This area of the White Mountains is nowhere as near as famous as the Presidential Range, but can still hold its own against its famous neighbor in many ways. It is far larger, offers plenty of awesome terrain and scenery, and receives less usage (although Fourth of July campers in the Pemigewasset Wilderness may find this hard to believe).
The Franconia Region is bounded by the scenic Kancamangus Highway to the south, U.S. 3 to the west and north, and U.S. 302 to the east and north. There are numerous ranges within this huge tract, which can only be considered one logical unit because these roads serve as its boundaries. The two highest and most prominent ranges are the Franconia Range and the Twin Range, but the Willey Range and the unnamed group of peaks around Mount Carrigain are also very prominent by White Mountain standards.
The Appalachian Trail runs across many of the major high peaks of the Franconia and Twin Ranges, but misses the Bonds and the Wiley Range. Like in the Presidentials, though, there is a well-developed trail network, with the A.T. latching on to various pre-existing trails: the Franconia Ridge Trail, the Garfield Ridge Trail, the Twinway, and the Ethan Pond Trail. A through hiker going through this area could find other worthwhile routes across it, and any extra time spent doing that or on various side trips is well spent in this truly fine group of mountains.
