“There are few moments more serene than a good summit sit. All around you are views of mountains, streams, waterfalls, forests, and birds, unblemished by human intervention. Such an expanse of nature leaves you in awe, less aware of your thoughts and more aware of the surrounding world.”
On my journey through the 4000-footers, I often felt like I was pin-balling back and forth between having some climbs where I felt balanced and at peace, and others where I felt rushed and ill at ease. Sometimes those feelings occurred on the same climb. On Flume, I was so preoccupied with my thoughts that I took a wrong turn and got lost on the trail coming up. Arriving at a dead-end where someone had left their tattered underwear hanging from a tree, it was clear to me that I needed to slow down and think about what I was doing. And that wasn’t just limited to the trail.
Hiking The Flume Slide Trail
It was late April, and while early spring was on its way in the lower part of the state, it felt closer to March than May when I set out towards The Flume Slide Trail. But still, signs of spring were about. American beech trees were starting to bud on the early sections of the trail and green shoots were emerging through the underbrush. Plants-to-be-named-later.
I opted to loop Mount Flume and Mount Liberty by going up the steeper Flume Slide route first, so that I could avoid it on the way down. Descents are harder on my knees, as they seem to be for everyone, so I always choose to tackle the steeper sections on the way up.
Ah, what beautiful scenery!
As the trail met Flume Brook, I was led astray by what looked like a crossing but wasn’t one at all. The earth was so well-trodden—likely by hikers stopping for a break—that it appeared more like the trail than the actual trail. But I knew something was off after crossing the brook and running into a dead-end, where I was greeted by someone’s discarded underwear. Lovely.
Summiting Mount Flume
There was a good portion of ice on the trail past Flume Brook, but unlike the rest of my winter and early spring hikes, I no longer needed traction for a good portion of the hike. At least a few times, I found myself having to take the spikes off before putting them back on fifteen minutes later. Sometimes I stubbornly left the spikes on because I got tired of the process, no longer giving a damn if I damaged the spikes by walking on bare rock.
But any annoyance over getting lost or constantly toggling traction completely faded when I reached the summit of Flume. It was beautiful! And I had it all to myself. How could this be? Just north of Flume and Liberty were their more popular cousins, Lincoln and Lafayette, and I knew there were probably hordes of hikers over there—relatively speaking. But why not here? The views were just as good, the hike was shorter, and personally, I found the ascent up Lafayette more grueling than the Flume Slide Trail. That could just be me, though—the Slide has a reputation for being the worst trail to ascend in these mountains.
Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m even opining about this because it’s so nice to have a Lafayette-like experience without so many hikers around! Why did I write this? Now the secret’s out. Dangit!
The Franconia Ridge Trail to Mount Liberty
Sometimes your favorite spots in the mountains come from where several things align all at once – a remarkable view, a feeling of peace, a clarity of mind that you were searching for when you left the trailhead that morning. Looking out from the summit of Liberty I found all of that at once, and as such, immediately became one of my favorite mountains in New Hampshire.
“Scanning the landscape from Liberty, my eyes caught sight of a hawk soaring through the mountain valley. Watching it lift elegantly with the wind, its purpose simple and clear, my thoughts flew with it and I was guided towards the singular enjoyment of watching it fly, not curious at all about what it was doing, only hoping to fill my eyes with its movement.”
Ascent Details – Flume & Liberty Loop
Route: Whitehouse Trail → Liberty Spring Trail → Flume Slide Trail → Franconia Ridge Trail → Liberty Spring Trail → Whitehouse Trail
Summits: Mount Flume (4,328′), Mount Liberty (4,459′)
Total Distance: ~10 miles
Elevation Gain: ~3059 feet
Trailhead Location: The Whitehouse trail begins on the north side of the Flume Gorge Visitor Center Parking Lot
The Flume Slide Trail starts off gently alongside Flume Brook before transitioning into a steep and slick rock scramble. The upper slabs are challenging, but worth it to stand upon Flume’s summit with Franconia Notch stretched out before you.
From Flume, follow the Franconia Ridge Trail north to Mount Liberty, which is a beautiful ridge hike with stunning views. (There’s nothing like a good ridge-hike!) The descent route is the Liberty Spring Trail, which leads you back to the Whitehouse Trail, and brings you full circle to the parking area.
Peakbagging Resources for Mount Flume & Mount Liberty
If you’re planning to hike Mount Flume and Mount Liberty as a loop via the Flume Slide Trail and Liberty Spring Trail, these resources will help with trip planning, trail conditions, and safety information:
- 4000Footers.com – Flume & Liberty – A detailed route description with maps, distances, and elevation profiles. This website was one of my go-tos when I first started out.
- New England Trail Conditions [Flume & Liberty Reports] – User-submitted trail reports with recent conditions.
- Peakbagger – Mount Flume & Mount Liberty – GPS tracks, ascent stats, and climber logs.
- NH State Parks – Franconia Notch Trail Map – Always good to have a map!
This loop is a classic New Hampshire hike, offering a mix of rugged terrain, rewarding views, and a solid challenge—especially on the Flume Slide Trail, which can be treacherous in wet or icy conditions. Outside of the summer months, it’s always good to check recent trail reports before heading out!
Beyond This Hike
Looking for more photos of New Hampshire’s 4000-footers?
Explore the Visual Companion to 4000s by 40 for images from the trail.
Want to read more stories from the White Mountains? This hike is one of many featured in 4000s by 40, which you can find here.