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Franconia Notch Recreation Path

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Trail description: Paved 9-mile multi-use trail through Franconia Notch State Park.
Access fee: No charge (2003)
Towns along the trail: Franconia Notch, NH
Web site: Franconia Notch SP | NH Parks
Trail map: Available at the park
Trail surface: Paved
Designated activities: Bicycling, walking, inline skating
Facilities on the trail:
Points of interest: The Old Man of the Mountain was a natural rock formation resembling a human profile but unfortunately the popular landmark and state symbol collapsed May 3, 2003. The Flume is a 800-foot long gorge, about 80 feet deep.
Lodging: Franconia has several choices of accommodations
Camping: A campground with 100 sites is located in the park
Bike shops:
Weather forecast: Franconia
Tourism info: Franconia Chamber
Getting to the trail: The park is about 10 miles south of Franconia on I-93.
Map of local region: Franconia Notch

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Number of ratings: 2
Average rating: 3.00  

2        

Trail name: Franconia Notch Recreation Path
Times biking the trail: Few
Date of last visit: August, 2004
Sections that I biked: Full length
My favourite sections of the trail: Northernmost part (former route 3) from bridge to northern end.
Best time to go: Foliage season
Trail marking: Fair
Trail maintenance: Fair
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: Great setting, crowded in spots near highway parking lots but otherwise pretty peaceful, some good views, most of all the long downhill from cannon mt. to the flume parking lot. The northern end of the trail is smoothly graded, but not as interesting.
What I disliked: This is not so much a bike path as a paved hiking trail - probably well over 500 feet elevation gain from flume to cannon, lots of curves, some frost heaves, but not too bad considering how brutal the winters are here. I would not take kids here. Considering how close the trail comes to the cannon cliffs you don't get a decent view of them.
Comments: I have come here periodically for years, because it's a gorgeous narrow valley, but that means the highway and the pedestrians feeding off it share a limited space with the path.
Submitted by: Mike
from: Nashua, NH
Date submitted: Aug 8, 2004

1        

Trail name: Franconia Notch Recreation Path
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: Sept, 2003
Sections that I biked: Entire trail
My favourite sections of the trail:
Best time to go:
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 2 stars
What I liked:
What I disliked: Ridiculous grades and curves for a bike path.
Comments: I took this path because it's the only way for bicyclists to pass through the notch. I was stunned by having to use my granny gears on a bike path in sections.
Inexperienced cyclists should be wary about riding this trail. Make sure your brakes are working well and pay attention for pedestrians.
Heading south on the trail is the easier of the two directions. Heading north appeared to be predominantly uphill.
Submitted by: Barbara S. Abrahamer
from: Albany, NY
Date submitted: Sept 16, 2003

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