Skookumchuck Trail
Near North Lafayette · New Hampshire
Skookumchuck Trail is a trail on and around Franconia Ridge, climbing about 3,100 ft from Skookumchuck Trailhead to the Garfield Ridge Trail junction. Part of it is above treeline.
Map length
4.0 mi
Climb from the low end
3,077 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
3 h 32 min / 2 h 2 min
High point
4,715 ft
Above treeline
0.3 mi
Steepest ¼ mile
1,559 ft/mi
Stream crossings
1 (1 ford)
Low point
1,708 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
Skookumchuck Trail Above treeline
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Skookumchuck Trailhead (the lower end) to Garfield Ridge Trail junction.
- 0.0Skookumchuck Trailhead
- 0.5Fords Jordan Brook
- 3.7Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
- 4.0Junction with Garfield Ridge Trail
Trailheads and parking
Skookumchuck Trailhead
Off Daniel Webster Highway
Weekends (all seasons): Had space in all 5 reports.
Weekdays (all seasons): Had space in the one report.
Latest report, Sat, Jul 18: Plenty of room.
2 incidents recorded on this trail: Mount Lafayette safety record
Recent trip reports
No reports on this trail in the last 30 days; the latest are below. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.
- Sat, Aug 15MudWetDry
Water crossings: It's been dry all summer, all water crossing on Falling Waters, Liberty Spring, and Flume Slide trails were easy rock hops.
Full report on NETC
Connecting trails
Packing for fall? The fall gear guide has the full list.
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP. Above-treeline areas from canopy height by Meta and WRI (CC BY 4.0). Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.