WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-30-2006
    Location
    Bear Mountain, N.Y.
    Posts
    38
    Images
    32

    Question Overnight parking in Franconia Notch

    Where can I leave a car parked in Franconia Notch, to pick up the AMC shuttle to Pinkham?

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    07-13-2007
    Location
    Landenberg PA
    Age
    54
    Posts
    235

    Default

    http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodging-shuttle.cfm

    Try this link. I've parked there several times and never had any issues. Enjoy the hiking. It's just beautiful up there.

    Also, make sure you read the information about the dates and times as the shuttle doesn't run all the time.
    Peace Be With You

  3. #3
    GoldenBear's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-31-2007
    Location
    Upper Darby, PA
    Posts
    890
    Journal Entries
    63
    Images
    353

    Post More specifically (and up to date)

    If you're taking the AMC Shuttle from Franconia Notch to Pinkham Notch, you'll have to swap shuttle buses at the Highland Center, as noted in the link given by 7Sisters.

    Note this vagary about the exits on Interstate 93 as it goes through Franconia: between Lincoln (Exit 33) and Exit 34B, the exits do not allow you to change direction. For example, if you are in a vehicle going north on I-93, you can NOT exit at Lafayette Campground -- you can only exit at the trail head on the opposite side of the interstate. Thus, it is very important to keep track of whether Shuttle #2 is going north or south at this part of the expressway. There's nothing wrong with getting on the bus at Lafayette Camp and riding into Lincoln, and then returning to (pretty much) the same spot two hours later, but there's also no reason to do so.

    This pdf of the Lafayette Place Campground
    http://www.nhstateparks.org/uploads/...ground-Map.pdf
    gives the basic idea of the exits, the camp parking, the trail head parking, and pedestrian access between the latter two. When Shuttle #2 is coming from Highland Center, its stops at Lafayette Camp; when going to Highland, it stops at the Old Bridle Path Trailhead.

    PLEASE NOTE that the following times are based on the schedule as published for 2015. If you miss the bus by five minutes because the AMC changed the schedule and you failed to double-check, don't blame me for bad info!

    The earliest bus, that will allow you to go to Pinkham from the Franconia area, leaves the Old Bridle Path Trailhead (which also happens to be the Falling Waters Trailhead)
    http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=61179
    at 12 noon. If you take this bus, you arrive at Highland Center at 1:25, at which you will transfer to the Shuttle Route #1, and arrive at Pinkham Notch at 3pm.

    The next (and last!) time Shuttle #2 is going to Pinkham Notch, it leave the Old Bridle Path Trailhead at 2:45p and arrives at Highland at 3:45p. You would then get on Shuttle #2 at 4pm, and arrive at Pinkham at 5pm.


    BTW, if you ARE going from Lafayette Camp into Lincoln, Shuttle #2 stops near the Hiker Information Building.
    http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=61180

  4. #4

    Default

    To further confuse things, the AT crosses the Franconia parkway at a unsigned crossing under a couple of bridges, it then connects up with the bike path and then runs coincident with the bike path a short distance prior to turning right onto Liberty Springs trail. There is a spur path at the bike path that goes to a designated AT parking area on RT3 (not the parkway) RT3 in this area runs parallel to I93 just south of the parkway where they join. Normally folks driving North on I93 would take the exit for the Flume Gorge and then head a short distance to this parking lot but the exit is closed so you now need to take the prior exit of I93 in North Lincoln and follow Rt 3 past the Flume state park. The AMC shuttle stops at this parking lot. This is the logical spot for an AT section hiker to get on and off the AT as the Cascade Brook trail (the AT) runs under the highway. This parking lot is somewhat remote.

    The parking at Lafayette place previously described is a few miles up the parkway and is nice way to access Greenleaf and Lonesome lake hut via blue blazes. If you take those blue blazes you will miss the entire Cascade Brook section of the AT, Liberty Springs trail and the wooded half of Franconia Ridge.

    There is a tunnel under the parkway for pedestrians so park at which ever Lafayette place parking lot you want. If you are paranoid about car breakins (very rare at either lot) park at the southbound side as there is a NH parks employee stationed at the campground. Ultimately the parking lot on the northbound side is larger and is the one you want to avoid the trip to Lincoln which meets a Concord Trailways bus.

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    09-11-2002
    Location
    Manchester Ctr, VT
    Posts
    2,367
    Images
    13

    Default

    Check out a new hostel near Kinsman Notch. www.NotchHostel.com

    I believe they can offer safe parking and shuttle you where you need to go for a fee.
    Order your copy of the Appalachian Trail Passport at www.ATPassport.com

    Green Mountain House Hostel
    Manchester Center, VT

    http://www.greenmountainhouse.net

  6. #6
    GoldenBear's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-31-2007
    Location
    Upper Darby, PA
    Posts
    890
    Journal Entries
    63
    Images
    353

    Thumbs up And if you want to get REALLY confused

    Just read my description of how the Liberty Springs Parking Lot connects with the A.T.

    http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...t=#post1987906

    Peakbagger is 100% correct -- if you want to hike The Trail itself (ie, go up the Cascade Brook Trail instead of the blue-blazed Lonesome Lake Trail), then park at Liberty Springs instead of Lafayette Campground. Just read the schedule at the link 7Sisters provided, and make the time adjustments for getting picked up there instead of Lafayette.

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-15-2012
    Location
    North Woodstock, NH
    Posts
    18

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff View Post
    Check out a new hostel near Kinsman Notch. www.NotchHostel.com

    I believe they can offer safe parking and shuttle you where you need to go for a fee.

    Hey Jeff,

    Parking here is possible only if we have room. Generally leaving cars over the weekend is not possible but if it's mid-week or short duration it should be okay - call to arrange. Our shuttling policy is somewhat fluid at the moment - Serena is running the place solo at the moment so anything beyond the morning TH dropoffs is not currently guaranteed. We have been working with the local hiker shuttle to get people around though, he's very responsive and we've got good reviews so far.

++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •