Sawyer River Trail
Near Mount Hancock (South Peak) · New Hampshire
Sawyer River Trail is a trail in the Pemigewasset Wilderness and the Willey Range, climbing about 350 ft from Sawyer River Road Trailhead to Sawyer River.
Sawyer River Road closed to vehicles
Sawyer River Road has been closed to all vehicles since a December 2023 storm washed out part of the road. The Signal Ridge Trailhead cannot be driven to. Foot travel is allowed: park at the gate on US 302 (limited parking) and walk the road to the trailhead, about 2 miles each way. USFS gives no repair date.
Source: USFSMap length
3.7 mi
Climb from the low end
326 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
2 h 1 min / 1 h 55 min
High point
1,806 ft
Above treeline
None
Steepest ¼ mile
350 ft/mi
Stream crossings
3
Low point
1,599 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
Sawyer River Trail
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Sawyer River Road Trailhead (the lower end) to Sawyer River.
- 0.0Sawyer River Road Trailhead
- 0.1Junction with Sawyer Pond Trail
- 0.2Crosses Sawyer River
- 1.2Junction with Hancock Notch Trail
- 2.5Crosses Meadow Brook
- 3.5Crosses Swift River
- 3.7Sawyer River
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Hancock Notch Trail junction
1.22 mi (total 1.22) · ↑163 ↓13 ft · 41 min / 37 min
To Sawyer River
2.50 mi (total 3.72) · ↑162 ↓109 ft · 1 h 20 min / 1 h 18 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sawyer River Road Trailhead | Hancock Notch Trail junction | 1.22 | 1.22 | 163 / 13 ft | 41 min / 37 min |
| Hancock Notch Trail junction | Sawyer River | 2.50 | 3.72 | 162 / 109 ft | 1 h 20 min / 1 h 18 min |
↑ walking from Sawyer River Road Trailhead; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Trailheads and parking
Sawyer River
Off Kancamagus Highway
Sawyer River Road Trailhead
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.
1 incident recorded on this trail: incident database
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.