White Mountains Triathlon (Iron Half)

Franconia, United States · June · Cannon Mountain / White Mountains Triathlon

Not a standard 70.3. This course is 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90.1 km (56 mi) bike, 19 km (11.8 mi) run, not the usual 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run. Organizer lists a run of 11.8 mi (19.0 km), 4 loops, vs the standard 13.1 mi (21.1 km); swim 1.2 mi (1.9 km) and bike 56 mi (90 km).

White Mountains Triathlon (Iron Half): echo lake in franconia notch in autumn (swim venue)Photo is not from race dayBIYM, CC BY-SA 3.0
Echo Lake in Franconia Notch in autumn (swim venue). Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Why people love it

  • Swim in Echo Lake beneath Cannon Mountain, in a spectacular Franconia Notch setting
  • Bike along the Wild Ammonoosuc River, with a timed 3.2 km (2 mi) King of the Mountain climb
  • Paved run through Franconia Notch State Park, finishing at the Cannon base with a slopeside BBQ

Watch out for

  • Very cold swim: about 13 °C (55 °F) reported in June, so bring a thick wetsuit and neoprene
  • Run is 19.0 km (11.8 mi), not 21.1 km (13.1 mi), so times are not comparable to a standard half
  • Very hilly bike; the 10% opening descent of 4.8 km (3 mi) is a climb home. Elevation not published
  • Very long uphill walk from the lake to the bikes; leave shoes at the lake
  • Little independent review evidence; no race reports found

Race

2.9Good

How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.

Toughness: Very tough

  • Racer satisfactionLoved3.6

    One short forum thread calls it well run and scenic, but with a very cold swim, a hilly bike and not a PR course. · Low confidence

  • OrganizationWell run3.8

    Posters call it well run but low-key; run by Cannon Mountain, with a long local record from its sister race. · Low confidence

  • First timer friendlyDemanding2.3

    A cold lake, a 10% opening descent you climb on the way home, a timed climb and a long uphill walk from the lake. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • PR potentialSlow1.9

    Posters say it is definitely not a PR course; the run is also short at 19.0 km (11.8 mi), so times are not comparable. · Low confidence

Swim

3.0Good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

  • Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.8

    Posters report water of about 13 °C (55 °F) in June and cool even in August, so a wetsuit is always sensible. · Medium confidence

  • Water temperatureUncomfortable1.5

    About 13 °C (55 °F) in June, below the 15 °C (59 °F) cold line; the August average is about 18 °C (65 °F). · Medium confidence

  • Calm waterMostly calm4.0

    A small sheltered mountain lake with no chop complaints. · Low confidence

  • Swim easeEasy3.8

    Echo Lake is small and easy to sight; the swim exit is followed by a very long uphill walk to the bikes. · Low confidence

  • Swim experienceFine3.4

    Scenic beneath Cannon Mountain, but numbingly cold and followed by a long climb to transition. · Low confidence

Bike

3.1Good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.

  • Road surfaceMixed2.6

    The first stretch of Route 18 is reported as steep and a bit rough. · Low confidence

  • Road closuresPartly closed2.8

    Closures vary by year; Route 18 and Route 112 are public highways. · Low confidence

  • Bike scenerySpectacular4.5

    Route 18, the Wild Ammonoosuc River and Kinsman Notch in the White Mountains. · Medium confidence

  • WindMostly calm3.5

    Sheltered mountain valleys should limit wind, but no data found. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Bike speedSlow2.1

    Hilly roads with a 10% descent, a timed climb and rough pavement in spots. · Low confidence

  • Bike flatnessHilly2.1

    Posters call it very hilly, including a 3.2 km (2 mi) timed climb; elevation gain is not published. · Low confidence

  • Bike simplicityTechnical2.3

    Opens with a steep 4.8 km (3 mi) 10% descent, then mountain roads and a final bike path. · Medium confidence

Run

2.8Good

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

  • Crowd supportDecent2.6

    The run is on a state-park path; no evidence of heavy crowds on course. · Low confidence

  • Aid stationsStandard3.3

    Standard small-race aid with no athlete comments. · Low confidence

  • Run sceneryBeautiful4.3

    A paved path in Franconia Notch State Park below Cannon Mountain. · Medium confidence

  • Run conditionsEasy3.8

    A paved path in cool mountain air, but rolling and shortened to 19.0 km (11.8 mi). · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Run flatnessRolling3.4

