Franconia Notch State Park
| Franconia Notch State Park | |
|---|---|
A composite image of the Franconia Notch State Park's famous Old Man of the Mountain, created from images taken before and after its collapse
|
|
| Location |
Lincoln and Franconia, Grafton County, New Hampshire |
| Coordinates | 44°08′36″N 71°41′02″W / 44.14333°N 71.68389°WCoordinates: 44°08′36″N 71°41′02″W / 44.14333°N 71.68389°W |
| Area | 6,692.8 acres (2,708.5 ha) |
| Operated by | New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation |
| Website | Franconia Notch State Park |
Franconia Notch State Park is located in the White Mountains in northern New Hampshire, United States, and straddles 8 miles (13 km) of Interstate 93 as it passes through Franconia Notch, a mountain pass between the Kinsman Range and Franconia Range. Attractions in the state park include the Flume Gorge and visitor center, the Old Man of the Mountain historical site, fishing in Echo Lake and Profile Lake, and miles of hiking, biking and ski trails. The northern part of the park, including Cannon Mountain and Echo and Profile lakes, is in the town of Franconia, and the southern part, including Lonesome Lake and the Flume, is in Lincoln.
The park is home to Cannon Mountain, a state-owned ski resort started in the 1930s. The mountain is named for a rock formation in the shape of a cannon found on the summit, but the "Old Man of the Mountain" formation was by far the more famous; it collapsed in May 2003. Cannon is also famous for being one of the most challenging hills in New England. It boasts an aerial tram, which runs year-round, ferrying sightseers to the summit in the summer time and skiers in the winter. At the base of the tramway is the New England Ski Museum, with exhibits on the history of alpine skiing in New England and America.
On the west side of the notch, halfway up the side of Cannon Mountain, is Lonesome Lake, an easy day hike up the Lonesome Lake Trail from the state park's Lafayette Place campground. The Lonesome Lake Hut, one of numerous well-kept huts throughout the White Mountains that are maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club, is found at the southwest end of the lake, near its outlet. Huts offer meals and lodging (reservations are recommended).
...
Wikipedia