Lafayette Loop

The Lafayette Loop is 8.9 miles around the loop, starting at Lafayette Place. At AMC book time (half the distance in hours plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing), that works out to roughly 5-8 hours. Most parties take longer than book time on rough or above-treeline terrain, in winter, or with a heavy pack.

The Lafayette Loop climbs about 3,893 ft over 8.9 miles, an average of roughly 437 ft of gain per mile. That figure is cumulative ascent across the whole loop, not the difference between the trailhead and the high point.

HikerNerd rates the Lafayette Loop Very hard on a six-tier scale from Easy to Most demanding. The rating comes from the route itself: its 8.9 miles, 3,893 ft of gain, and the steepest quarter mile of trail, with routes known for scrambles or ledges rated a step harder. It is the same scale our NH 4,000-footer difficulty ranking uses. Above-treeline exposure, water crossings, and winter conditions can still make a well-rated route the hardest day of your year, so check current conditions before committing.

The Lafayette Loop summits 2 named peaks: Mount Lafayette, Mount Lincoln.

The Lafayette Loop starts at Lafayette Place. Hikers' trip reports on parking at Lafayette Place: weekends (all seasons), full in 3 of 11 reports, as early as 6:30 am; others found space as late as 9:30 am; fall weekdays, had space in all 5 reports, as late as 4:30 pm. Check the trail alerts on this page before you drive: trailhead access and parking in the White Mountains change with closures and construction.