Hours & Fees
Franconia Notch State Park is open year-round for recreation, and most of it is free: the Basin, Boise Rock, Profile Lake, the Old Man of the Mountain site, the trails and the bike path. The paid, staffed attractions are seasonal. In 2026 the Flume Gorge was open May 8 to October 25, 2026, Echo Lake Beach was staffed from early June to early September with limited fall hours, and Lafayette Place Campground opened May 22. The Cannon tram is closed while it is replaced.
Hours at a Glance
Hours by Attraction
- Flume Gorge: May 8 to October 25 in 2026. Open 9am daily; closing 5:30pm from July 3 to September 7, 5pm from September 8 to October 12, 4pm from October 13 to 25. Entry fee.
- Echo Lake Beach: open daily from early June to early September, limited hours in the fall; unstaffed from October 12 in 2026. Day-use fee.
- Lafayette Place Campground: opened May 22 (last reservable date October 11) in 2026; primitive winter camping after that. Nightly fee.
- Cannon RV Park: year-round, by reservation.
- Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway: closed. Its last day was October 26, 2025, and it is not expected to run in summer 2026.
- New England Ski Museum (tram base): free. The museum says hours will vary during the tram construction; check its website.
- The Basin, Boise Rock, Profile Lake and the bike path: year-round, no fee.
- Hiking trails: always open unless closed by posting. Check for trail changes before ridge hikes.
What's Free and What Costs Money
Only a few places in the park charge. The Flume Gorge charges an entry fee by age (prices on Flume Gorge tickets). Echo Lake Beach charges a small day-use fee (on Echo Lake Beach). Lafayette Place charges by the night (on the campground page). NH State Parks lists New Hampshire residents 65 and over as free at its per-person day-use parks, including the Flume and the beach. Everything else on this page is free to visit.
NH State Parks also sells season passes. Pass and State Parks plate holders get designated spaces at Echo Lake Beach. Check what a pass covers before you buy it for the Flume.
Off-Season Visits
The park stays open in the off-season, but NH State Parks is clear about what that means: outside staffed hours and seasons the park is usually unstaffed, restrooms may not be available, and gates may be closed. The state says off-season visitors take on the extra risk themselves and should have the knowledge, skill and gear to stay safe. Carry out everything you carry in. In an emergency in an unstaffed park, call 911.
2027 Dates
NH State Parks had not published 2027 opening dates when this page was written. Its brochure gives the usual pattern: the Flume from May to October, Echo Lake Beach from June to August with limited fall hours, and the campground from Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend. The state notes that operating dates depend on conditions and can change without notice. Its operating schedules page posts the new season.
Check Before You Go
The NH State Parks page for Franconia Notch State Park is the source of record. The park office is at 260 Tramway Drive, Franconia, NH 03580, phone 603-823-8800. For lots and exits, see parking.
Hours & Fees FAQ
Is Franconia Notch State Park open year-round?
Yes. NH State Parks says the park is always open for recreation unless closed by posting. The Flume Gorge, Echo Lake Beach and the campground are seasonal, and the park is mostly unstaffed in the off-season.
Is Franconia Notch State Park free?
Most of it. The Basin, Boise Rock, Profile Lake, the Old Man site, the trails and the bike path are free. The Flume Gorge, Echo Lake Beach and the campground charge fees.
What are the Flume Gorge hours?
In 2026 the Flume opened at 9am, May 8 to October 25. It closed at 5:30pm in peak summer, 5pm in September and early October, and 4pm in the last two weeks.
Is the Cannon Mountain tram running?
No. It closed after October 26, 2025, for replacement and is not expected to run in summer 2026.
Is anything open in Franconia Notch in winter?
The park itself, the trails, the bike path for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, primitive camping at Lafayette Place, the Cannon RV Park, and the Cannon Mountain ski area. The Flume and the beach are closed.