Mount Pemigewasset via Mount Pemigewasset Trail
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Mount Pemigewasset Hike Overview
Mount Pemigewasset (2,557’) is a beautiful mountain in Franconia Notch, and it is one of the most popular mountains on the 52 With a View List because it of its gorgeous views. It is also one of the best places in the area to visit in the fall to see the foliage.
Trail Details
Trail: Mount Pemigewasset Trail
Length: 3.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,260 feet
My Trail Time: 1.5 hours hiking; 2 hours hours total
Hike Overview
The most popular trail to Mount Pemigewasset is the Mount Pemigewasset Trail, starting near the Flume Visitor Center. Although the Mount Pemigewasset Trail is not overly strenuous, it still gains over 1,200 feet of elevation. The trail never becomes too steep, but it consistently climbs to the summit without many breaks.
Mount Pemigewasset via Mount Pemigewasset Trail Guide
June 19, 2023
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
Mount Pemigewasset had been on my bucket list for so long because I try to stay away from popular trails, especially in the summer and fall. When I had a Monday off, I decided to take advantage of the nice weather on a weekday and hike it with Meadow!
We started the hike around 10 AM and were one of only a few cars in the Flume Gorge parking lot. The Mount Pemigewasset Trail began at the most northern lot near the Flume Gorge and traveled along the bike path for about 0.1 miles before turning left onto Mount Pemigewasset Trail. The beginning of the trail passed under Route 3 and Interstate 93 before heading into the woods. This portion of the hike was not the most peaceful, as you can imagine, but once we started hiking away from the road, it was quiet.
The first half mile of Mount Pemigewasset Trail was pretty flat with minimal elevation, which was a nice warm-up for the rest of the hike. The trail was also very well-maintained and well-marked because it is so popular. It was so quiet when we started the hike, and we did not pass the first group of hikers for a while!
The trail began to gain elevation more steadily after the first half mile, but it never became overly strenuous, which was nice! The first mile of the Mount Pemigewasset Trail also passed over a few streams, but they were small, so I do not think they would ever become an issue crossing even with high water. Hiking along the streams was incredibly peaceful and gave Meadow many opportunities to enjoy a drink. She also loves going into the water, so she was having a blast!
As we veered away from the stream and got closer to the summit, the trail became rockier, which made for a slippery ascent since it rained a lot over the past week. We passed three more groups of hikers before we reached the top of the trail, and I hoped we would have the entire summit to ourselves.
The last 0.2 miles of the Mount Pemigewasset Trail after it passed the Indian Head Trail junction were flat as it led us to the open summit. And the views did not disappoint! Although some clouds were hovering over the nearby mountains, we had breathtaking views overlooking Franconia Notch. And we had the entire summit to ourselves! Or so I thought… We had about five minutes of peace before the black flies attacked us. I hoped they would be gone by this time of year, but they seem to be waiting for hikers on summits to get them when we least expect it!
We tried to find a place where they were not as bad, but unfortunately, they found us no matter where we went. We tried to stay up at the summit as long as we could to enjoy ourselves, but they got pretty bad, as you can see in some of the photos, so we decided to begin our hike down sooner than we hoped. Once we entered the forest, the black flies seemed to leave us alone, which was great!
The hike down the Mount Pemigewasset Trail went by so quickly. Since the trail was not overly steep, Meadow and I were flying down. We passed at least ten groups of hikers on our descent, making me happy we got to the trailhead in the morning. Before I knew it, I could hear the sounds of the highway, and we were back in the parking lot. The parking lot was packed, with most people going to the Flume Gorge. We also just missed a rainstorm that came in just after we left the parking lot, so our timing was great!
I hope to hike Mount Pemigewasset again in the fall because it is a beautiful fall hike, but I am just happy I hiked it in the summer without a huge crowd of people.
Have you hiked Mount Pemigewasset?
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!