Lincoln

Trip Summary
Elevation: 5,089 ft
Total Distance: 7.8 miles
Estimated Time:
Difficulty: Difficult
Views: Excellent

Driving north on I-93, after the Basin exit take the next exit for Trailhead Parking. This will be across the highway from Lafayette Place Campground. On a busy hiking day, you'll need to arrive early as this lot will fill up quickly and roadside parking is now prohibited.

(Many hikers peak bag this with Mount Lafayette and take the loop around the Old Bridle Path, but this guide only includes Mount Lincoln via Little Haystack. Little Haystack, while it is over 4,000 ft in elevation, is not part of the NH48 because it does not have a 200 ft prominence from Mt. Lincoln.)

Little Haystack Mountain (elevation 4,780 ft)
From the Trailhead parking lot, start up the Old Bridle Path for 0.2 miles, then at the split stay to the right onto Falling Waters Trail (3 miles). You will cross over Walter Brook on a footbridge and then shortly the trail parallels Dry Brook occasionally crossing over it. The difficulty of this trail is climbing up many boulders and rocks. When near the brook, rocks may be slippery where it's wet.

Dry Brook provides many beautiful waterfalls along the way, from which the trail gets it's name and popularity. The first one you'll come to is the small but lovely Stairs Falls.

Stairs Falls along the Falling Waters Trail

A few hundred feet up the trail above Stairs Falls you will come across Swiftwater Falls, a 60-foot mix of cascades and small plunges.

Swiftwater Falls along the Falling Waters Trail 

Continuing up the trail you will come to the impressive 80-foot Cloudland Falls. The trail crosses the brook below the falls and ascends up the left side to the top of the falls.

Cloudland Falls along the Falling Waters Trail

You will eventually climb above the tree line and come to a large open area with the cairn marking the summit of Little Haystack Mountain.

Cairn at the summit of Little Haystack looking over to Mt. Lincoln

Mount Lincoln
From the summit of Little Haystack, take the Franconia Ridge Trail north for 0.7 miles to the summit of Mount Lincoln. This is above the tree line so you can see it the whole way.

Franconia Ridge Trail from Little Haystack to Mt. Lincoln

The trail is a well marked with rocks lining the edge. There are occasional places where you have to climb up piles of boulders and rocks. You'll find a cairn at the summit where you can enjoy gorgeous 360 degree views.

Cairn at the summit of Mt. Lincoln

View to the East from Mt. Lincoln

At this point you can continue on the Franconia Ridge Trail to Mt. Lafayette, or to descend you simply retrace your steps back to Little Haystack and down the Falling Waters Trail.

Official Trail Map: (click to enlarge)