Lonesome Lake is a 12.2-acre water body located in Franconia Notch in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, south of Cannon Mountain. The lake is reachable by hiking trails from the Franconia Notch Parkway, including the Lafayette Place Campground, and takes approximately 2–3 hours.
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AI.
Franconia Notch State Park
4.8
(3.3K)
Lovely hike on Aug 9th 2020. HIKE: The gently ascending 0.8 mile 'lonesome lake trail' is good for novice hikers and kids. The Hi-Cannon/Kinsman Ridge trail is a much steeper incline to the lake for experienced hikers that continues up to Cannon Mt. summit. LAKE: Scenic lake for a picnic and cold water swimming. PARK: Free, first come. Lafayette Place car park was full by 8:35am - so arrive early on weekends! (Parking along the I-93 is no longer permitted; overflow parking at 'the basin' with no shuttle service - due to covid19). EAT: AMC hut is open; mask required. Buy snacks with cash or credit (chips, chocolates, brownies, quesadillas). Fill up your water bottle. Afterwards I recommend a 10min drive to Woodstock. Smiley's Produce have a tasty food truck + outdoor seating for fresh fish & chips, plus burgers & salads, and then visit Woodstock pie and...
Read more
Mountain lake, alpine feel! A must visit in the white mountains, with a fantastic view of Mt. Lafayette it feels lime the alps. One of the few larger lakes above 2000 feet in the state, situated in some of the most beautiful mountains in the northeast with a hut open year round. The trail is very good but is a 1000 foot climb. Boardwalk stretches around the lake. Very buggy in early summer, can be windy in winter. The fall is overcrowded mostly for parking. Spring is hard to define but probably the least crowded, and the snow finally melts in late april/early may after which it rapidly warms. The lake can also be accessed by the basin-cascades trail, this trail is less steep but very rocky with a couple river crossing that are usually doable except after heavy rain or during a...
Read more
Did the Lonesome trail on a Saturday during a perfect summer day with my Fiance. The trail is harder than it seems, so make sure you are well prepared and have enough time. Hiking up was a bit of a challenge for me as I am not in shape and easy for my fiance as he works out reguarly. Hiking back down from the trail was so much easier. We spent a lot of time at the pond. Make sure you have enough time at the pond as you can go swim in the pond. It is very pretty and there is a very friendly duck...
Read more
