Mount Garfield Trail
On the way up Mount Garfield · New Hampshire
Mount Garfield Trail is a trail on and around Franconia Ridge, climbing about 2,750 ft from Mount Garfield Trailhead to the Garfield Ridge Trail junction.
Map length
4.6 mi
Climb from the low end
2,756 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
3 h 40 min / 2 h 19 min
High point
4,249 ft
Above treeline
None
Steepest ¼ mile
1,053 ft/mi
Stream crossings
2
Low point
1,527 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
HikerNerd routes on this trail
Mount Garfield Trail
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Mount Garfield Trailhead (the lower end) to Garfield Ridge Trail junction.
- 0.0Mount Garfield Trailhead
- 0.2Campsite
- 1.0Crosses Thompson Brook
- 1.2Crosses Spruce Brook
- 4.6Junction with Garfield Ridge Trail
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Campsite
0.19 mi (total 0.19) · ↑63 ↓0 ft · 8 min / 6 min
To Garfield Ridge Trail junction
4.39 mi (total 4.58) · ↑2,690 ↓38 ft · 3 h 32 min / 2 h 13 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Garfield Trailhead | Campsite | 0.19 | 0.19 | 63 / 0 ft | 8 min / 6 min |
| Campsite | Garfield Ridge Trail junction | 4.39 | 4.58 | 2,690 / 38 ft | 3 h 32 min / 2 h 13 min |
↑ walking from Mount Garfield Trailhead; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Trailheads and parking
Mount Garfield Trailhead
Off Gale River Loop Road · Winter: gated
Weekends (all seasons): Full at 3 pm in the one report.
Weekdays (all seasons): Full at 7:15 am in the one report.
Latest report, Tue, Aug 25: Full at 7:15 am, then overflowing.
Summit conditions
Today's conditions reportRecent trip reports
No reports on this trail in the last 30 days; the latest are below. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.
- Tue, Aug 25MudWetDry
Water crossings: Either dry or running low
Full report on NETC
Connecting trails
What to bring
From the summit forecast, Sat to MonPaid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy. Prices are Backcountry's, checked twice a day.
60 mph
Summit gusts
Plan a below-treeline hike
Daytime gusts near 60 mph above treeline. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
28°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 28°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
11h 13m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 6:08 PM, so a late start or a slow descent ends in the dark.
The rest of the list: Winter gear guide · How I pick gear
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP. Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.