Mount Lafayette via Greenleaf Trail is a 7.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Franconia, New Hampshire that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Reservations for day use are required. Please consult the park website. https://www.nhstateparks.org/covid-19
December 30, 2020Great hike! Icy in spots so we put on our ice spikes and made sure to go carefully.
November 7, 2020At this time of year you need to be careful of ice and snow so be prepared for that. It was a great challenge and an amazing view!
October 11, 2020The trail is rocky and really strenuous. Icy path after the first half!! It was very slippery and required us to carefully choose our steps which further increased the challenging level. This is the first trail with major elevation we tried this year. We actually wanted to hike a different trail but there was no parking. The trail head of this one is close to the big tramway parking lot, so abundant parking space. Despite the easy access, we didn’t know what was waiting for us, should have read the reviews lol. Anyway, here are some data points from less experienced hikers. We started around 1 pm and turned back from the hut as we did not want to hike after dark. It took us almost 6 hours round trip (5.4 miles) including picture and resting time. The trail length here is misleading. You will see signs at the hut saying it is 2.7 miles one way to the hut and another 1.1 miles to Mt Lafayette, so the full trail is 7.6 miles round trip. The view at the the hut made this challenging hike totally worthwhile. See my picture of the snow covered mountain and the eagle lake.
October 10, 2020Strenuous. Steep inclines and super windy at the top. 75 degree day and there was ice up top
October 6, 2020Wild hike, first few miles were nice strenuous climb in beautiful fall foliage. Entered the clouds just before greenleaf hut. At hut was met by high winds, continued on to the summit with very low visibility and high gusts. Definitely recommend checking out Eagle Crag early on in the hike, really incredible view of the notch!!!!
October 5, 2020This was a beautiful yet challenging hike. Lots of cool mossy areas, colorful leaves, and sizable boulders. I am pea soup
October 4, 2020This trail earns it's hard rating! After the first half mile, you're climbing almost the entire way to the top of Mount Lafayette. AllTrails says this hike is 6 miles, but when you get to the trail head you'll see the sign says 3.7 miles to the summit. Our actual hiking distance recorded around 7.2 miles round trip and took us about 5.5 hours, plus 30 minutes at the summit, so in total about 6 hours. The trail is not all that well maintained and there are almost no blazes to keep you on path. Would only recommend this trail to experienced hikers. It's not too technical, but is exhausting on the way up and the way down, making for a pretty intense day. The views from the top make it worth it, though. Climbed on Sunday, 10/4 and it was snowing at the summit of Lafayette. Not too many people and the foliage was gorgeous! Just be cognizant of time and daylight if you're taking this on in the fall; I wouldn't have wanted to do any of that in the dark.
October 4, 2020October 4, 2020This trail has unbelievable,10/10 view on the top of the mountain but super dicey!!! It is not a hike at all, 70% time we were climbing with only 30% the rest of time we were hiking. Not recommended for anyone who is inexperienced!!!!! What is super misleading on this map is the trail ended up 11 miles instead of 6 miles!!!!! Damn! Took my girlfriend and me 10h to finish in the end. Climbing downward on inexhaustible mossy rocks is a nightmare, let alone in our last hour, it is complete dark. Luckily for us we met another Mom and Daughter on the way down who were patient to guide us down with their light torch. I really believe if it were not for them we would have had to sleep on the mountain. I am not kidding.
September 27, 2020Completed this hike on 9/26 with perfect weather in 7-8 hours with lunch/break at summit. Trail is tough but doable. All trails is calling this hike out as 6 miles but its closer to 8 especially with the walk to and from the parking lot. Some loose gravel on the trail making the way down a little difficult. All said and done it's all worth it for the 360 views at the top.
September 26, 2020September 13, 2020Loved going up. It was quite a challenge although I’m out of shape and don’t get to hike much. Coming down was dicey. Slippery rocks, really need to watch your footing and wear good shoes.
