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Are you looking for the ultimate fall hike to do in New Hampshire? Then might I suggest the famed Artist Bluff Trail: a rocky loop trail in Franconia Notch State Park that delivers sweeping views of the White Mountains.
Although the Artist Bluff Trail has some steep sections, this hike takes less than an hour to complete. The trail is moderate in difficulty and most hikers with a basic level of fitness can complete it without issue. Below, I am laying out everything you need to know to find the Artist Bluff’s famous views without issue.
Note: my husband Aaron and I hiked the Artist Bluff trail in late September. This is generally too early to see much fall foliage, but you will find less crowds and some red and orange leaves peaking through.
Related: 61 Awesome Bucket List Ideas for Your Best Fall Ever
Artist Bluff Trail in New Hampshire: What You Need to Know
Artist Bluff Trail – Quick Facts
- Length: 1.5 miles, loop trail
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Time: 60 minutes
- Terrain: The trail can be steep with mud and rocks. Some small sections require a little scrambling. Shade is plentiful along the trail.
- Scenery: You’ll be in the woods for most of the trail, but there are rewarding views from the Artist Bluff and Bald Mountain.
Park at the Trailhead
To Reach the Artist Bluff Trail, take highway I-93 until exit 34C. Then turn onto NH-18N. Park in the big dirt lot across the street from the Cannon Mountain Main Base Area.
I recommend bringing layers, at it might be chillier up in the mountains than where you are staying. Also, this hike is rocky and can be slippery, so good hiking shoes are a must. I personally love my Keens!
Aaron and I hiked the Artist Bluff around 3pm on a Friday afternoon in late-September. It had just stopped raining and there was hardly anybody else around.
It was a chilly day for September, being in the mid-40’s, so we were wearing long-sleeve base layers, a vest or sweatshirt, and then our North Face fleeces. A hat was also nice to cover the ears and I liked having gloves in case my fingers got cold.
Choose Which Way You’ll Climb
You can either hike the Artist Bluff Trail clockwise or counterclockwise – you’ll get a different experience in either direction. Clockwise provides slow, gradual ascent to the top, while counter-clockwise is a more sharp incline with steep, rocky steps.
Counter-clockwise is generally considered easier and this is the direction I’d go if I did this trail again. Hiking the Artist Bluff in the other direction meant we did the steep rocky steps coming down. Let me tell you, this was brutal on the knees and was rather slow since we needed to watch our step very carefully.
Climb Bald Mountain
If you are up for a more difficult rock scramble and have the right shoes, climb just under 200 yards to the view on Bald Mountain. If you take the Artist Bluff Trail heading clockwise, you will encounter where this trail branches off about a quarter-mile into the hike.
Aaron and I missed this view, mostly because we didn’t realize it’s such a short detour from Artist Bluff Trail! There was still some misty rain in the air and didn’t want to risk conditions getting worse.
However, you shouldn’t miss Bald Mountain, as the views are even more sweeping than those of the Artist Bluff.
Admire the Artist Bluff’s Famous Echo Lake Views
There were a couple false starts with views, where some landscapes were visible, but not the “money shot” I was hoping for. If you get to this trail expecting something extraordinary and are disappointed with what you see – keep going because you aren’t there yet!
Still not sure when we’d find the view, we got to a point where we were standing beside a giant boulder. Aaron convinced me that we should try to climb it to the top, so we did.
There was a nice little view up there, but it wasn’t equivalent to “the view”. Neither of us had climbed anything in a while, so it was fun to act like kids for a minute. Thankfully, we were both able to get down without any trouble!
Finally, we reached the short path branching off to the views we’d been waiting for. Upon arrival at the Artist Bluff, we stood in solitude on the giant slabs of rock looking and looked out over Echo Lake. Besides I-93 snaking through the mountains to our left, it was just us, the trees and the White Mountains shrouded in fog.
Even though it was still September, I was happy to see charming pops of color in the foliage down below. If you want to see the treetops ablaze with warm hues, do this hike in mid-October. Just be ready to share the trail with a lot of other people!
Hike Back Down
After a few minutes, we started our hike back down the trail’s steep rocky steps. I haven’t historically had knee problems, but in the cold even I felt some new aches. We also had to balance ourselves to avoid slipping on the damp path, so we took our time.
If you take this trail counter-clockwise, the way down will be much easier. Don’t forget to stop and check out the Bald Mountain view before you are done!
Eventually, the trail opened up to Route 18, which Aaron and I headed towards, thinking we were near our car. In fact, we had left the trail early by accident and still had about .4 miles to go. Don’t do this, because the parking lot was nowhere in sight and we ended up walking on the gravel roadside the rest of the way.
What to After Hiking the Artist Bluff Trail
After your climb, reward yourself with a stop at one of New Hampshire’s many breweries. Here are two great options where you can grab a beer along with lunch or dinner:
- Rek-Lis Brewing Company: 15 minutes away in Bethlehem, NH. Fill up on fresh homemade bar food favorites with some enticing vegan and vegetarian options!
- Schilling Beer Co: 16 minutes away in Littleton, NH. The menu features a rotating menu of wood-fired pizzas, which are made with seasonally available local ingredients.
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The Artist Bluff Trail is easily one of the prettiest hikes in New Hampshire and offers a big reward for a small time investment. I highly recommend trying to see these incredible views when the fall foliage is peaking. If you already think the Artist Bluff looks good in September, just imagine seeing these trees in a sea of bright reds, oranges, and yellows!
