Two Underrated & Excellent Hikes in Franconia Notch NH
Really, really love getting outside and enjoying nature. Particularly hiking. Happen to live in Florida right now but Franconia Notch NH is one of my favorite places on Earth. So I’ll spew at you about 2 hikes up that way that get the job done.
Coppermine Trail
Starting off chill we have the Coppermine Trail. Flat “hike,” really more like a walk in the woods with a sick payoff. A nice waterfall & pool.
Pretty much flat till you get to the end and see the thing itself. About 2.5 miles long with a total elevation gain of 1100 ft, so far from the craziest hike on the planet. But far better than a regular stroll in the woods.
Used to skip over this baby when planning outdoors activities in the area, but check it out when you can, next time you’re in Franconia Notch. As I’m certain you’ll be visiting soon.
Take a gander at this nice ol’ pool on the trail and tell me it doesn’t go insane. You can’t. People fall out of touch with nature these days. Large cities. Moving vehicles. Urban sprawl. Get back to these spots every once in awhile and smell the fresh air.
Kinsman
This one’s right up the road from that one. And the reason I’m ranking these two as underrated is because everyone knows about the other hikes. But if you want a nice fun uphill, get to Kinsman yesterday. South Kinsman clocks in at #6 in the tallest mountains of the White Mountains, but it comes #1 on our tallest mountains of this list.
There’s a couple ledges you’ll find along the trail, first being this one. Good spot for a picnic, and if you have kids or don’t want to rip the whole trail, here’s a good stopping point. It’s a solid view south on a sunny day, but it’s an impervious and thought-provoking wall of clouds on a day like this.
And just wait till you see the top.
That one was about halfway up the mountain. This one’s all the way up. And it’s spectacular. Again, in sunny times, you have a great view west over acres of rolling ridges and forest, but on a cloudy day like this you get to feel like a wise monk meditating on Nature’s mysteries. It’s awesome, and something I recommend doing sometime.
There’s other hikes you can do in the area, notably Lafayette, and Mount Washington, but if you’re looking for something a little different look no further than these, and take a trip over to Littleton later in the day for pizza and a local brewery. Good times guaranteed.
I’ll leave you with this.
If you read this, and for some reason you’re not a hiker, think about all the things you might see on the trail. Like this trickling stream, and the moss clinging to the rocks. Nature is about harmony. Get out there and experience it.
You’ll thank me later, and you can do so by following here, on IG @theregrowthproject, and subscribing on patreon.