September 12, 2020September 6, 2020This is a very strenuous trail!! Not recommended for inexperienced or small children!!!!!!!!!! We were told at the hut to take this trail down, bad advice! I believe the man who told us which path to take misunderstood where my wife and I were parked. took this trail down instead of bridle path which was the path we were supposed to take. Big mistake! I have done the loop before and took me 7-1/2 hours. This trail took us as long to get down as it did going up falling waters trail. This ended up a 14 hour hike. As one reviewer said” it’s more of a climb than a hike.” And they were spot on. Luckily for us we met another couple on the way down who were patient enough to help us down. I truly believe if it were not for them we would have had to sleep on the mountain. They not only helps us but gave us a ride to our car because we wound up in the wrong parking lot and would have been another 45 minute Walt to our car! They were truly a blessing! Please do not attempt this path unless you are very experienced and well prepared!!! To the couple who helped us, thank you again so much!!!
September 5, 2020Amazing trail! Very shaded but quick inline and all the way. It’s definitely hard. I’ve done old bridle trial before and this felt more taxing, however I loved it! 5 1/2 total hike and about 7-8 hours total with lunch, resting at the summit. Very windy at the top so pack a sweater!
August 21, 2020Be prepared. It's definitely hard. We were a little in over our heads. This is was more of a climb than a hike. The views during the hike and at the hut were beautiful. We didn't have the energy to summit. Took us 5 hours with a solid 20 min recoup break at the hut. Was a lot of vertical hiking. Just be ready for it
August 14, 2020Beautiful hike with lots of little micro climates on the way up for aesthetic interest. The ridge is spectacular at the top.
August 13, 2020Definitely a hard trail and the hardest is at the beginning. Lots of rock to climb up when you’re under the tree line. Steep, definitely steep in the early going. Not suitable for beginners or intermediate, experienced hikers only. The scramble to the top of Lafayette isn’t too bad. Loose rocks mainly. We took our pup MacKenzie (6 year old lab) and she was an absolute champ. Never lagged and never had trouble getting over any of the rocks, or down for that matter. Shout out to her new friend Poncho that she met along the way. My wife only cried once, which is pretty damn good for us! Was expecting at least 2x! A great day all in all- views from the top are worth it!
August 8, 2020Nice cool day! The trail was in good condition, we started early to avoid the crowds, definitely gets busy later in the day.
July 30, 2020Very quiet on a summer weekday until the hut, where we met more hikers on the bridle path loop. This trail earns the hard designation, in my opinion. The steep bouldery granite track from tramway trailhead to the green leaf hut is not technical, but keeps your attention with stairclimber-like steep sections. The views are all hyperlocal as the forest and cliffs are close-in. The best example is a beautiful narrow notch with trees and roots embedded in a giant carpet of moss. It was a welcome, and magical, “fairyland”-like respite from the climbing. From the hut to Mt Lafayette is easier than the lower section, and includes the expected, and beautiful, panoramic vistas.
July 27, 2020When I reached at the Falling water trail parking at 9, it was already full so had to go to tramway parking, and had to start hiking through this trail. It was a total of 8.4 miles. First 0.5 mile was more of a moderate incline. Then it starts getting steeper with slippery rocks until the greenleaf hut. Drinking water and restroom is available at the hut although the hut is closed. Overall trail including the hut was very crowded. There is a beautiful lake near the hut. From the hut to the top of Lafayatte was 1.1 mile and was very steep abd rocky. Enjoyed every bit of going up and coming down through this. There are lots of ridges around and the view was quite beautiful and 360. Highly recommended.
July 21, 2020This is a tough trail and a little longer than listed here. Per my recording it was 3.5 to the summit. AMC Guide says it’s 3.7 miles. Expect steep, rocky climbing all the way to the peak. You’re going to be in the trees until you get to the hut, but then the views are incredible. It’s been dry so the trail was well maintained but could be slippery if it’s rained recently. Started the hike at 5:30 pm to take pictures of the comet and Milky Way. While the clouds washed out the comet, was able to get some nice shots of the MW.
July 18, 2020
