At this point, you should see the road and alternate parking through the trees. After returning to the junction with the loop follow the trail downhill for about. It’s really an excellent vista!Īfter we spent some time enjoying the view all to ourselves – Artists Bluff is infinitely more popular than Bald Mountain – we made our way back down the spur trail. The view from the summit of Bald Mountain includes the ski area and a little bit of the lake, but it also includes views of mountain ranges to north and glimpses west into Vermont. It wasn’t a big backtrack, but still worth noting. We kind of lost the way and had to backtrack to find the trail again. Pay attention to where the trail exits the trees and steps out to the view. Near the top, you will pass through a brief pine-covered area before stepping out onto an expansive dome of bare rock. Below: The loop junction is well marked A view across Franconia Notch looking toward the Lincoln and Lafayette The saddle between Artists Bluff and Bald Mountain.įrom here, there is a little over a tenth of a mile of steep boulder scrambling. A nice view of Cannon Mountain ski slopes, Echo Lake, and Franconia Notch. The spur trail circles around the shoulder of Bald Mountain, climbing gently until you reach the ledges directly beneath the summit. The trail will meander up and down hills, crossing a saddle and climbing a small knob before reaching the Bald Mountain spur. Follow the red blazes in the direction of Bald Mountain. Lafayette and take in the splendor of Franconia Ridge.Īfter enjoying the views from Artists Bluff, follow the spur trail back to the marked boulder at the junction. ![]() If you’re feeling adventurous and energetic, use another day to hike to the summit of Mt. On the eastern side of the highway, you can see towering Mount Lafayette and Eagle Cliff. You can see I-93 trailing its way through Franconia Notch. Enjoy the fantastic view of Echo Lake and Cannon Mountain Ski Area. Follow the marked spur trail to the right out to Artists Bluff. 25 miles, you’ll reach a large boulder marked with red directional arrows and labels. You’ll pass boulders and climb up stone stairs for a couple tenths of a mile. The trail immediately begins a steep climb over rocky terrain. The return arm of the loop trail is to the left. Below: The beginning of the hike has a trailhead marker Adam makes his way through the boulders The trail is very rocky.Īs you enter the woods, bear to the right. There are some short but steep climbs en route to Artists Bluff. Across the road there is a clearly marked path with a sign pointing the direction toward Artists Bluff. Exiting the lot, we took a right and walked east along the road (back toward the interstate) for a short distance. We started off by parking in the Echo Lake lot. We thought it was a perfect recovery hike after our Vermont backpacking trip just a couple days earlier. ![]() However, both summits offer outstanding views and the trail is just rugged enough to provide a fun little challenge. When compared to all the surrounding mountains, Artists Bluff and Bald Mountain are downright tiny – topping out at around 2,300 feet. View the Full Album of Photos From This Hike Wookie and Adam take in a great view of Franconia Notch from the viewpoint at Artists Bluff. It’s a popular family hike, so expect a crowd! We enjoyed the scenery so much, that we returned a second time to hike just the Artists Bluff portion with our little pug, Wookie! You get great views, rocky summits, and a little bit of rock scrambling. This easy 1.6 mile hike is a great beginner’s sample of what it’s like to hike in the White Mountains region. ![]() Introductory Guide to Visiting the White Mountains
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