Lonesome Lake - Hike to a Breathtaking New Hampshire Wilderness Lake
Lonesome Lake is high above Franconia Notch and surrounded by Franconia Notch State Park and the White Mountains National Forest. The Lake is surrounded by stunning mountains including Cannon Mountain, Mount Lafayette, and Mount Lincoln.
For a relatively short and moderately difficult hike, the payoff is big for Lonesome Lake in terms of views and experience.
We were there with our friend Patrick since it was close to pancakes (Polly’s in Franconia is amazing) and he was missing the Dodge Cut-Off Trail for his WMNF redlining effort.
For this hike we began at the trailhead located at the Lafayette Place Campground just off of Interstate 93 and started our hike on the Lonesome Lake Trail. This is an incredibly popular trailhead and parking is very limited. You should arrive early and always have a backup plan. There is a shuttle that runs at times from larger parking areas at the Cannon Mountain Tram parking lot.
From the trailhead, the trail passes through the Lafayette Place Campground before beginning to climb more steeply up the side of Franconia Notch. After about 0.7 miles you'll come to the trail junction with the Hi-Cannon Trail.
At the trail junction, we turned right and followed the Hi-Cannon Trail up for 0.8 miles to the Dodge Cut-Off. The 0.8 miles from the Lonesome Lake Trail to the Dodge Cut-Off are steep and climb quickly, but the trail is not overly difficult and is easy to follow along the way. Just after reaching the height of land, the trail comes to the junction with the Dodge Cut-Off trail.
The Dodge Cut-Off takes you from the Hi-Cannon Trail to the trail junction with the Cascade Brook Trail and the Lonesome Lake Trail near the shore of Lonesome Lake. Out of all the trails around Lonesome Lake, the Dodge Cut-Off seems to be the least used and was a bit overgrown in place.
From the junction of the Dodge Cut-Off, the Lonesome Lake Trail, and the Cascade Brook Trail, we followed the Lonesome Lake Trail around Lonesome Lake in a counterclockwise fashion before arriving at the Lonesome Lake Hut managed by the AMC. The hut has drinking water and restrooms, along with some baked goods available for purchase. There’s also a hut manager who can answer hiking and trail questions.
After some snacks and a break, we then took the Fishing Jimmy Trail across the outlet of Lonesome Lake to the intersection with the Cascade Brook Trail and from there followed the Cascade Brook Trail to its intersection with the Lonesome Lake Trail, which we followed back down to the trailhead at the Lafayette Place Campground.
All told, this hike is 3.75 miles long with about 1,100 feet of elevation gain. This is a moderate hike.
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Gear we used on this hike:
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Important Hiking Considerations:
Weather: Check the weather forecast before your hike and be prepared for changes in conditions.
Safety: Some sections of the trail can be steep and rocky, so use caution and watch your footing.
Leave No Trace: As with any outdoor activity, remember to follow the principles of Leave No Trace. Pack out any trash, stay on the trail, and be respectful of the natural environment.
