It's a sure sign that winter is over when the greenery and color return to New Hampshire's forests. In early June and through July, wildflowers can be found springing back to life after a season of slumber. This is the perfect time to hit a hiking trail and a walk along Sawyer Pond Trail in the White Mountain National Forest puts on a dazzling display at your feet each year. If you were looking for some easy spring hikes in New Hampshire then look no further because we are about to show you a dazzling display of new growth you can find on this spectacular spring destination.
The Sawyer Pond Trail is found off of the scenic Route 302 in Livermore. If you would like to pair other places to this trip then a drive on this road has alot to offer for both hikers and casual nature observers. Crawford Notch State Park is located just down the road from this trail which offers stunning views of towering mountains. Before that, you will pass by Silver Cascades and Flume Cascades which are waterfalls you see right from the road. There is enough beauty in the area you could spend a whole weekend but first, let us start our journey with a beautiful spring hike through the White Mountains.
The hike along Sawyer Pond Trail begins with crossing Sawyer River on a footbridge. The scenery starts with the first steps.
Let's take a look at some of the wildflowers and plants you may find along your hike to the gorgeous pond at the end.
While the flowers of the blue bead lily plant are yellow, the name is derived from the cobalt-blue berries of the plant, which are perhaps their most striking feature.
The pink lady's slipper, or moccasin flower, is a member of the orchid family. Its stalk bears a single pink flower. The petals are almost always a near-magenta color.
Red trillium are spring ephemeral plants, and their life cycles synchronize with their local forest environment. These plants can also survive harsh cold temperatures down to -31 degrees.
Another variety of trillium found along with red trillium are their siblings the painted trillium. These can be distinguished by their white and reddish-purple petals.
Partridge berry is a low evergreen plant classified as a vine, although it does not climb as most vines do. Its trumpet-shaped flowers are produced in pairs and its berries are a favorite food of wild birds.
Wood sorrel is a low plant that sprouts flowers with five petals and ranges in color from white to pink, red, or yellow. The leaves of the plant are edible and safe for humans and have been used as a source of vitamin C and to treat nausea and fever.
After strolling along Sawyer Pond Trail to view the wildflowers, you'll arrive at Sawyer Pond, which will be the turnaround point. This beautiful backcountry pond provides a spectacular view of Mt. Tremont (left) and Owl's Cliff (right). It's a serene spot to take a break before returning to the trailhead.
This hike along Sawyer Pond Trail is 3.1 miles with 374 feet of elevation gain. While this is a short walk, hikers should be prepared with the proper gear and the Ten Essentials. The trailhead is at the end of gravel Sawyer River Road in the unincorporated township of Livermore. Follow the road for 3.7 miles to a parking area before a gate; the trail begins just beyond the gate. It is always helpful to us to have a map handy while traveling in the woods, especially in the White Mountains without any cell signal. So we use the AllTrails+ app to help us stay on track while we take our journey. It is a very helpful tool and make sure you download the map for the Sawyer Pond Trail before you go. Happy hiking!
In addition to this flowery adventure, also check out 8 farms in New Hampshire where you can cut your own flowers or take a tour of 6 New Hampshire gardens for a dose of botanical beauty. If you are looking to enjoy our beautiful state during an entirely different time of the year check out our video for a list of some of the best places to see Fall Foliage, we will give you a hint, it's in the White Mountains:
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