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    Monadnock State Park

    4.7 (41 reviews)

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    Starting the hike
    Louis B.

    Today I hiked Mount Monadnock, solo. The mountain is the second most hiked mountain in the world only second to Mount Fuji. The mountain is a bit less than 3200' with a prominence of 2100'. Perhaps the southernmost mountain above tree line. I chose the White Dot Trail and although it is advertised as "strenuous" and I thought it was a nice direct hike to the top, it was more a strenuous mountain climb, as some of the segments were well greater than a 45° angle. On the way back, I went down the Cross Trail, which although steep, was less strenuous. If anyone is going up, good non-slip hiking shoes are a must. Some of the sheer rock climbs could result in injury for someone who may not be wearing proper equipment. The views from the top are magnificent, even more so during Fall. With my PeakFinder app, I located most of the White Mountains to the North, Vermont's Green Mountains to the West, and the visibility was clear enough to see the towns west of Boston. There were easily a couple of hundred people doing the trail, even people whose footwear was questionable for a challenging climb. The best part of the hike was hiking in Fall after the first frost. NO BUGS! And the views of foliage in full Fall colors we're spectacular.

    On the way up White Dot ... definitely a climb
    Courtney P.

    Needing an escape from the city (Boston) and wanting to get some fresh air and exercise, my roommates and I made our way to Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire one crisp Sunday morning. We typed "Mount Monadnock" into Google Maps - be warned: this takes you to a smaller, side entrance that does not provide access to the White Dot or White Cross trails. The park ranger kindly redirected us to the main entrance/gate where we could access those two trails. There were lots of people out hiking but also ample parking. They have restrooms and a water refill station at the base before you begin your hike. The cost is $5 per person. We weren't quite sure what we were getting ourselves into but we set out on our hike anyways. We took the White Dot trail up to the summit and then came back down the White Cross trail. The White Dot trail is advanced - very steep and requires good climbing shoes and a certain level of cardio fitness. I consider myself pretty in shape and I was struggling. It took us about 2/2.5 hours to make it to the summit (we stopped occasionally to take pictures and catch our breath). At the top, the views were stunning and well worth all the cardio input. We enjoyed our lunch up there (behind a boulder because it was pretty windy and cold). We made our way down the White across trail in no time. It only took an hour coming back down. Round trip, with our lunch break, it took us almost exactly 4 hours. What a gorgeous hike - and great workout.

    Kaori M.

    My first serious hike in winter in New England. I moved to MA a few month ago, I am an avid hiker but not much done in winter (I was in CA). Now I got microspikes and tried Monadnock summit. I followed white dot trail, which is least difficult according to the ranger at trailhead. Some portions were icy and steep, but it was rewarding. Great view from the top!

    Summit!
    Tuli S.

    I love hiking here. Tons of people come on the weekends with their kids so it's fun to take the slightly harder trails up and down. It's easy and only takes a few hours to summit and come back down. Beautiful up top! There were a lot of bugs in June so bring bug spray!

    Vladmir T.

    Super Nice Hike and Beautiful Scenery! well, you know what they say. When in New Hampshire, you better get out and see some nature in New Hampshire! After checking places out on yelp monadnock state park definitely lived up to its reviews with a super happy nice hike the combined nice flat trails with a whole bunch of Boldery rocks and stuff that you get to go over as you wiggle your way through the trees and up and around the mountain. Once you get to the top it is amazingly chili and super super windy so don't forget to bring something extremely warm to wear while you are out there. When you are on top of the mountain the 360° panoramic views are quite great, and make you wonder why you live in Arizona when you could live in someplace that is so beautiful like New Hampshire. Now Donna wants to move to New Hampshire....

    Cairn you see the end destination?
    Renata O.

    $5 per person entrance fee to access the park and it's facilities. Under 12 is free or less, I didn't ask which it was because none in our car was under that age. We came in a group of six so we paid $30 for the fun of climbing up a rocky mountainside full of deer flies and people. Was it worth the fee and the pests along the trail? Heck ya! We started our hike on the far less traveled Parker Trail which connected to the White Cliff Trail and came down the White Dot Trail. Coming down the White Dot Trail I was thankful for the solitude of the beginning of our hike. (Don't get me wrong, other hikers are friendly but we all just tend to get in each other's way and we end up doing the hikers dance {2 steps forward, side step, 2 steps back and swing your partner down the hill.}) It was a challenging hike...I'd not recommend it for kids 6 and under unless you are inclined to piggy back them up the mountain and back down. On our way down, I overheard young children complaining and asking how far they were to the top when they'd only had gone less than half a mile. The reward of the hike is the fresh blueberries along the trail (during the summer months), the exercise and fresh air, rock scrambles and the view at the top.

