Franconia Notch Old Forest Exploration

One of New England's best and easiest places to see an old-growth forest is in the spectacular Franconia Notch State Park in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The Franconia Old Forest is an excellent example of an Old-Growth Northern Hardwood – Spruce Forest. Some of the trees are approaching 300 years of age. This forest is unique because of the high percentage of yellow birch, indicating the absence of forest fires. Countless hurricanes and extreme weather have pummeled these trees, and we will see some classic indicators of an old-growth forest.  

Our 3.5-mile round-trip hike along a paved bicycle trail, with an elevation change of only 200 feet, is considered easy. We will examine the physical characteristics that make this an old-growth forest using a checklist developed for use in the White Mountains. We will also discuss the geological formation of the Basin, Cannon Cliffs, and other interesting geological features in Franconia Notch.

Bring water, a pencil, a notepad, and clothing for the weather. Binoculars, a camera, and a hand lens are helpful.

Join us for an insightful exploration led by David Govatski, a retired forester and silviculturist with extensive knowledge and experience in studying and exploring old-growth forests and ancient trees across North America.  

This event does have a registration limit of 20 people so be sure to register early! You can register here.

Link to a brochure on the Franconia Old Forest.

What: Franconia Notch Old Forest Exploration
When: Sunday, November 2nd
What Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Where: Franconia Notch, NH

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