Summary

At 4459 feet, Liberty is the 18th highest mountain in New Hampshire. If the Old Bridle Path and Falling Waters Trail in Franconia Notch, New Hampshire, have a younger sibling, the type eager to prove it’s every bit as sweat inducing with equally dazzling views, then without question the Liberty Springs Trail is it. Almost literally in the shadows of its 5,000+ foot neighbors Mt. Lafayette and Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Liberty might not measure up to its bigger siblings, but it’s no slouch of a mountain either at 4,459 feet.

It sits at the southern end of the Franconia Ridge Trail and affords terrific 360 degree views of the Notch to the West and into the Pemi to the East.

We will park just north of the Flume Visitor Center and hike the connecting Whitehouse Trail over to the start of the Liberty Spring Trail. After about .8 of a mile, the Liberty Spring Trail will begin right, off the Franconia Notch bike path. The Liberty Springs Trail, which is also part of the Appalachian Trail, offers a challenging climb with a reward at the end well worth the effort in all seasons. The trail climbs steadily and moderately up using trails and old logging roads.

At .6 miles from the start of the Liberty Spring Trail, the Flume Slide Trail begins right. The LST bears left and climbs steadily via switchbacks up to the site of the Liberty Spring Campsite at about 2.6 miles [there is a steep and rough section]. At 3.2 miles we reach the summit and the terrific view.

Round trip distance: 8 miles
Vertical feet: 3250
Approximate time: 6.5 hours

What to wear/bring: Wear warm clothing suitable for the hike in layers...no cotton or blue jeans.  Wear a warm hat and gloves and bring hand warmers as a precaution. Bring along plenty of water (at least 2 liters), lunch, snacks and anything else you may require for a day hike. Make sure your pack is big enough to place your jacket and excess clothing into it as you warm up. For footwear, have winter insulated boots and MicroSpikes in case we encounter icy trails. We may need snowshoes if we had a snowstorm just prior to the hike…we’ll let you know a few days before. Contact us if you have any questions. 

Boston Area Carpooling: Save money by sharing gas/toll expenses and get to know fellow GO members better! Don't by shy...contact other Bostonians to find a convenient location for you to meet such as a T-Stop, Commuter Line Stop, or a parking lot of a store familiar to you all! Don't forget to tip the driver! 

Afterwards:  Everyone is welcome to join us back at our house in Waterville Valley to relax by our fireplace [BYOB and bring snacks] followed by one of Jon's delicious dinners. We ask $10 per person to help pay for our food costs. Showers are available so bring a change of clothing to make your visit with us more comfortable.

Lodging Option: Bunk beds are available at our house [with Wi Fi] near Waterville Valley, NH for Friday and/or Saturday nights. It's $25 for Friday night, $35 for Saturday that includes dinner or $60 for the weekend. Coffee/bagels each morning and linen/blankets/towels are provided. Space is limited so email ASAP to reserve a bunk!

Directions To Trailhead Parking Lot

Liberty Springs trailhead is accessible by the Whitehorse trailhead parking lot off Interstate 93 Northbound on the western side of the mountain. Get off Exit 33 onto US 3 and head past the Whale's Tale Waterpark, Indian Head Resort, the sign marking the entrance into Franconia Notch and the Flume Visitors Center. Continue past the Flume Visitors Center and you'll soon see signs that will say "Trailhead Parking" on the right. We’ll be driving a blue Toyota Tacoma truck.