    Mary J.

    Previous New Hampshire hikes focused on the White Mountains. The word Monadnock is said to mean mountain that stands alone. And that is exactly what this mountain does. It stands apart from other mountain ranges to offer unprecedented views when the weather conditions allow. But that is if, and only if, you can hike all the way to the top of this mountain that rises 3,165 feet above sea level. Its summit rises 300 feet above the timeline and the final quarter mile of the trail is exposed rock. Making my way to the summit was not easy and despite trying to train for the strenuous climb I was not as well prepared as I would have liked to have been. But I managed and I made it with the help of the group of hikers who accompanied me and just sheer determination to go the distance. Dry conditions are much preferred to wet, especially when trying to keep your footing and trying to find handholds on the rock. A little coolness in the temperature I find is more comfortable than extremely hot conditions. And if you can select a trail and time your climb just right (based on day of the wee and time of year) you will enjoy sparse crowds on the way up and down and still finding plenty of places to take a brief rest or enjoy a leisurely lunch at the top. Most trailheads do offer a place for a pit stop so be sure to take advantage of that amenity whenever you can! The trails are well marked but you do need to pay attention or you may need to backtrack a bit. Often during the hike I made myself stop and just soak in the natural beauty rather than focusing on where to safely plant my feet each step of the way. You will find yourself on soft ground under tree canopies, occasionally stepping cautiously through muddy patches and exposed to the elements while gingerly crawling along and over big boulders. Allow a comfortable amount of time so that you can take breaks and safely make it up and back before nightfall. Take plenty of food and water. Dress in layers. And keep an eye out for blooming flowers, listen out for birds and watch out for missteps that will take you off the trail where you don't want to go and where you don't want to trample. This is said to be the most hiked mountain in the Western Hemisphere. Usually anything that draws crowds makes me want to stay away but there was something about this climb that really appealed to me. I knew it would be a challenge and it did not disappoint. And I knew I should attempt this climb sooner, rather than later, in my remaining climbing career. For a Florida flatlander the change in terrain, level of difficulty and accompanying camaraderie gave me exactly what I hoped for - a whole lot of happiness and a big sense of accomplishment.

    Nat S.

    My favorite climb, I have been hiking up this gem since I was 6. Please don't be that tourist that does not plan accordingly. Bring water, bug spray, sunscreen, snacks, a headlamp or flashlight, coat, and an emergency blanket. They have to rescue a fair amount of ill prepared tourists a year. If it is too hard turn around and save yourself the embarrassment, of ending up in the newspaper. You are climbing up a mountain not a hill. Still an easier climb than the big dogs up in the white mountains. Not telling you my favorite trails- you just go and do the white dot! If you get into trouble, that is the best one, most rangers, quicker response time.

    Tanner S.

    For first timers, it's a bit intense. More like rock climbing to me lol a bit of a long hike, taking 2-4 hrs round trip depending how many breaks you take. Was a little bit confused on getting there, GPS lead us to the (Mountain), instead of the state park. Make sure too look for state park wooden signs on the right. But all in all good experience and nice views.

    Go in the fall
    Schwerma G.

    In a word - OMG ! At my age I feel compelled to challenge my self from time to time. I enjoy hiking in the Hudson Valley of NY. After hiking around the Mohonk Mt House, and the Shawangunks, I thought Break Neck Ridge was a rewarding challenge. It earns it's "5 camera rating" easily, and my respect. On to the bigger challenge... I learned about Mt Monadnock from the Smithsonian Channel. They have a wonderful series called Aerial America. It should be required viewing for all US citizens. Watch one and you're hooked. They reported it was the most hiked trail in the US. Oh really? Let's go see why. Decided to head up on a motorized 2 wheeler to add to the challenge. Picked a couple of nice fall days, 1/3 of the way into peak foliage. The pay off was enormous! Riding through the Berkshires in the fall is breath taking. Stops at covered bridges and the Red Lion in Stockbridge added to the trip. Arriving at the mountain to watch the sun set on it would hardly let me sleep for the next mornings climb. I choose the Marlboro trail as it got me to the top the quickest. Didn't know the trail head was 3/4 of a mile down a washed out dirt road with multiple water Boggs. Don't expect to leave with a clean vehicle, no matter what you come in / you would still get muddy on foot. The trail head is on the left of the signs and there isn't much parking. It starts gradually - like walking on a trail of round rocks. Then it's back and forth through trees and ledges. Then came the rock scrambling - lovin it. After about an hour you are rewarded with your first views. You will impress yourself by how high you've come. It gets better so keep climbing. Suddenly you are out of the trees and for a while, just walking on rock. The wind is way stronger up here, but you'll want it to help keep you cool - climbing is hot work. Then more trees to get thru. You expect to be at the top or at least see it when you break thru the second batch of trees. This is when the enormity of the climb hits you. You're only half way there. Don't stop tho there are flashes of turning back. It may have been around 50 degrees when I started. It may have climbed to 60 maybe 65. I was sweating like I was in the desert. I had been climbing straight for 1.5 hrs, and the anxiety of not being closer than I thought I should be for the efforts I made up to now, were adding to the heat. The wind chill at the top had to be close to 40 degrees. I was comfortable in a tee shirt. The wind was howling but it didn't bother me. The top is sooo cool. Find the USGA marker - it's like finding the Blarney Stone. Take your pix but enjoy the splendor of your effort. Both are gifts to your self. The views are amazing: six states, and the Boston skyline on a clear day. Don't worry about the climb back down: 1) you won't come back down the same person. 2) you will be empowered from the climb. 3) time will go faster because all you think about is what it was like at the top. Finally, when the trail levels back out in the woods near the trail head, you will realize how much pain you are in, but who cares: you will feel like Moses coming down from Mount Sinai. This is truly a gift from what ever God you look to. Plan to go. Take an easier trail of you need to but make the climb / it's so worth it.

