New Hampshire State Parks is announcing the pilot hiker-shuttle service will be provided again this year in Franconia Notch State Park. This service offers a safe and legal alternative to parking on Interstate 93 for people visiting the Franconia Notch and the White Mountain National Forest.

The shuttle service will run May 18 through Sunday October 20 on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. The shuttle will run continuously from 8:30 AM to 8 PM Saturdays and Sundays (rain or shine). Cost will be $5 per person and only cash is accepted.

Increased visitation to the White Mountains Region, particularly at the Falling Waters/Old Bridle Path trailheads near Lafayette Place, has caused parking lots to fill quickly, resulting in illegal and unsafe parking along Interstate 93. State agencies, the White Mountain National Forest and other partners have been working together to explore alternatives to parking on the highway.

As a pilot program, dogs are allowed initially.  State officials will evaluate the shuttle service program, adjusting as needed and determining its overall feasibility.

The shuttle service will operate out of Cannon Mountain’s Peabody Base Lodge (Exit 34C) parking lot. Hikers can park in the lot and take the approximately 10-15 minute ride one-way to Lafayette Place. Then the shuttle will pick visitors up at the Falling Waters/Bridle Path and return them to the Peabody Base Lodge parking lot. Lafayette Place and Falling Waters/Bridle Path trailheads will be the only stops other than the Peabody lot. We encourage drivers to drop passengers off at these locations to reduce the number of people that need to use a shuttle.

For information on additional available hiker parking lots, parking lot capacity and trails accessed from parking lots, visit www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/franconia-notch-state-park.