Sawyer Pond Trail
Near Owls Cliff · New Hampshire
Sawyer Pond Trail is a trail around the Moats and Montalban Ridge, climbing about 950 ft from Sawyer Pond Trail parking to Sawyer River Road Trailhead.
Map length
5.5 mi
Climb from the low end
961 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
3 h 15 min / 3 h 3 min
High point
2,004 ft
Above treeline
None
Steepest ¼ mile
806 ft/mi
Stream crossings
2
Low point
1,220 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
Sawyer Pond Trail
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Sawyer Pond Trail parking (the lower end) to Sawyer River Road Trailhead.
- 0.0Sawyer Pond Trail parking
- 0.1Crosses Swift River
- 1.0Junction with Brunel Trail
- 4.1Sawyer Pond
- 5.5Junction with Sawyer River Trail
- 5.5Crosses Sawyer River
- 5.5Sawyer River Road Trailhead
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Brunel Trail junction
0.96 mi (total 0.96) · ↑123 ↓10 ft · 32 min / 29 min
To Sawyer River Road Trailhead
4.57 mi (total 5.53) · ↑838 ↓563 ft · 2 h 42 min / 2 h 34 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sawyer Pond Trail parking | Brunel Trail junction | 0.96 | 0.96 | 123 / 10 ft | 32 min / 29 min |
| Brunel Trail junction | Sawyer River Road Trailhead | 4.57 | 5.53 | 838 / 563 ft | 2 h 42 min / 2 h 34 min |
↑ walking from Sawyer Pond Trail parking; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Trailheads and parking
Sawyer Pond Trail parking
Trailhead
Sawyer River Road Trailhead
0.1 mi walk to the start of the trail
Off Sawyer River Road · Winter: road closed · Road closed
Weekends (all seasons): Had space in the one report.
Weekdays (all seasons): Had space in both reports, as late as 8 am.
Latest report, Thu, May 28: Nearly empty at 8 am, then plenty of room.
Recent trip reports
No reports on this trail in the last 30 days; the latest are below. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.
- Sat, Aug 15MudWetDry
Water crossings: All crossings, even those of the Swift River and Sawyer River, were relatively easy rock hops. Attribute this to the relatively dry conditions in 2026.
Full report on NETC
Connecting trails
Packing for fall? The fall gear guide has the full list.
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP. Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.