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Old Man of the Mountain (historical) — Cliffs 47.4 Miles WSW of Chapman Inn
Grafton County, New Hampshire · USGS Franconia Quadrangle · GNIS 873300
47.4 miles west-southwest of Chapman Inn, on the USGS Franconia topographic quadrangle, Old Man of the Mountain (historical) is a cliff face recorded in Grafton County, New Hampshire by the federal Geographic Names Information System.
Wikidata short description: “former rock formation on Cannon Mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire, United States (collapsed 2003)”
Landmark Profile
Classification & USGS reference
The USGS Franconia 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle places Old Man of the Mountain (historical) in Grafton County, New Hampshire (FIPS 33/009), classified as a cliff face in the federal GNIS (Feature ID 873300). Catalogued in GNIS since 02/01/1991.
Coordinates & physical setting
Old Man of the Mountain (historical) sits at 44.16062° N, 71.68342° W (DMS 44°09′38″ N, 71°41′00″ W).
Features on the USGS Franconia Quadrangle
The Franconia 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle holds 39 catalogued natural features alongside Old Man of the Mountain (historical). A sampling nearest to this location:
| Feature | Type | County | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile Lake | Lakes | Grafton County, NH | 0.4 mi |
| Franconia Notch | Gaps | Grafton County, NH | 0.6 mi |
| Eagle Cliff | Cliffs | Grafton County, NH | 0.8 mi |
| Cannon Mountain | Summits | Grafton County, NH | 0.8 mi |
| Echo Lake | Lakes | Grafton County, NH | 1.1 mi |
| Eagles Lakes | Lakes | Grafton County, NH | 1.2 mi |
| Walker Brook | Streams | Grafton County, NH | 1.5 mi |
| The Cannon Balls | Summits | Grafton County, NH | 1.5 mi |
| Artists Bluff | Cliffs | Grafton County, NH | 1.6 mi |
| Lonesome Lake | Lakes | Grafton County, NH | 1.7 mi |
Historical record
Also known as: Great Stone Face, The Profile, The Old Man of the Mountain, The Great Stone Face.
The Old Man of the Mountain, also called the Great Stone Face and the Profile, was a series of five granite cliff ledges on Cannon Mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire, United States, that appeared to be the jagged profile of a human face when viewed from the north. The rock formation, 1,200 feet (370 m) above Profile Lake, was 40 feet (12 m) tall and 25 feet (7.6 m) wide. Read the full Wikipedia entry →
Visiting from Chapman Inn
Distance, bearing & drive time
Chapman Inn sits 47.4 miles west-southwest (bearing WSW) of Old Man of the Mountain (historical). At moderate back-road speeds the drive runs about 81 minutes — comfortably inside a half-day outing window after breakfast.
Best time to visit
Accessible May through November in most years. At this latitude (44.161°), the shoulder seasons are workable — April and November can be comfortable on mild years. At 47.4 miles from the Inn, block the full day — sunrise start, late return, packed meals. Conditions at Old Man of the Mountain (historical) track the nearby Profile Lake (0.4 mi away) closely — if that is runnable, so is this.
Nearest features to Old Man of the Mountain (historical)
| Feature | Type | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile Lake | Lakes | Grafton County, NH | 0.4 mi |
| Franconia Notch | Gaps | Grafton County, NH | 0.6 mi |
| Eagle Cliff | Cliffs | Grafton County, NH | 0.8 mi |
| Cannon Mountain | Summits | Grafton County, NH | 0.8 mi |
| Echo Lake | Lakes | Grafton County, NH | 1.1 mi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Old Man of the Mountain (historical) located?
Old Man of the Mountain (historical) is in Grafton County, New Hampshire, approximately 47.4 miles west-southwest of Chapman Inn in Bethel, Maine. It appears on the USGS Franconia topographic quadrangle.
How far is Old Man of the Mountain (historical) from Chapman Inn?
The drive runs about 81 minutes, 47.4 miles west-southwest (bearing WSW) of the Inn.
What type of natural feature is Old Man of the Mountain (historical)?
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies Old Man of the Mountain (historical) as a cliff face, catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 873300 on the Franconia quadrangle.
When is the best time to visit Old Man of the Mountain (historical)?
Accessible May through November in most years.
What other names has Old Man of the Mountain (historical) been known by?
Alternate or historical names on record: Great Stone Face, The Profile, The Old Man of the Mountain, The Great Stone Face.
Wikidata: Q1508103.