Hancock Notch Trailhead — Attraction in Lincoln

Be advised, the trail lengths are inaccurate. For example, to hike the Hancock loop trail from the Hancock overlook to the south peak and back, it's a total of 8.7 miles...that's without hiking the whole loop! There's no good overlooks in hiking to the south peak. From the parking lot, there's an easy 1.5 mile hike that doesn't really change in elevation, but no vista lookouts. Definitely a bummer for us that we thought the loop trail would be a nice 2.5 mile hike in about an hours time, but ended up being 8.7 without being able to finish the loop and had to jog out in order to get out before dark! 3...

In the accompanying photo below, an aerial view is provided of the hairpin turn on New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Highway (New Hampshire Route-112) along which Hancock Notch Trailhead rests. The colors of the leaves on the surrounding trees in the photo create something of an autumnal rainbow. The beauty of this particular spot has always struck me in an area filled with breathtakingly scenic views. I frequently fly a drone of mine above the trailhead to take in, and on occasion, capture through photograph the contrast between the curve of the road and the cars...

Hike starts at a nice elevation that you pass through mostly shady pine along clear stream in the ravine. Nice and cool for summer, lots of snow for cross country. Fairly flat to start. The notch features much of the same, and the peaks don't have much of a view after the long 4 miles...