I climbed this one with my father 49 years ago. At the time we camped at 13 Falls with a group from my 5th grade class. I remember 13 Falls and camping. We used tarps strung from trees instead of tents which wasn't very good for keeping out the black flies. My father and I climbed Owls Head from the 13 Falls camp ground but I don't remember much of the mountain.
This time I went from the Lincoln Woods visitor center to Owls Head and back. Long day that was about 19 miles when I added a visit to Franconia Falls to the trip. I do remember the old railroad bed from the trip many years ago. Some beams and a some of the RR spikes are still there. I guess they used to log the area with a train 100+ years ago. This hike is pretty flat for most of it. Maybe 15 miles of it is fairly easy and flat. The two miles up and down Owls Head is very steep up a slide. The top is actually flat and wooded. There were a number of trails off what I think is the old summit that go to the new one. Not much elevation gain once you get off the slide. The Lincoln Brook trail which is about 3.5 miles one way is pretty nice. The Lincoln Brook is a good size river and the trail goes along it for most of the way. You also have to cross the river many times which wasn't too hard today but could be interesting in the Spring. The Owls Head trail is as close as you get to an Adirondack style trail-less peak in NH. Just a cairn to start the Owls Head trail which brings you to the slide. No signs and the top is a jumble of narrow trails. There are a few views on the slide looking over to he Lafayette range. I sat with my feet in the river at the end. Nice river access right next to the Lincoln Woods visitor center.
This wasn't my favorite hike in NH but a pretty nice day mostly because of the river and the waterfalls.
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| Franconia Falls |
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| Start of Owls Head trail |
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| Owls Head slide |
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