Lonesome Lake (New Hampshire)

Lonesome Lake
Lonesome Lake from Cannon Mountain
Lonesome Lake Show map of New Hampshire Lonesome Lake Show map of the United States
Location	Franconia Notch State Park, Grafton County, New Hampshire
Coordinates	44°8′24″N 71°42′4″W / 44.14000°N 71.70111°W / 44.14000; -71.70111
Primary outflows	Cascade Brook
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	0.2 mi (0.32 km)
Max. width	0.1 mi (0.16 km)
Surface area	12.2 acres (49,000 m2)
Average depth	4 feet (1.2 m)
Max. depth	8 feet (2.4 m)
Surface elevation	2,730 ft (830 m)

Lonesome Lake is a 12.2-acre (49,000 m²) water body located in Franconia Notch in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, south of Cannon Mountain.^[1] The lake is reachable by hiking trails from the Franconia Notch Parkway, including the Lafayette Place Campground, and takes approximately 2–3 hours.^[2][3] It features an Appalachian Mountain Club hut, which first opened in 1930, on its southwest shore.^[2]

The lake lies in the Merrimack River watershed. Its outlet, Cascade Brook, flows south over ledges and waterfalls to the Pemigewasset River near "The Basin" in Franconia Notch. The Pemigewasset in turn flows south to the Merrimack River, which reaches the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Lonesome Lake is part of Franconia Notch State Park. The Appalachian Trail passes the lake at its outlet. Additional hiking trails travel north to Cannon Mountain.^[2]

The lake is classified as a coldwater fishery and contains brook trout.^[4] The forest includes beech, maple, and birch trees, as well as moss and lichen.^[2]