Explore the Basin in Franconia Notch

The Basin is just one stop on the Pemigewasset Recreational Trail that follows along I-93 through Franconia Notch. The parking lot for the Basin is easily accessible from either north or south on I-93, and it has it's own exit sign which can't be missed.

Park in the lot and follow the signs towards the Basin. While the main attraction here is obviously the Basin itself, hiking through these woods on the Cascade Brook Trail is awesome too. After leaving the parking lot, turn left on the Pemigewasset Recreational Trail and walk about .25 miles until you see a trail on the right hand side (the Cascade Brook Trail).

In winter, cross-country skiers or snow-shoers can enjoy the relatively flat Pemigewasset Recreational Trail, which is accessible from the parking lot at the Basin as well as other spots in Franconia. If you choose not to turn right on the Cascade Brook Trail, you can simply continue on for another 2 miles to the Flume Gorge. The Pemi Trail is not a loop, so you'd need to come back the way you came from.

During the summer months, the Pemi Trail and the Basin can be packed with tourists, but during the winter, it's much quieter and peaceful. There will always be people up here skiing and snow-shoeing, but if you go on a week day, you can enjoy a relatively isolated experience on the Cascade Brook Trail.

There are tons of options here depending on what you want to do. If you just want a short walk to see the Basin and cascading waterfalls around it, the total distance is less than a mile there and back. If you want a more challenging and lengthier hike, you can continue to hike up the Cascade Brook Trail, which will eventually bring you to Lonesome Lake. Lonesome Lake is on the Appalachian Trail, and there's even a hut here that is open during the winter on a self-service basis. The total distance to Lonesome Lake from the Basin is about 2.5 miles, all up-hill on the way there. During the winter, the snow can actually make it a little easier to hike this trail, because the rocky path is covered, but coming back down can be a challenge when the snow is wet and slippery. Good hiking boots are a must for this if you want to enjoy it!