Hiking the top rated hike in NH
Hiking Lincoln and Lafayette the top rated hike in New Hampshire!
Lincoln & Lafayette – Franconia Ridge Adventure
Lincoln & Lafayette mountains. The view of what you’ve hiked as you start to go down.
New Hampshire’s top-rated hike - Lincoln & Lafayette on the Franconia Ridge!
This was our biggest hike of the year, they’re two of New Hampshire’s tallest mountains, the 6th and 7th highest peaks in the state. These were also numbers 6 and 7 for us out of the 48 4,000-footers. We started this 4,000-footer journey about a year ago, saying we’d just “dip our toes in” and see how it went. We weren’t sure if we’d actually work on finishing the list… but here we are, checking them off one by one. Will we complete it? Only time will tell.
Let’s get into this incredible hike… and yes, it really is incredible!
We always take a picture of the trail head start sign, when we begin. Helps to know how long it takes us
Early Start
We started early. Because this hike is super popular. Like, “parking-lot-fills-before-sunrise” popular. We hit the trail around 5:45 a.m. with our headlamps on. Total hiking time: about 8½ hours (not counting breaks). I’m a slow hiker, so we planned for roughly a mile per hour, and for once, our timing was spot on.
Starting in the dark is always a little eerie, especially in northern New Hampshire. There are a few water crossings early on, and as the sun started peeking through the trees, we could see some pretty waterfalls. It’s been a dry year, so nothing too tricky, but the last waterfall (about 1.3 miles in) is the showstopper. That’s also your final water crossing. The rocks there are steep and could be slippery if wet, so I was very thankful for the dry day!
Climbing Toward the Ridge
At about 3 miles, you hit the alpine zone! Almost to your first peak (though not one of the official 48). You’ll reach Little Haystack around 3.2 miles in.
By this point, the faster hikers were catching up, and the trail started getting busier. Don’t forget to look behind you occasionally (one of my hiking tips) Cannon Mountain starts peeking through the trees here. Starting now, the views basically don’t stop for over 2 miles. It’s unreal.
Little Haystack doesn’t count as a 4,000-footer because it lacks 200 feet of prominence. From here, you leave the Falling Waters Trail and join the Franconia Ridge Trail, which is part of the Appalachian Trail, so you might spot a few thru-hikers!
This ridge is where my camera roll exploded. Mt. Lafayette was covered in a moving cloud for a while, and it was pure magic.
Mt. Lincoln
We didn’t linger long at Little Haystack (it was crowded), so we pushed on. The first official 4,000-footer of the day, Mt. Lincoln (5,089 ft), is about 4 miles in, the perfect PB&J break spot.
From here, we could see what looked like the next peak…but surprise! It was a false summit (North Lincoln), another 4,000-footer that doesn’t count. It’s okay though, the ridge is stunning, and sometimes a little scary with those sharp drop-offs toward Cannon. I was very happy for clear weather.
Peak of Mt Lincoln in NH
Mt. Lafayette
The climb to Lafayette gets steep, we even had to use our hands a few times. The summit, at 5,250 ft, comes around 5 miles in. We stopped for another quick snack but didn’t stay long; the crowds were really catching up by now.
Then came the descent to Greenleaf Hut, about 1.1 miles away, though it looks closer (classic trail illusion). You go down, then up again (of course), before reaching the hut around 6 miles into your day.
This seasonal hut is a gem, a great place for a bathroom break, water refill, or even a snack if they’ve got any left. The day we went, the baked goods were gone (tragic), but they were offering soup and cornbread for a small cash fee. Lesson learned: keep cash in you pack you never know when you can get trail treats!
They also have cold water refills. So refreshing after a hot climb.





The Descent
From Greenleaf, make sure you follow the Old Bridle Path down. Go the wrong way, and you’ll have a much longer day than planned. At this point, it felt like a hiker conga line, so I definitely wished we’d gone on a weekday.
You’re still at about 4,200 ft at the hut, which means there’s plenty of downhill left. This stretch follows Agony Ridge (aptly named), with slick, uneven rocks. I had a few “scoot down on my butt” moments here.
Being a slower hiker can be stressful when people are right behind you, especially when there’s no safe spot to step aside. One guy in particular had zero patience, basically flying past everyone. The next day I saw his post in a hiking group bragging about his speed. Let’s just say… I was not impressed.
If any speedy hikers are reading this I will pull over when it’s safe! Promise!
The Final Stretch
Before ducking back into the trees, you get one last stunning view of the ridge you just crossed. That “we just did that” moment? Pretty awesome.
At around 7.3 miles, you’re back in the woods and even though you think you’re almost done, there’s still 1.6 miles to go. The stairs on the descent tricked me into thinking we were close… but nope. Isn’t that always the case?
When we finally reached the parking lot, we saw the hiker shuttle vans that run between Cannon Mountain and the trailhead , a great option if the main lot is full (which it usually is on busy weekends).
What we just hiked behind us: Lincoln & Lafayette
Final Thoughts
This hike was absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to do it again, hopefully on a weekday next time.
Ratings:
⭐️ Views: 10/10 — jaw-dropping the entire way
💪 Difficulty: 9.5/10 — tough but not soul-crushing
🐶 Dog-friendly: For experienced hiking pups
🚻 Bathrooms: At the trailhead and at Greenleaf Hut
👧 Kid-friendliness: Not a beginner hike, best for experienced hikers or adventurous teens
If you love challenging hikes with unbeatable views, Lincoln & Lafayette deserve a top spot on your list.