Bolles Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Wildlife

To get to the trail from the Paugus Road parking area, follow the continuation of the road behind the gate for 0.2 miles until the Brook Trail branches off to the right. Here, to the left is where the Bolles Trail begins.

Continue straight for 0.3 miles; here, you'll have to ford Paugus Brook or use the stepping stones. This crossing is much easier in the summer than it is in the winter. At 0.5 miles, Paugus Mill Trail/Corridor #125 enters from the left. Shortly after this, Bickford Trail enters from the left and coincides with the Bolles Trail, exiting right less than 0.1 miles later. The Bolles Trail crosses Whitin Brook over some nice snowmobile bridges.

The trail continues heading north, skirting the edge of the Sandwich Range Wilderness. At one mile, the trail passes Bee Line Cut Off (on the left). It then continues for a short distance to Junction 10; here, Corridor #125 exits right and the Bolles Trail reverts back to one trail.

At 1.9 miles, the Bee Line Trail crosses on the left and right. From here, the trail becomes a soupy mess of broken snowmobile bridges and mudpits. The trail crosses Paugus Brook on a bridge, then abruptly turns left at an area referred to as the "dogleg". Here, there are remnants of an old cabin. The trail turns right and follows the stream. If you're hiking in the stream, then you're on where the trail used to be. Erosion has completely changed this area and made it difficult to navigate. The Forest Service cut new trail on the west side of the stream back in 2017.

As the trail begins ascending, make sure you see yellow blazes; if you see orange diamonds, you're on the abandoned snowmobile trail. The trail begins it's steep ascent to the height of land and levels off. It stays flat for a short distance, then begins on a steep (though less so than the climb) descent. At the brook, cross the snowmobile bridge to the east bank of the stream; follow the stream left down the valley (don't make the mistake of crossing the bridge and continuing straight as this is the abandoned snowmobile trail I mentioned). This is where the trail becomes a jumbled mess of rocks and eroded trail segments. Basically, follow the stream and trail segments that you can. The trail ends at the Champney Falls Trail which can be used to access the Kancamagus Highway.