Hiking the Franconia Ridge Loop in the White Mountains (The #1 Rated Hike in New Hampshire!)

For our final adventure in New Hampshire we completed the top hike we wanted to do while in New England: the Franconia Ridge Loop, which is the #1 rated hike in New Hampshire on AllTrails and is said to have some of the best views in all of New England.

This 8.4 mile hike has 3,882 feet of elevation gain, goes by beautiful waterfalls, and takes you to the top of 3 peaks, Little Haystack, Mount Lincoln, and Mount Lafayette, with incredible 360º views as you walk the ridge between them.

⌚Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:38 Starting the hike
03:30 Summiting Little Haystack
05:49 Summiting Mount Lincoln
07:14 Summiting Mount Lafayette
08:58 Greenleaf Hut
12:15 Post hike burgers

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👋🏼 About us
Hi y’all! We’re Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) living on the road in our self-converted sprinter van! You can often find us driving all around the US and Canada, scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (we're a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature.

We help travelers spend less time (and stress!) planning their trip and more time enjoying it! Our detailed travel guides, YouTube videos, and travel resources share the must-visit local eats, popular and off the beaten path sights, and tons of tips to make planning your next adventure a whole lot easier.

Note: We’ve linked a handful of items so you can see exactly which products we take with us. Full disclosure--if you click on these links and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. We will only ever recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too!

[AdventuresofAplusK]

This video was filmed on October 8, 2021 and doesn’t reflect the current trail conditions.

[GoldenHart]

Great video, a fun fact at one point National geographic rated this hike as the 6th best hike to do in the world.
Its hard to capture the steepness in a video but these 4000 footers are not an easy hike. I've hiked all 48 of the 4000 footers in NH multiple times and you quickly gain a huge respect for them, and learn to never underestimate them and the severe weather they can have. I believe to date 166 people have died on Mt Washington so far, and sadly a month or so after you guys did this hike a young woman did this loop hike by herself and a winter storm moved in and she froze to death a little ways down past that hut. But if you are prepared and able and watch the "high summit" weather (Mt Washington has a website that tells you the summit forecast, never go by the lower elevation weather) it is definitely something you have to try and experience. 👍

[AdventuresofAplusK]

This video was filmed on October 8, 2021 and doesn’t reflect the current state of fall foliage.

[mcnater]

Oh my goodness those burgers look amazing. Cajun is my go to as well and those fries are done exactly how I like them. Amazing views on that hike...makes up for the foggy summit the other day! Also, love the Kraig Adams return to get the camera shots. Nice dedication to the shots you 2.

[aussiejonny]

Love the videos, It is great to see them all the way from Australia. We are looking to spend 1 year in the US doing exactly what you are doing. Here is hoping it all works out for us in 2023. In the meantime we will continue to enjoy these videos. Thank you

[isabelroy]

I currently live in New Hampshire and have done that hike a few times now! My favorite time was when there was a light dusting of snow on the peaks, such a gorgeous hike! Glad you guys enjoyed it! Also those burgers are WICKED GOOD!😂

[ahhitskatie]

Speechless. I knew NH was supposed to be beautiful, I just had no idea it was THAT beautiful. Not ready for the end of your NH series, but also so excited for all of your Maine adventures!

[itsnotme]

I understand not wanting to do the Rockpile during late Fall. I've been up there several times, April through September. Sometimes took the Cog, sometimes drove. It's wicked windy on a good day and crazy windy on a not so good day. The Cog seems to raise prices by more than 10% a year lately. It is worth the ride though...sucks that you only get an hour at the top...well you can take more, but then your return ride may not have room for you...as later in the day the seats really fill up. Hikers like to summit and take the Cog down.

[patrickwestfall]

A+K---great video again! Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed Franconia Ridge more than Mt Washington last time I was there. The view on Washington was completely fogged in. Franconia is underrated, if that's possible.

[eddiej]

If you ever come back for mount Washington, I highly recommend the Huntington ravine route. It is considered to be the most technical trail in the whites, so unfortunately that route isn't dog friendly (although ive seen it done anyways). I only did it once on a 30 degree day in july (yes july) lol. It wasn't no where near as bad as everyone made it out to be. I found it to be extremely fun. Plenty of hold and places to put your feet so it isn't some crazy ordeal. I've been on hikes out west that literally had me fearing for my life, this wasn't one of them. Otherwise I also heavily recommend doing the entire presidential traverse. Cannot recommend that enough, it is a 22mile doozy, but you will never regret it. Best 15-16 hours of my life! You can also do it as a multi day backpack! Covers 10 peaks, the half way point being mount Washington!

[richardbeee]

Beautiful scenery!! What a hike! Always wondered where the name "Franconia" came from. Have a gold mine in AZ that is in Franconia wash. Still don't know what it means. Least now i know from whence it came from. As always, good choice of food. Can't believe y'all ate the whole thing. Incredulous:) Great video. Give the dog a scratch for me; and see ya next time.

[MOTlN]

Incredible. One of my favorite day hikes ever! Awesome video as always, y'all!

[PaulsWanderings]

It still holds the record for the highest wind recorded by a manned station. If you did the loop, you came down The Old Bridal Path. The Greenleaf Trail start near the Cannon Mountain Tramway.

[ivi]

My husband mentioned a few years ago that he wanted to do this loop hike with me, but I’m a bit scared. I’m just scared of the constant uphill. I love hiking but this past year I haven’t hiked a lot so I’m a bit out of shape. I can hike for miles and miles but when it’s up hill I struggle. Do you think it’s doable for someone who’s a big out of shape and 180 pounds? Btw, I love that you give details of the hikes and places you eat. Very informative videos

[seannewton]

Awesome video, as usual. If you ever go back, I definitely recommend going up Mount Washington, whether it be by road, cog railway, or hiking. I still have vibrant memories of being there when I was four. A couple more US hikes with huts are Mount Greylock, the high point of Massachusetts, and Glacier's Highline Trail.

[WhenAdventureKnox]

I can totally understand why this is the best rated hike, it was stunning from start to end. The boulder falls, the bigger falls, the autumnal fall colour and the views at the top. I'm still yet to experience a cloud inversion and those clouds waaaay off in the distance from both Little Haystack and Mt Lincoln were so beautiful. I giggled so much at your explanation as to why your chose not to hike Mt. Washington... so funny! Very much appreciated the food in this too. I'd have gone for the apple coffee cake, and whilst I wouldn't have gone for the beef in the burgers, they looked excellent and had they one chicken/veggie, I'd have been buying one of those!! Very off topic, but a couple of my colleagues told we they're going to Vegas next summer and I immediately told them about Zion National Park and Googled images to show them and a photo of you both in the Narrows came up as one of the top images ❤️

[davidnilles]

Quite a hike! Good job y’all and the fall foliage was awesome! The mountains were impressive, who knew?

[ralpholson]

Many of the hikers who get into trouble on Mt. Washington do so in the late summer or fall. They do not prepare for the falling temperature, thick cloud cover and moisture that can envelope you very quickly.

[stevedietrich]

3:17 and 8:50 I know those looks oh so well. Interesting to hear that you've been to the Dolomites. My vote for the most beautiful mountains I've ever experienced. Did you make a video there as well?

[KEIFabrication]

My favorite hike of all time! Took our Boy Scout troop there for one of our merit badge hikes a few years back. The weather was spectacular, like it was for you and so was the hike!