.

From the same historic site, a short paved path leads to Profile Plaza on the shore. Seven steel profilers line up to recreate the Old Man’s face when you stand at the marked viewpoint. It is a gentler way to see the lake, but it is a separate route from the rocky west-shore walk mapped here.

The Pemi Trail continues south beyond the lake toward the Basin and other parts of Franconia Notch. References give different distances for that longer walk because they use different endpoints. This trail entry covers only the short Profile Lake shore out-and-back; it does not include the southern continuation or a recreation-path loop.