New Hampshire is so damn dreamy. It's always suprising me with the vistas you have to earn, the European style huts placed in the middle of the woods, and lakes and ponds on top of the mountains. Lonesome Lake was one of those hikes that offers a big bang for your buck - a lot of lovely for minimal to moderate effort. I used to head to New Hampshire and tackle the bigger hikes, Franconia Ridge, backpacking the semi pemi loop and so on. But for now? An older dog and a baby in tow means our priorities have changed and now we spend a lot of time looking for those low effort high reward, family-friendly hikes. Lonesome Lake is just that.
You will not be lonely at Lonesome Lake because of it's easy to get to status. It's a quick 4-mile loop to a beautiful lake you can swim in. Dog-friendly, kid-friendly, swimming, a short distance (but a bit of a climb)...you will have some company but it's worth the crowds.
The hut makes it all so much easier. You can hike up the mountain, change into your swimsuit, grab a snack and lemonade and enjoy the day. You can even make it an entire weekend if you book a bunk at the hut. I immediately envisioned taking our son up here for a weekend, packing his swim tube and spending the weekend swimming and exploring the local trails.
Trailhead: Lafayette Place Campground, Franconia Notch State Park
Trail: Yellow blazed Lonesome Lake Trail up to the lake, continuing around the lake, and back down the Dodge Cut Off trail until it joins up with the Lonesome Lake Trail.
Parking: Parking is free but is notoriously tough in this area. This trailhead branches off to a few famous hikes and according to the guard, the lot is frequently full by 8am. Plan to hike this later in the afternoon, first thing early morning, or during the week. The main parking area for Lonesome Lake is at Lafayette Place Campground (accessible from I-93 south bound only). There are parking lots on both sides of I-93 (noth and south bound, south bound being the primary parking area for this hike with about 41 spaces and north bound being the primary parking area for Franconia Ridge with access to the Old Bridle Path and Falling Waters Trail) and there is a pedestrian bridge to get under the highway and to trails/parking lots on each side of the road. There is usually a tram for overflow parking at the next exit (closed this year due to COVID).
Distance: 4-miles round trip
Elevation: 1,154 feet gained, 2,740 feet at the lake
Time: 1:40 moving, 2:20 with breaks/stop at the lake
Dogs: Dogs are allowed on leash
Kids: Kid-friendly, we saw a lot of kids on the trail and at the lake. There is some elevation so make sure your kids are prepared.
Need to know: This trail is busy in the summer months and on weekends. It is also notoriously buggy in the months of June and July (pack spray). Parking is tough so plan to get there before 8 or after 1 and plan to wait for a spot. Bring cash for the hut and a swim suit/towel/dry clothes, you can change at the hut (there are bathrooms here as well).
The parking lot is always infamously busy and we knew we had to head out ungodly early, or in the afternoon on Sunday when people were heading down off the mountain and home. We got off of the Lafayette Place Campground exit to park and during these busy summer weekends, a ranger is there to help you find a spot, point you in a new direction, or answer any questions about the trails.
It was 1:30 on a Sunday and after chatting with the ranger for about 10-15 minutes, we grabbed an open parking spot. We usually head out on a hike with two dogs, a baby, and a pack with supplies. This time, it was just Adam and I and Olive, no bags, a bottle of water, and our swimsuits shoved into our back pockets. There is something so liberating about heading up a trail without a heavy pack or baby that lightens the mood.
We decided to head up the Lonesome Lake Trail, stop at the lake and the hut for a swim, and continue following the trail around the lake. From there, we were going to make it a bit of a loop by heading down the Dodge Cut-Off Trail (not recommended if traveling with kids). The begininng of the trail starts through the Lafayette Place Campground. You will follow the trail as it weaves through the campground before heading into the woods and up the trail. The trail is steep and relentless and if you are heading up with kids, you may have to take your time. The trail is easy to follow and blazed yellow - don't expect to be alone as you make your way to the top. We passed couples with heavy packs, families with kids, hikers with dogs, and a group of kids in some kind of camp.
After about 1.5 miles, we reached our first view of the lake, slightly more concerned after a young boy on our way up warned us of leeches in the lake. We went to check out the hut, stopped in the bathroom to change, and looked at the bunk rooms with plans for a future stay. We promised to be leech check buddies as we found a quiet spot and jumped in the lake (no leeches).
The water was cool but not too cold for a dip on a warm July afternoon. I would have loved to bring a blow up paddleboard and a picnic, to spend the day up here with the dog and the sunshine. After a dip in the lake, we followed the trail around the lake which was worth the extra 1/3 of a mile. Mountain views from different parts of the lake, and a flat pretty trail where we chatted about our day. We made our way back to the start and instead of heading down the Lonesome Lake Trail, we followed the lesser traveled Dodge Cut Off down the mountain. This trail is steep, narrow, and not as well-marked as the Lonesome Lake Trail. It would not be great for kids but it was perfect for us, enjoying the quiet of the trail, only seeing one other couple on our way back down the mountain.
We got back to our car with smiles on our faces, thankful for the chance to recharge, the time in the mountains with Olive, and the time together just the two of us.
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