Brook Trail

 
Brook Trail. Photo: Juno Lamb

Brook Trail. Photo: Juno Lamb

 
 
 

Brook Trail (CMC)

The Brook Trail, with its steep ledges, is more difficult than the Liberty Trail. It has excellent views on the rocky ledges near the summit of Mount Chocorua. An excellent loop trip can be made by ascending the Brook Trail and descending the Liberty Trail.

History: The Brook Trail was cut by local residents to enable them to reach the blueberries on the upper ledges of Mt Chocorua without paying the toll along the Liberty Trail.

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

Caution: This trail can be hazardous in wet or icy conditions.

Directions to the Brook Trail trailhead on Paugus Mill Road: 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 to Paugus Mill Road, where you will see a sign for the Liberty, Bolles, 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 the trailheads. Please respect private property on the way to the parking area.   

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

  • to Bickford Trail (1140'):  0.9 mi., 250 ft., 35 min.

  • to Claybank Brook crossing (1900'): 2.5 mi., 1000 ft., 1 hr. 45 min.

  • to Bee Line Trail (2600'):  3.0 mi., 1700 ft., 2 hr. 20 min.

  • to Liberty Trail (3200'): 3.4 mi., 2300 ft., 2 hr. 50 min.

  • to Mt. Chocorua summit (3490'): 3.6 mi., 2600 ft., 3 hr. 15 min.

Trail Details: The trail begins by following a gravel road beyond the parking lot gate. The trail leaves the gravel road on the right at .4-mile and follows south of Claybank Brook. The trail passes to the junction with the Bickford Path and continues to the first ledge at 3.0 miles near where the new Bee Line relocation enters on the left. The trail climbs the steep, open ledges of the Farlow Ridge with cairns and yellow blazes to mark the way. The Liberty Trail enters from the right at 3.4 miles with the summit of Mount Chocorua another .2 miles via the Brook Trail.