Mt Paugus NH via Kelley Trail
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Mt Paugus NH Hike Overview
Mt Paugus (3,100’) is in the stunning Sandwich Range in the White Mountains. It is next to iconic 4,000 footers, including Whiteface and Passaconaway, and is also not often hiked unless people are completing the 52 With a View List, but it is stunning! The Kelley Trail travels through the gorgeous box canyon and offers breathtaking views from the ledges near the top. It quickly became one of my favorite hikes on the 52 With a View List.
Trail Details
Trail: Old Mast Road > Kelley Trail > Lawrence Trail
Length: 8.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,400 feet
My Trail Time: 5 hours hiking; 5.5 hours total
Hike Overview
Mt Paugus is a gorgeous mountain in the White Mountains and is often overlooked because of the neighboring 4,000 footers. Many trails lead to the summit, with the most popular being Kelley Trail and Old Mast Trail.
The trailhead parking for these trails is in Ferncroft, the same one for Whiteface and Passaconaway. The small parking lot is in a neighborhood, making spots limited, and I recommend arriving early since it tends to fill up between 7-8 AM on summer weekends.
We took the Kelley Trail as an out-and-back because we heard the Old Mast Trail is not pleasant, and I highly recommend doing the same! Kelley Trail is gradual, following along a small brook, with only a few steep sections as you get closer to the summit. It also travels through a stunning box canyon that will likely become one of your favorite sections along the trail.
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Mt Paugus via Kelley Trail Guide
June 1, 2025
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
Mt Paugus was one of those hikes on the 52 With a View List that I had never heard of before I started hiking this list. I hadn’t heard much about this hike, which is why I kept putting it off, but my friend and I decided to hike it because we wanted a quiet trail with fewer people.
We decided to hike Mt Paugus on a chilly June day because it was the only day that weekend with sunshine. Classic New England only gives us rain on the weekends. But we finally had a clear day, so we decided to make the most of it!
Mt Paugus starts near the Ferncroft parking lot- the same one you park at for Whiteface and Passaconaway. Usually, the parking lot fills up quickly, so we arrived around 8 AM to secure a spot.
The trail began directly next to the parking lot as it headed into the woods. This trail had plenty of signage, so we were never confused about what trail to take since there are quite a few in this area.
After about 0.2 miles, we came to the Old Mast Road junction where we continued right to stay on the Kelley Trail. The first two miles of the Kelley Trail traveled through a beautiful forest along a brook. It was gradual and pretty uneventful, but hiking along the water was incredibly peaceful!
Around two miles into the hike, we came to a STUNNING box canyon created by glaciers with rocks covered in moss and a brook flowing next to the trail. The area was breathtaking, and we stayed here a while taking photos and enjoying its natural beauty.
Right after the box canyon, the trail became rocky and ascended steeply until we arrived at the Lawrence Trail junction. We continued right on the Lawrence Trail toward the summit of Mt Paugus.
The first section of the Lawrence Trail descended for about 0.3 miles before steeply climbing the final mile to the summit. This section of the trail was beautiful and lush with a few switchbacks which we all know can be rare in the White Mountains!
As we approached the summit, the trail had what others like to call “kitty litter” which is essentially small, loose rock that can be a pain for footing. Because the trail was wet, it was a bit easier to ascend, but we still had to be careful while climbing this section. Right before the summit, the Lawrence Trail became rocky and steep and required us to walk up some slick rock due to the rain the day before.
Before we knew it, we popped out on the summit of Mt Paugus (the south peak). At first, we were confused about where the ledges were with the views, but we soon found it after walking around near the summit for a bit. To help you find the views, face the trail sign as if you are reading it then walk straight past it and you should soon see a small path through the trees leading to the ledges.
I was shocked at how stunning the views were on Mt Paugus! As I mentioned, I had not seen much about this hike, so I honestly did not know what to expect, but the views were breathtaking looking toward Whiteface and Passaconaway. And we had the entire summit to ourselves!
We stayed on the summit for a half-hour, eating lunch and enjoying the views, before beginning our descent after the wind picked up and made it cold.
The descent on Lawrence Trail was tricky with the wet rocks and kitty litter, so it was slow going at first. This section of the hike felt long for some reason, too. But soon enough, we arrived back at the Kelley Trail junction.
Usually, hikers hike Mt Paugus as a loop, but we wanted to avoid Old Mast Road. We heard the kitty litter is especially awful along that portion of the loop and Kelley Trail is just better as an out-and-back, so we turned left to continue our descent on Kelley Trail.
We flew down the descent and only passed two people which is crazy for a beautiful day in the White Mountains! The only section that slowed us down was the boulders just before the box canyon. Once we were past that, we flew down, and before we knew it, we were back at the parking lot!
I honestly do not know how Mt Paugus is not talked about more because the trail and views are stunning! It quickly became one of my favorite trails on the 52 With a View List, and I would love to hike it again in the fall for foliage.
Have you hiked Mt Paugus?
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!