route suggestions for Owl's Head, Garfield

[Jason Berard]

I'm planning on hiking Garfield and Owl's Head in a few weeks, and I,m looking for some advice on route selection.

Option 1: Hike up Garfield trail to Garfield Ridge tr to Franconia Ridge trail, down Lincoln Slide to Lincoln Brook trail, up Owl's Head and back down the slide to Lincoln Brook trail, and out to Lincoln Woods.

Option #2: Up to Garfield and down Franconia Brook trail to 13 falls tentsite to Lincoln Brook Tr to Owls head slide.... and out the same way.

Both trips would be overnight, and I would welcome general suggestion as to where to look for a good place to set up a tent. I'm considering staying overnight atop Owl's Head, but have no firsthand experience of the area and would welcome suggestions. 13 Falls would be another option for #2.

Thanks to all in advance!

 

[TDawg]

As far as staying atop Owls Head, I was up there for the first time last Monday and there were some openish small spots along the ridge to the summit, where you may be able to pitch a tent. Probably wont be the most comfortable of spots. Now if you have a hammock thats a different story, theres lots of spots.

As far as water goes, there was water flowing pretty good out of a spring above the top of the slide maybe .5-.7 from the "new" summit. Now I understand this isn't always the case, my hike was the day after a night of rain showers.

 

[albee]

Route 1 is an adventure - be careful on Lincoln Slide with a full pack. I've done it and it wasn't too bad but it was one of the only times I wished I had poles in the Whites. (I don't hike with them.) Lots of slippery scree.

Route 2 is a nice choice, too. I did that route as a dayhike back in November... Climbed Garfield, E and W Garfield Ridge, Galehead, and Owl's Head, and took the Black Pond bushwhack out to LW in the dark. Long day but do-able.

I have seen people camping at the base of the OH slide, but as I understand it this isn't legal since you're not supposed to camp within 200' of a trail in the Pemi Wilderness, unless it is an official campsite. The true summit had the biggest clearing for setting up a tent, but it still didn't look big enough for a tent.

My recommendation would be to do route 1 and camp on some of the more level ground in the woods between the base of Lincoln slide and the west side of Lincoln Brook. There are old logging roads in there and there's even some old cairns along a long lost trail in the woods out there that has some nice flat fairly open areas that would make a good camping spot. Good luck!

 

[Jason Berard]

Thank you both for the info. One of the things I was wondering was of the were some open spots in the woods out there near Lincoln Slide. It sounds like Owl's Head summit would not be the best choice, which is definitely good to know before I get up there with my tent!! Thanks again, and if anyone else out there has experience with either of these two routes, I'd love to hear about it!

 

[RoySwkr]

I would say the easiest would be to hike in from Lincoln Woods, do Lincoln Brook-Franconia Brook loop in either direction with spur hikes to Garfield from 13 Falls and Owls Head. Camp most anywhere along loop subject to Wilderness regulations (basically out of sight of trail and brooks). This means you would not have to do the steep elevation gains with overnight gear.

I personally believe that are plenty of flat places near Owls Head summit for a typical backpack tent, as this is not an official trail you can even camp right in the middle legally. I also believe that I am too lazy to pack up the slide.

 

[askus3]

I like option #2 as it is easier. Just wondered when you state "out the same way" do you mean the same exit route as in option #1, or retrace steps? I would continue out via Franconia Falls and Lincoln Woods, since from option #1, it seems like a 2 car shuttle is in the realm of possibilities. I would camp at 13 Falls Campsite (excellent campsites, swimming holes and water supply, just watch out for bears). On the first day, you have the climb over Garfield to relish. Then on the 2nd day you could leave your backpack at the base of Owl's Head (why camp up there without water and drag all your stuff up to the summit and nothing inviting about the summit area and a lack of views) and just scamper up to the summit and back. When continuing south, at the Lincoln Brook crossing, don't cross just keep the major streams on your left and you will run into an old trail which gets better and more defined and maintained as you get closer to Franconia Falls (great place for a swim).

 

[Jason Berard]

Just wondered when you state "out the same way" do you mean the same exit route as in option #1, or retrace steps? I would continue out via Franconia Falls and Lincoln Woods, since from option #1, it seems like a 2 car shuttle is in the realm of possibilities.

We are going to spot a car at Lincoln Woods, and I did mean out the same way as in option #1. Sorry about that. It was pretty vague.

Thanks for all the help, everyone! It does seem like more effort than its worth to stay on top of Owl's Head. We're still torn on which route to take. We may come up from Franconia Notch directly, instead of from Garfield, which would mean we will come down Lincoln Slide. If so, this may end up a long day trip instead of an overnight.