Mount Lafayette
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| Mount Lafayette | |
|---|---|
 Mount Lafayette from ridge, July 2004 |
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| Elevation | 5,260 feet (1,603 metres) |
| Location | Franconia, New Hampshire, USA |
| Range | Franconia Range |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Lafayette |
| First ascent | unknown |
| Easiest route | Hike from trailheads directly off Route 93 |
Mount Lafayette is a 5,260' mountain on the northern end of Franconia Ridge in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It is one of the most popular dayhike destinations in the White Mountain National Forest due to the spectacular views that its summit affords and its convenient location beside Interstate 93. The upper portion of the mountain is located in the Alpine Zone, an area of little vegetation that is characterized by rock fields and harsh weather conditions. A variety of trails lead up over 3000' vertical feet to its exposed summit. The Greenleaf Trail begins at the parking lot for the Cannon Mountain tramway and ascends to the Appalachian Mountain Club's Greenleaf Hut, then continues to the summit. The Bridle Path trail follows a western spur ridge of Lafayette from Lafayette Place Campground on Interstate 93 past Greenleaf Hut and joins the Greenleaf Trail, reaching the summit 1.1 miles after the hut. The peak is at the junction of the Garfield Ridge Trail, which follows the ridge northeast to Mt. Garfield, and the Franconia Ridge Trail, which leads south to Mts. Lincoln, Liberty, and Flume. Both the Garfield Ridge Trail and the Franconia Ridge Trail form part of the Appalachian Trail.
A very popular hike is to make a loop using the Old Bridle Path, the Franconia Ridge Trail over Mt. Lincoln and Little Haystack, and the Falling Waters Trail which returns you to Lafayette Place Campground.
Mount Lafayette is the highest point in the Franconia Range, a line of peaks along the east side of Franconia Notch. That makes it the highest peak in New Hampshire outside of the Presidential Range. It is also ranked sixth in the state in elevation on the four-thousand footers list and fourth in New England in topographic prominence on the fifty finest list.
On the western side, its lower slopes lie inside Franconia Notch State Park. The remainder of the mountain lies within the White Mountain National Forest. The summit marks the western border of the Pemigewasset Wilderness Area within the WMNF.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| 4000-foot mountains of New England |
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Maine: |
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