Artists Bluff — Local services in Franconia

Sunday, October 8, 2023 at around 12:45 PM: The beginning of the trail was beautiful, and then we were met with 500+ people crammed on a narrow trail all trying to squeeze up a wet and muddy hill to the top. My group and I had to leave because we weren't planning on spending 2.5 hours on this "short hike." The fact that there isn't a reservation system during peak foliage season makes absolutely no sense to me after seeing the parking lot, the road and the trail.

We drove to Flume Gorge after this (which used a reservation system) and the experience there was 100 times better. Even though the parking lot was full, the timed reservation slots helped to keep an even steady flow of people versus what we experienced here at Artist's Bluff. And not to mention that with hundreds of people shoulder to shoulder at Artist's Bluff on a muddy incline with rocks everywhere...if someone at the top were to lose their step and fall, they would've taken down 100 people with them. This was one of the most mismanaged state park experiences I've ever...

Hardly anyone warns you about the difficulty of this climb. There are very few signs along the way, and you’ll often feel like you’re lost. There is one major sign at an important junction, but it seems like some mischievous person may have tampered with it. As you climb, follow the red paint marks on a few trees — they were really helpful when I was navigating in the dark.

If you’re short on time or energy, don’t start the trek from Artist Bluff’s parking area; it’s a longer route and can be unnecessarily exhausting. Instead, begin the climb from across the road from Echo Park. The climb (or descent) can be especially difficult if your shoes aren’t suitable or if it has rained recently.

I started in the late evening, and by the time I reached the viewpoint, it was already dark. I even spotted an animal that looked like a fox or something of similar size. Since it was dark, I discovered a shorter route that exits near the Echo Park parking lot across the street — it turned out to be a lifesaver in...

Use exit 34c. Signage is clear for the artist bluff and carpark is really visible just across the cannon tramway and it is also past the echo beach lake. Some say it is a short hike like short short because they used the shortcut which has a straight shot to the mildly steep rocky steps going to the lookout. See my images dor reference. Otherwise, it is a 1.5 mile loop. VERY MUDDY AND SLIPPERY when wet bit if you start on the shortcut across the echo lake carpark then it is not as muddy and slippery compared to the start of a he trail. NOT A KID FRIENDLY. Especially when you reach the viewing point, there are no rails and it is a straight shot down to cliff. The short tiring hike was worth it when you reach the top. View was magnificent, we went here when it was past peak but still there were some colors to it, how much more when it was on peak. Carpark is very spacious with porta potties. No parking on the shoulders...