    Four loops on a rolling paved path; the last half-mile climbs. · Low confidence

Conditions

4.3Very good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

  • Air temperaturePleasant4.4

    Late-June highs of 22 to 26 °C (72 to 78 °F) and lows of 8 to 17 °C (46 to 63 °F) in recent years. · Medium confidence

  • Weather reliabilityVariable2.9

    Mountain weather in June with big swings between night and day. · Low confidence

  • Venue beautyStunning4.7

    Franconia Notch beneath Cannon Mountain, with Echo Lake and White Mountain peaks. · Medium confidence

  • Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4

    Run loops and the finish are at the Cannon base area; the bike course is long and remote. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • Low altitudeModerate3.2

    Echo Lake sits at about 549 m (1,800 ft). · Medium confidence

Stay and travel

2.2Below par

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.

  • Hotel availabilityBook early3.0

    Small mountain tourist towns; June is busy, but no sell-out data. · Low confidence

  • Hotel valueNormal3.0

    Tourist-area lodging; no race-week prices found. · Low confidence

  • WalkabilitySome driving3.4

    Cannon Mountain base and Echo Lake are close; Franconia village is a short drive. · Low confidence

  • Travel easeAwkward2.0

    Remote northern New Hampshire, roughly two hours from Manchester or Portland airports. · Low confidence

  • LogisticsSome complexity2.6

    Swim and bike transition are far apart with a very long uphill walk, and the finish is elsewhere. · Low confidence

  • Town and foodGood3.6

    Franconia village, a local brewery and a post-race BBQ at the Cannon base. · Low confidence

Key facts

Location
Franconia, New Hampshire, United States
Typical month
June
Latest or next date
26 June 2027
Organiser
Cannon Mountain / White Mountains Triathlon
Distances (non-standard)
1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90.1 km (56 mi) bike, 19 km (11.8 mi) run
Swim venue
Echo Lake, Franconia Notch State Park (lake)
Water temperature
13–18 °C (55–64 °F)
Wetsuit
Not stated; water cold enough that wetsuits are the norm (mid-50s F / about 13 C in June per forum posts)
Swim start
beach
Key climbs
3 mi (4.8 km) 10% descent on Route 18 into Franconia (return climb); King of the Mountain timed 2 mi (3.2 km) climb in Kinsman Notch / Route 141 toward Beaver Pond
Run laps
4
Run shade
wooded Franconia Notch State Park path
Air temperature
8–26 °C (46–79 °F)
Altitude
549 m (1,800 ft)
Nearest airport
Manchester-Boston (MHT) or Portland (PWM); Lebanon (LEB) smaller
Where to stay
Franconia village, Lincoln
Booking
Race week lodging in Franconia/Lincoln; no sell-out data found.

Official race website (cannonmt.com)

What racers and reviewers say

  • Slowtwitch forum: 'Is it a good course and well run?'forum · Mixed

    Short thread where athletes described the swim as very cold (mid-50s F / about 13 C, still chilly in August), the bike as very hilly with a steep, rough start on Route 18, a very long transition up from the lake and a steep finishing half-mile. Others said the event is well run if low-key, though not a course for a PR.

    “definitely not a course to go for a PR”

    Slowtwitch posters
  • Cannon Mountain event page (Iron Half)Raced 2026 · article · Positive

    Organizer detail of the half: Echo Lake swim, Route 18 descent, Wild Ammonoosuc River, a 'King of the Mountain' on Route 141 and a four-loop 11.8 mi (19 km (11.8 mi)) run on the Franconia Notch path. Promotional, no elevation or cutoffs.

  • Town of Franconia course page (Top Notch sister race)article · Mixed

    Course description for the neighbouring Top Notch triathlon on the same lake: 'brisk' Echo Lake swim averaging about 65 F (18 C) in August and a 2,280 ft (695 m (2,280 ft)) climb from lake to summit. Used for lake temperature and elevation of the lake, not the half course itself.

  • Concord Monitor: Top Notch Triathlon coverageRaced 2019 · article · Positive

    2019 article on the sister Top Notch race (bike, Echo Lake swim, Cannon hike) describing 300+ racers of every level and a community, family feel with proceeds to local services. Shows the host community and event culture, not the Iron Half.

Raced White Mountains Triathlon (Iron Half)? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.

Sources

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