Bee Line Trail & Bee Line Cutoff

 
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Bee Line Trail (CMC)

The Bee Line Trail runs from the Old Paugus Trail on the south ridge of Mount Paugus to the Brook Trail on the upper west ledges of Mount Chocorua, linking the two mountains almost by a "bee line." Although the trail was originally designed to provide a direct route between the summits, nowadays it is most frequently used to ascend to or descend from one of the peaks rather than as a connector between them.

Mount Paugus is low but surprisingly rugged, and is mostly overlooked by hikers. Mount Paugus devotees enjoy its wild aura, interesting trails, and excellent views from the ledges just below its 3,198-ft. south summit. The 19th century naturalist Frank Bolles was perhaps the mountain's biggest fan, affectionately calling it "Old Shag" and writing about it extensively in his 1893 classic, At the North of Bearcamp Water.

History: The Bee Line Trail is an old logging road which the locals continued to use as a means to get from the Bolles Trail to the summit after the loggers left the area.

Maintenance: The Bee Line Trail is maintained by the Chocorua Mountain Club (CMC).

Directions to the Paugus Mill Road trailhead: Turn on to Chocorua Lake Road off of Route 16, and cross over the Narrows Bridge between Chocorua Lake and Little Chocorua Lake. Follow this dirt road for 1.0 mile and take a left fork up a hill onto Fowlers Mill Road. Follow Fowlers Mill Road for 2.4 miles where you will see a sign on your right for the Liberty and Brook Trails. Turn right onto Paugus Mill Road and follow it for a mile to the end where you will find a parking lot and both trailheads. Please respect private property on the way to the parking area.

Trail distances & estimated hiking times from the Paugus Mill Road parking area (900'):

  • to Mount Chocorua summit (3490') via the Bolles Trail, Bee Line Trail, and Brook Trail: 4.3 mi., 2600 ft., 3 hr. 25 min.

  • to ledge near Mount Paugus summit (3198'):  3.8 mi., 2250 ft., 3 hr.

Trail details to Mount Chocorua summit: The trail leaves the Bolles Trail to the east and ascends gradually on an old logging road along the bank of a small brook. After crossing this brook at 0.7 mi. and 1.1 mi., the trail enters the Mount Chocorua Forest Protection Zone (signs). It ascends moderately away from the brook, becoming gradually steeper as it enters a mixed softwood forest. At 1.4 mi. the trail bears right off the former route and traverses the wooded slope, climbing moderately, until it reached its junction with the Brook Trail at 1.7 mi., just above its lowest semi-open ledge. From here it is 0.4 mi. to the junction of the Liberty Trail and 0.6 mi. to the summit of Mount Chocorua.

Trail details to ledge near Mount Paugus summit: Leaving the Bolles Trail to the west, the Bee Line Trail soon crosses the Paugus Brook, enters the Sandwich Range Wilderness, and runs over a narrow ridge. At 0.2 mi., the Bee Line Cutoff departs left (southeast), providing a shortcut to Paugus Mill Road. The Bee Line Trail crosses a small brook and climbs by increasingly steep grades up the side of the mountain, making some use of old lumber roads, to the Old Paugus Trail near the top of the ridge, 1.1 mi. from the Bolles Trail and 0.7 mi. below the junction with the Lawrence Trail on the ledge near the summit of Mount Paugus. An interesting view can be obtained by descending the southwest side of the ledge for a short distance.

 

Bee Line Cutoff to Mount Paugus

This trail provides a shortcut to the Bee Line Trail to Mount Paugus from the Paugus Mill Road parking area. It is almost entirely within the Sandwich Range Wilderness. The Bee Line Cutoff is maintained by the CMC.

Directions to the Paugus Mill Road trailhead: Follow directions listed above.

Trail distances & estimated hiking times from the Bolles Trail (1100'):

  • to Bee Line Trail (1300'):  0.6 mi., 200 ft., 25 min.

Trail details: The Bee Line Cutoff diverges northwest from the Bolles Trail 1.2 mi. from the parking area and follows an old lumber road. At 0.2 mi. it bears right, crosses a brook, and continues to the Bee Line Trail, 0.2 mi. west of the junction of the Bee Line and Bolles trails.