Old Bridle Path parking lot on a weekend in August?

vftt.org

Help Support vftt.org:

Yury

New member
Joined
Mar 16, 2015
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
According to https://urbanoutdoors.com/hiking-franconia-ridge-loop-trail-new-hampshire/:
There’s a designated parking lot for the trail – the Old Bridle Path parking lot – that fills up quickly on weekends. If that lot is full when you arrive, there is additional overflow parking further north on Highway 93 that requires an extra 2 mile hike each way.

What does it mean "fills up quickly"?
How early should I arrive on Saturday in August to make sure I can park there?
 

DayTrip

Well-known member
Joined
May 13, 2013
Messages
3,641
Reaction score
82
According to https://urbanoutdoors.com/hiking-franconia-ridge-loop-trail-new-hampshire/:
There’s a designated parking lot for the trail – the Old Bridle Path parking lot – that fills up quickly on weekends. If that lot is full when you arrive, there is additional overflow parking further north on Highway 93 that requires an extra 2 mile hike each way.

What does it mean "fills up quickly"?
How early should I arrive on Saturday in August to make sure I can park there?

I'd get there at 12:01 AM SAT morning and you'll have a shot... :). Seriously, it fills extremely fast. I'd think on a SAT it could be full as early as 5-6AM, especially if the weather forecast is good.
 

Yury

New member
Joined
Mar 16, 2015
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
I'd get there at 12:01 AM SAT morning and you'll have a shot...
OMG!
And what about week days?
When should I come to guarantee that I can park there?
 
Last edited:

David Metsky

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 3, 2003
Messages
5,044
Reaction score
496
Location
Somerville, MA
When should I come to guarantee that I can park there?
There's no way to guarantee that there will be spots open. Know your alternatives (Cannon ski area, Skookumchuck, the Flume) and alternative routes to the peaks you want to hike.
 

peakbagger

Super Moderator
Staff member
VFTT Supporter
Joined
Sep 3, 2003
Messages
8,168
Reaction score
444
Location
Gorham NH
Generally arriving before sunrise will get you a spot. Due to the orientation of the notch the sun takes a while to work into the woods so it will be quite dark. Many folks do sunrise or sunset hikes to work around the parking issues.

BTW unless things have changed the tram lot was posted no hiker parking, hikers are supposed to park at a dirt lot at the back of the main lot to the left. Technically and from a safety standpoint walking along the parkway is bad idea, far better to walk the bike path. Alternatively bring a few bikes, park at the Basin or Tram lots and ride down to Lafayette Place.
 

sierra

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 13, 2004
Messages
3,212
Reaction score
340
Location
New hampshire
Unless you don't mind hiking with 1000 people, go on a weekday. I am not joking, that's the kind of head counts they are getting on a weekend in the summer. You would have to really be desperate to hike that, to want to hike with that many people.
 

Ken MacGray

Active member
Joined
Aug 1, 2014
Messages
325
Reaction score
39
Location
Concord, NH
Honestly, Franconia Ridge from that trailhead is not the best option for summer weekends due to the aforementioned crowds and parking issues. Weekdays are somewhat better and winter is best. :) Unless you like hiking in a mob scene, it's really not enjoyable on summer weekends.

That said, Greenleaf Trail and Skookumchuck Trails are lesser-used routes to the ridge.
 

jfb

New member
Joined
Sep 15, 2003
Messages
1,522
Reaction score
17
Location
Stamford, VT
According to https://urbanoutdoors.com/hiking-franconia-ridge-loop-trail-new-hampshire/:
There’s a designated parking lot for the trail – the Old Bridle Path parking lot – that fills up quickly on weekends. If that lot is full when you arrive, there is additional overflow parking further north on Highway 93 that requires an extra 2 mile hike each way.

Note that the Greenleaf Trail leaves from the Tram parking lot and intersects the Old Bridle Path at Greenleaf Hut. Using that option instead of the Old Bridle Path eliminates one of the two-mile hikes between the two trailheads.

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/r...t-mount-lafayette-via-greenleaf-trail-f63f65b
 
Last edited:

Yury

New member
Joined
Mar 16, 2015
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
My fear was not warranted.
On Monday August 22nd, 2022 at 6:15 AM this parking lot was about 5% full.
IMG_20220822_060819_parking_lot.jpg
 

Mike P.

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
3,560
Reaction score
87
Location
Colchester, CT
You likely wouldn't want to be there in weather conditions that might bring solitude. Since it does get a fair (whatever that means) amount of full moon hiking even good weather nights, even that might not bring solitude.
 
Top