Franconia Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 30 ft high | New Hampshire
6.4 mi round trip
Franconia Falls Hike at a Glance
The Franconia Falls hike is 6.4 mi round trip.
| Falls height | About 30 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 1,630 ft |
| Distance | 6.4 mi round trip |
Your time: about 2 h 10 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 2 h 40 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 1,210 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 6.4 mi distance for this hike is verified (newenglandwaterfalls.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Franconia Falls
Franconia Falls is a waterfall in New Hampshire, about 30 feet high, on land managed by White Mountain National Forest. Its height is from newenglandwaterfalls.com.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Franconia Falls Trail: 6.4 miles round trip, from Lincoln Woods Trailhead. Distance from newenglandwaterfalls.com.
Before You Go
- The day-use fee is $5 per vehicle per day. (fs.usda.gov)
- Dogs are allowed. (newenglandwaterfalls.com)
- The Forest Service closed the Lincoln Woods Trail from June 15 through November 2026 for restoration work; check that it has reopened. (fs.usda.gov)
- Several lives have been lost at the falls over the years. (newenglandwaterfalls.com)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check White Mountain National Forest for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Franconia Falls?
The Franconia Falls Trail to Franconia Falls is 6.4 miles round trip.
Where does the Franconia Falls hike start?
It starts from Lincoln Woods Trailhead.
How tall is Franconia Falls?
Franconia Falls is about 30 feet high.
Is there a fee to hike to Franconia Falls?
The day-use fee is $5 per vehicle per day.
Are dogs allowed on the Franconia Falls trail?
Dogs are allowed.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Franconia Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- newenglandwaterfalls.com
- Distance
- newenglandwaterfalls.com
- Falls height
- newenglandwaterfalls.com
- Falls location
- waterfallhikes.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Franconia Falls.