Upper Greeley Ponds via Kancamagus Highway is a 2.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Lincoln, New Hampshire that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
dogs on leash
kid friendly
birding
fishing
hiking
nature trips
cross country skiing
forest
lake
views
wild flowers
wildlife
blowdown
rocky
Directions from Waterville Valley, NH: Travel SR 49 to the northern tip of town and take Livermore Road (Forest Road 53) to a parking lot. Greeley Ponds Trail branches off the Livermore Trail about .3 mile up the path.
Really fun trail
As another reviewer noted, there is a stream that needs to be crossed near the beginning of the trail, with no bridge but plenty of rocks to navigate across. There also was, when we were there (Sept 1), a lot of mud, although most muddy areas were covered with large timbers in various states of repair (most fine, but some were snapped in half/half submerged in mud on one end). There are also a lot of roots. That said, the hike was very nice, and the ponds are lovely. The 2nd pond is not that much further from the 1st.
This is a lovely hike that we did with a five year old. There are no really steep parts but a lot of roots on the trail. One stream crossing requires a little thought in higher water times but is no big deal. There isn't a lot of views until you get to the ponds but there is a nice beach area.
This is a fantastic hike! Wish I would of know I'd be crossing a rocky stream shortly after starting. In retrospect we should of taken our boots off and crossed. It was a hot day so walking the rest with wet boots was not too bad. The trail head and all trails app doesn't identify the Greeley Pond Trail as the yellow markers on the trees. We figured it out. The trail was easy to moderate and fairly well maintained. Walking up to the first pond was better then expected. A pristine mountain pond with a duck couple swimming around and fish jumping. The second shallower pond was a short hike from the first. There was we were serenaded by birds and had a few swallow tail butterfly's fluttering around us as company. When we first came upon the second pond we apparent warned a bear we were there and in the distance we saw the blur of it run fast from the water into the woods. It was a peaceful, spectacularly beautiful delight.
Mary T.
Easy hike to beautiful lake. Lots of birds.
Very easy hike compared to most around the area. There was only 666' of elevation gain from the parking lot to the 2nd pond. Great views and very lightly trafficked.
Beautiful woods, opening up to some incredible views in places. The section from Mount Osceola Trail to the Kangamangus has a lot of blow down. The trail is rocky so choose your footwear.