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Hiking at Mount Monadnock State Park

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Trails: Mount Monadnock State Park has 40 miles of trails and a panoramic view at the top of the 3,165-foot summit--the most climbed peak in North America. Mount Monadnock is the northern terminus of the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail through Massachusetts.
Access fee: Park entry pass
Nearest town: Jaffrey, NH
Trail map: Available at the park.
Web site: NH Parks
Points of interest: Panoramic views of adjacent states from the summit.
Other activities: Winter hiking and snowshoeing
Lodging: Several choices of accommodation in the region
Camping: 21 campsites in the park
Weather forecast: Jaffrey
Tourism info: Monadnock Travel Council
Getting to the trail: The park is about 4 miles west of Jaffrey, NH.
Map of local region: Jaffrey

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Number of ratings: 5
Average rating: 4.38  

5        

Trail Name: Mount Monadnock State Park
I have hiked there: A few times
I last hiked there in: August, 2005
Trails that I hiked: Always the white dot trail -- in 1948, 1995 and 2005.
Favorite trails: white dot
Best time to go:
Trail marking: Fair
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: wide ... though rocky and rooty, the rocks and roots are by and large not loose.
What I disliked: occasionally the white painted dots disappear ...
Additional comments: too bad you can't screen out the dumbos before they ascend ... Last time I had to tell a bunch of kids, "supervised" by three "adults" not to toss cairn rocks down the mountain side ... saw a woman with a small child on her back papoose-style, a backward slip on rocks and the kid's in big trouble.
Submitted by: whs
from: williston park ny
Date submitted: Aug 20, 2005

4          

Trail Name: Mount Monadnock State Park
I have hiked there: A few times
I last hiked there in: June, 102
Trails that I hiked: White Dot
Favorite trails: White Dot
Best time to go: Summer Time on a Clear warm day
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: On a clear day you can see Boston. There is definently an alpine climate at the top of the mountain.
What I disliked: There are some rude people who hike it.
Additional comments: Its a pretty easy hike and the view at the top is pretty good especially when you can see Boston. Always enough room to eat lunch and check out the views.
Submitted by: SSM
from: Lebanon, NH
Date submitted: June 14, 2004

3          

Trail Name: Mount Monadnock State Park
I have hiked there: Few
I last hiked there in: Apr, 2003
Trails that I hiked: White Dot/Cross
Favorite trails: All
Best time to go: Year Round
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: Well marked great day hike. On a clear day you can see a hundred miles from Boston to Albany.
What I disliked: It's a little like hiking the Cross Bronx in the summer. It is the most hiked mountain in the world which means after a a good hike to the summit you may find a 1000 people on the summit. But you can still always find a nice place for lunch.
Comments: I have seen a lot of people thinking it's a easy stroll to the summit on the White Dot trail. It's not a cake walk you do have to work to get there. Bring water, It amazes me the amount of people I have meet on the trail who don't, some with kids. It may not be the rockies but it's still a hike come prepared.
Submitted by: Doc
from: Connecticut
Date submitted: March 5, 2004

2          

Name of area: Mount Monadnock State Park
I have hiked there: Several times
I last hiked there in: Sept, 2002
Trails that I hiked: We use White dot and White cross. We have hiked Cascade Link and Spruce Link as well. We always intend to try new trails but have not as yet.
Favorite trails: White Cross and White Dot respectively. White dot could be a challenge to hike down.
Best time to go: May through October
Trail marking: Fair
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 5 stars
What I liked: The scenery is a big bonus, but I love that it's a great workout.
What I disliked:
Comments: Monadnock is so popular that it gets very crowded during peak season. Many people seem to equal a lot of noise. A good majority hikers, it seems, don't share my philosophy that it's the peace and quiet that make the hike.
Submitted by: Moe
from: Rutland, MA
Date submitted: Nov 11, 2002

1    

Area name: Mount Monadnock State Park
I have hiked there:
I last hiked there in:
Trails that I hiked: pumpelly trail

Favorite trails: pumpelly trail
Best time to go: october or november
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: na
What I liked: layout of trail and scenery
What I disliked: none
Comments: it is rocky
Submitted by: rp
from:
Date submitted: Nov 6, 2002

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