Hike Safe & Smart
Meet your Franconia Notch State Park Interpreters on the trail! We will go over some hiker safety tips and strategies as well as answer any questions you may have about the flora, fauna, natural history and human history of the park. Trail locations are listed on the program calendar.
Firefly Fireworks
Have you ever seen a firefly glow like a firework at night? Have you ever wondered how and why they light up? Meet at the Lafayette Place Campground Amphitheater and find out how fireflies use light to communicate! A short firefly walk will also be included.
Flume Detectives
Who discovered the Flume? Why does it have stuff growing all over it? Uncover the answers to these questions on a scavenger hunt along the Flume Gorge walk. Find the table in the Flume Gorge and Visitor Center to begin unlocking the secrets of the Flume.
Summit Lichens: The Relationship Experts
They are small, love sunlight, grow barely a millimeter each year, and surprisingly, cannot live on their own! Come join me on a ridge trail hike at the top of Cannon Mountain to learn more about Summit Lichens, the relationship experts. You will learn about lichen, what it is used for and why it is so important to humans! Knowing about nature’s relationship expert will open up your eyes to a whole new side of the forest!
Night Hike
Night time at Franconia Notch State Park is an exciting time! Animals, plants, and even people all have adapted special ways to adjust their senses to the twilight world. On this hike we will do a series of activities to uncover and challenge human adaptations to the night. Leave your flashlights at home!
Fall Foliage Hike
Join me on a easy going hike through the beautiful colors of fall. We will discuss how these sweeping changes occur and why it is important for our forests. At the end of the program, you will design your own post card to send home to friends and family! Check the calendar for locations and times.
Fall Crafts
Come learn about fall foliage. Make a cool craft to take home to remember the brilliance of the notch during the fall.
Night Sky
Come find out the stories of the night sky! Constellations can tell you stories about how different cultures depended on the stars and they can show how to navigate if you are lost. The Perseid Meteor Shower will be visible during the middle of August, which will add to the stories that can be shared for generations! Meet at the Lafayette Place Campground Amphitheatre.
Stories by the Fire
Join your Franconia Notch park interpreter for stories by the camp fire. A selection of kid friendly stories and legends of the notch will be read aloud alongside the crackling of a camp fire. This program will take place every Sunday at 7 pm at the campground amphitheater. All ages are welcome!
Shredding the Past: A History of Skiing at Cannon Mountain
Did you know that Cannon Mountain has the oldest ski trails in the US? Meet me at the top of the Cannon tram to learn more about this and other firsts at Cannon Mountain! I will have two sets of ski’s to check out and some fun facts to learn about while you are enjoying the summit.
Life in the Shallows: Catching Critters at Lonesome Lake!
Kids, join us every Sunday and Wednesday at Lonesome Lake to catch and release critters swimming at Lonesome Lake! Catch dragon fly nymphs, salamanders, and water boatmen just to name a few! We will provide nets and buckets to explore and learn about life in the shallows. All you need to bring is a sense of adventure, and clothing that you don’t mind getting muddy!
Alpine Hike
Curious about alpine vegetation? Come enjoy a guided ½ mile hike on the rim trail of Cannon Mountain for a naturalist perspective of summit life. We will talk about Krumholtz, lichens, moss, flowers and the weather! This “flip flop friendly” hike is perfect for curious nature enthusiasts and amateur botanists alike!