Mt. Garfield Summit |
TOWN: Franconia
DESTINATION: Mt. Garfield, Garfield Ridge West, Garfield Ridge East
ELEVATION: 4500 Ft, 3667 Ft, 3590 Ft.
West Garfield SUMMIT COORDINATES: N44 11.396, W71 35.716
East Garfield SUMMIT COORDINATES: N44 11.575, W71 34.916
TRAIL: Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail (AT), Bushwhack, Garfield Ridge Trail, Herd Path, Garfield Ridge Trail, Gale River Trail, Road walk.
DISTANCE: 13 miles
ELEVATION GAIN: 3500 Feet
HIKING TIME: 5 Hours 35 minutes
SEASON: Summer
DATE: July 30, 2016
WEATHER: 60 Degrees, clear skies. 70-80 miles visibility
PARKING: From US 3 Turn right at Five Corners onto Fire Road #92. Continue 1.2 miles to the Garfield trail parking area. There is room for 10 cars in the lot plus plenty of overflow onto the road. The parking area is marked with a large kiosk and The Garfield trail is marked with a sign.
Approximately 90 minutes drive time from Manchester
USGS QUAD: USGS Franconia Quad
MAP: (Garfield), (Garfield West), (Garfield East)
DESCRIPTION:
The Garfield Trail begins on the right side of the parking lot adjacent to the trail map kiosk. It is well trodden and easy to follow the blue blazes through old woods as you follow the left bank high above Thompson Brook. The trail soon turns left and widens as it reaches the old fire warden road. It crosses then recrosses a small tributary to Thompson Brook then begins a modest incline over rocky terrain that never really became steep, difficult or eventful. After 4.5 miles you'll reach the junction with the Garfield Ridge Trail (Appalachian Trail). Mt. Garfield is a steep 0.2 miles to the north and has you'll discover a 10 foot square cement wall which are the only remains of a fire tower which once stood here. The spectacular 360 degree views are awe inspiring looking deep into the Pemigewasset Wilderness and surrounding peaks of Franconia Notch, Owl's Head, the Hancocks and Carrigan, the Bonds, the Twins and Galehead. Among the plethora of 4k's you'll be able to see Mt. Kearsarge in Warner and the Uncanoonuc Mountains in Manchester on a blue bird day.
Owl's head (foreground) and the Uncanoonuc Mountains 80 miles south |
Marred trees marking the bushwhack route |
PVC canister at the Garfield Ridge East outlook |
Continue to the junction of the Gale River trail. Galehead Hut is 0.6 miles away and Galehead mountain is an additional 0.5 miles. I felt hot spots on my feet and chose to descend the Gale River trail 4.0 miles to the parking area. The 1.5 mile road walk was an uphill and arduous eventually reaching the Garfield Trail head and my car.
TRAIL DISTANCES:
HIKING DISTANCES
| ||
---|---|---|
DESTINATION
| DISTANCE | TOTAL DIST. |
Garfield Trail - Garfield Ridge Trail | 4.8 miles | 4.8 miles |
Garfield Ridge Trail - Garfield Summit | 0.2 miles | 5.0 miles |
Garfield Summit - Garfield Ridge Trail | 0.2 miles | 5.2 miles |
Garfield Ridge Trail - Garfield tentsite | 0.2 miles | 5.4 miles |
Garfield Tentsite - Franconia Brook Trail Jct | 0.5 miles | 5.9 miles |
Franconia Brook trail Jct - Garfield Ridge Height of land | 0.3 miles | 6.2 miles |
Garfield Ridge (west) Height of Land - Garfield Ridge West Peak | 0.15 miles | 6.35 miles |
Garfield Ridge West Peak - Garfield Ridge Trail | 0.15 miles | 6.5 miles |
Garfield Ridge Trail - Garfield Ridge (east) herd path | 0.6 miles | 7.1 miles |
Garfield Ridge (east) herd path - Garfield Ridge East peak | 100 feet | 7.1 miles |
Garfield Ridge Trail - Gale River Trail | 0.4 miles | 7.5 miles |
Gale River Trail - Gale River parking | 4.0 miles | 11.5 miles |
Gale River Trail parking - Garfield Trail parking | 1.5 miles | 13 miles |
HIKING TIMES:
HIKING TIMES
| ||
---|---|---|
DESTINATION
| TIME | TOTAL TIME |
Garfield Trail - Garfield Ridge Trail | 1 hour 52 min | 1 hour 52 min |
Garfield Ridge Trail - Garfield Summit | 8 min | 2 hours |
Garfield Summit - Garfield Ridge Trail | 8 min | 2 hours 8 min |
Garfield Ridge Trail - Garfield tentsite | 5 min | 2 hours 13 min |
Garfield Tentsite - Franconia Brook Trail Jct | 17 min | 2 hours 30 min |
Franconia Brook trail Jct - Garfield Ridge Height of land | 5 min | 2 hours 35 min |
Garfield Ridge (west) Height of Land - Garfield Ridge West Peak | 15 min | 2 hours 50 min |
Garfield Ridge West Peak - Garfield Ridge Trail | 10 min | 3 hours |
Garfield Ridge Trail - Garfield Ridge (east) herd path | 23 min | 3 hours 23 min |
Garfield Ridge (east) herd path - Garfield Ridge East peak | 12 min | 3 hours 35 min |
Garfield Ridge Trail - Gale River Trail | 10 min | 3 hours 45 min |
Gale River Trail - Gale River parking | 1 hour 25 min | 5 hours 10 min |
Gale River Trail parking - Garfield Trail parking | 25 min | 5 hours 35 min |
NOTES / COMMENTS:
Mt. Garfield (4500 Ft) is worth the hike alone. The panoramic views are one of the best in all the white mountains and a place I could sit in awe in wonderment for hours. Today's goal was the 3000 foot West and East peaks along the ridge.
Mt. Lafayette and Franconia Ridge |
Galehead Mountain, South Twin and the Bonds |
Owl's head and the view south |
Garfield Ridge East Peak, Galehead Mountain and the Twins |
South Twin and Galehead Mountain |
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