Mount Pemigewasset rises to 2,557 feet at the southern end of Franconia Notch State Park, near Lincoln. Though modest by White Mountain standards, it is better known by its nickname "Indian Head," a reference to the rock cliffs below the summit that, when viewed from Route 3 to the south, take on the silhouette of a Native American face. The open rock slab at the top delivers views well beyond what the elevation promises: the full corridor of Franconia Notch extends to the north, the Franconia Ridge rises above, and the Pemigewasset River valley stretches south.
Two trails reach the summit. The Mount Pemigewasset Trail starts from the Flume Gorge area and covers 3.4 miles round-trip with 1,256 feet of gain; it is the gentler and more traveled of the two approaches. The Indian Head Trail, accessed from Route 3 near the Indian Head Resort, is steeper and rockier at roughly 3.8 miles round-trip. Hikers with two cars can combine both trails into a five-mile loop with about 1,500 feet of elevation gain.
The trails see heavy use from late spring through fall. Upper ledges can hold ice into May and return by late October; microspikes are worth carrying during shoulder-season visits. The Flume Gorge parking area fills quickly on summer weekends, so an early start is advisable.
