Camping: White Mountains 2026, Day Five

Thursday, August 27, 2026, was the fifth of six days of camping at Lafayette Place Campground in Franconia Notch State Park in the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Today I hiked on the Falling Waters Trail east of the campground, and I rode south on the Franconia Notch Recreation Path.

For the previous day of this six-day camping trip, see White Mountains 2026, Day Four.

Morning Activities

I fell asleep before 8:30 last night and slept until 2:30 a.m. There was a full moon and some clouds, so I couldn’t see many stars. I did a little reading, and I listened to my audiobook until I fell asleep again at 4:30 a.m. I woke up at dawn, 5:30 a.m.

Hike

I thought I would try to hike to Franconia Ridge today. The day was sunny, not too warm, with a predicted high in the 70s °F. I consulted the list of the ten essential items on my New Hampshire Hike Safe card and made sure I had all of them.

Leaving the campground at 8:00 a.m., I walked through the tunnel under I-93 to the trailhead for the Falling Waters Trail. I hiked up the trail, bearing right where the Old Bridle Path branched off to the left. I hiked slowly and with occasional difficulty past Swiftwater Falls up to Cloudland Falls at about 2,600 feet elevation.

But the trail was too difficult for me, growing increasingly steep and slippery, and it was another 2,100 feet of climbing to reach Little Haystack Mountain. I needed better hiking shoes, and I needed my trekking poles, which were sitting in the living room at home. I reversed direction and descended to the campground, arriving at 10:15 a.m. My total distance was 3.41 miles, according to my watch.

Swiftwater Falls on the Falling Waters Trail

Cloudland Falls

The following photos give an idea of how challenging the Falling Waters Trail was, and I hadn’t gotten to the really step parts yet.

Falling Waters Trail

Falling Waters Trail

Falling Waters Trail

Falling Waters Trail

Midday Camping Activities

I washed my hiking socks because my feet, socks, and shoes were very stinky. I took a shower (with no soap because I had forgotten to bring any). Four quarters bought five minutes of hot water, which was plenty. I cleaned my feet again and the inside of my shoes with Wet Ones before putting on fresh hiking socks.

I had just enough food for the rest of the trip. I had left the cheese in trunk of the car yesterday, and the trunk got warm from the sun, so I threw out the cheese. I organized my equipment and supplies while charging my phone from an energy bank. I lay in my tent, listening to cello music, and I took a nap for at least thirty minutes until 3:30 p.m.

Bicycle Ride

I changed into bicycle clothes and rode my bike at 3:45–5:45 p.m. down the Franconia Notch Recreation Path and on past the Flume parking lot to North Lincoln, where there were some nice motels and also some sad summer businesses that were seemingly not open. I turned around at a junction with I-93 after riding 6.4 downhill miles and began the long, long climb back up the notch to the campground. Before I reached the Basin, I spotted where the Liberty Spring Trail, also the Appalachian Trail, branched off east from the recreation path to climb to Franconia Ridge. My total ride was about 12.8 miles.

Evening Camping Activities

It looked like it might rain, so I put all nonessential items in the trunk of the car. There were a few sprinkles. I ate my last can of soup with wheat crackers and peanut butter. I cleaned up, slid into my sleeping bag at 7:54 p.m., and read until I fell asleep before thirty minutes had passed.

I did not drive for the second day in a row.

For the last day of this six-day camping trip, see White Mountains 2026, Day Six.