White Mt. NF--Mt. Lincoln, Franconia

White Mt. NF--Mt. Lincoln, Franconia

Lincoln, New Hampshire 03251

Mount Lincoln (4000Footers) webpage
White Mountain National Forest Official Website

About this Location

Mount Lincoln is a 5,089-foot mountain in the Franconia Range of the White Mountains. Mount Lincoln is located between Mount Lafayette (5,260 feet, another New Hampshire 4,000 footer) and Little Haystack Mountain (4,800 feet, but not considered a 4,000 footer because of its less than 200-foot prominence.)

About White Mountain National Forest

See all hotspots at White Mountain National Forest

In the decades prior to 1911, the unregulated logging practices of private timber companies in the White Mountains had resulted in a damaged landscape susceptible to both fire and flood. Fires had burned thousands of acres, and flash floods affected the water power necessary to the mills of major industrial centers downstream, such as Manchester, New Hampshire, and Lowell, Massachusetts. Concerns over losses to industry, business, and tourism, and the growing conservation movement led to citizen action. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) spearheaded an effort to ensure the permanent protection of the White Mountains from further depredation. After years of lobbying and intense public pressure, Senator John Weeks of Massachusetts, a native of Lancaster, New Hampshire, introduced legislation that became known as the Weeks Act. The Weeks Act was passed by Congress in 1911, appropriating 9 million dollars to purchase 6 million acres of land in the Eastern U.S. In turn, this led to the creation of the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) in 1918, and twenty-one other national forests throughout the north and southeast. Many of the groups who were instrumental in the passage of the Weeks Act, including the SPNHF and the AMC, are still active today, and the WMNF has grown from 7,000 acres to almost 800,000. Today, the reforested mountains and hillsides supply forest products and provide magnificent recreational opportunities while maintaining healthy watersheds and ecosystems.

Notable Trails

The quickest trail up to the summit of Mount Lincoln is Falling Waters Trail which starts 0.2 miles after being on Old Bridle Path. By taking this trail, you will pass Little Haystack Mountain before reaching Mount Lincoln’s summit.

There are also several Waterfalls along Falling Waters Trail including Cloudland Waterfall, Stairs Fall, and Swiftwater Falls.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from Mount Lincoln (4000Footers) webpage and White Mountain National Forest Official Website

Last updated February 7, 2024