Elevation

5,260 ft / 1,603 m

#17 in New Hampshire

#31,375 in United States

Prominence

3,320 ft / 1,012 m

Top climbing months

August   18%

July   16%

September  15%

Highlights

  • Mount Lafayette is the highest peak in New Hampshire outside of the Presidential Range and is the 6th highest official "4000 footer" in the state
  • One of the most popular day-hike destinations in White Mountain National Forest due to spectacular views at its alpine summit. A variety of trails lead up over 3,000 vertical feet to its exposed summit.
  • The upper portion of the mountain is located in the alpine zone, an area where only small vegetation exists due to the harsh climate.
  • The Greenleaf Trail ascends to the Appalachian Mountain Club's Greenleaf Hut, then continues to the summit. The Bridle Path trail follows a western spur ridge of Lafayette and joins the Greenleaf Trail.
  • The summit lies at the junction of the Garfield Ridge Trail, which follows the ridge northeast to Mount Garfield, and the Franconia Ridge Trail, which leads south to Mount Lincoln, Liberty, and Flume. Both the Garfield Ridge Trail and the Franconia Ridge Trail form part of the Appalachian Trail.
  • A very popular day hike and perhaps the finest in the Northeast is to make a loop combining the 3 most notable summits of the Franconia Range: Little Haystack, Mount Lincoln, and Mount Lafayette. This loop is 8.9 miles with an elevation gain of about 3,900 feet.
110 summits • 13.9 mi • 6,129 ft gain • 8 hr 25 min • Class 1
3 summits • 10.8 mi • 3,725 ft gain • 6 hr 39 min
2 summits • 20.0 mi • 6,229 ft gain • 11 hr 27 min
2 summits • 15.6 mi • 5,455 ft gain • 10 hr 49 min
2 summits • 7.3 mi • 2,700 ft gain • 7 hr 12 min
1 summit • 8.9 mi • 3,735 ft gain • 4 hr 1 min
1 summit • 12.1 mi • 4,418 ft gain • 10 hr 11 min
1 summit • 12.9 mi • 5,034 ft gain • 9 hr 20 min
1 summit • 13.6 mi • 5,205 ft gain • 7 hr 31 min
1 summit • 16.0 mi • 6,183 ft gain • 11 hr 43 min
1 summit • 24.2 mi • 8,336 ft gain • 14 hr 19 min
1 summit • 9.3 mi • 3,637 ft gain • 6 hr 7 min
1 summit • 9.4 mi • 3,774 ft gain • 5 hr 31 min

Awards

Challenges