    U.S.G.S. marker
    Doug M.

    Hadn't climbed Monadnock in years and now I'm feeling the pain. It's always been a great state park. Well maintained and marked trails. Crazy that the mountain was packed with people on the first Saturday in November. Low 50's which was nice for hiking. The summit was in the 40's, very windy - felt like 30 degrees. In the past, we'd take less traveled side trails, but we took the White Dot up and White Cross back - still can't believe how many people were hiking those 2 trails.

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    Being in my backyard this park and mountain is amazing, tough hike but worth it but prepared with water and snacks

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Monadnock State Park

    Review Highlights - Monadnock State Park

    The White Dot trail is advanced - very steep and requires good climbing shoes and a certain level of cardio fitness.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

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    People searched for Hiking 174 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

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    Humiston Field & Playground

    Humiston Field & Playground

    (1 review)

    Pros: Lighted…read morebaseball/soccer field (with timed sprinklers) with bleachers, dugouts. Lighted basket ball court that they flood & turn into an outdoor ice skating rink in the winter complete with "warming" center with a snack bar, bathrooms, etc. Extremely basic playground, a few toddler swings, a few big kid swings, a slide, etc, but it is fenced in (there are openings in the fence though, & they're open, not gated), with a bubbler, a picnic table, & a big tree that provides a nice shady spot no matter what the time of the day is or where the sun is. It's kept up really well, they do a nice job keeping the grass & shrubs trimmed. Conveniently located less than 1 mile from all of the schools in Jaffrey & from Jaffrey's town center & main street. Parking on the street & across the street. The grade school uses the area on field days for the higher grades. Cons: No gates on the openings to the playground. Small, so if there are more than a few people there you're kind of "on top" of each other. I've seen it get super crowded on game days. It's Jaffrey, so if you are there at the same time as some "townies" & they're chatty you might get stuck having to make small-talk with people you'd rather not get stuck having to chat with. The parking on the street & across the street can get super crowded on game days & big trucks & XL SUV's frequently park on the street leaving their vehicles sticking out into the street... Overall: I think having the ice skating rink in the winter really "makes" this area. During warmer winters when the lakes don't freeze over for very long it is nice to have somewhere to go to ice skate.

    Lake Contoocook Public Beach - Loons on Lake Contoocook

    Lake Contoocook Public Beach

    (3 reviews)

    It's a nice beach, but a .8 mile walk from the parks and recreation office where non residents have…read moreto park. When you're carrying beach chairs, a beach bag and water bottles on a hot day, it's not a fun walk. When we got to the lake, there were only three cars in the parking lot. There was plenty of room for non-residents.

    Before they enforced the "residents only parking" it was a great spot to go swimming! But it has…read moregone downhill. They rake some of the weeds in the designated swimming area, but not all, so it can be very gross to walk on (which i don't really mind, but it can be yucky). They used to have a cute little shack that served food, but that has also closed (i also believe this went to the funding and upkeep which is why it has gone downhill other than the parking). It's unguarded now, but i can understand that as i am a lifeguard and know that we have a shortage of lifeguards right now. I don't know the laws of boating there, but be careful going beyond the designated swimming area because the boaters really like to go close (which can also be annoying when they're coming one after the other). So the closest parking area is basically a mile away, and it has little to no sidewalk the whole time. So it's very unsafe if you have children, especially if they have any type of disorder or handicap. I wish they would solve the parking problem, but it's been 2 years now so i doubt they will. For a town that gets a lot of traffic from tourism, they seem to be trying very hard to keep people out, which is sad.

    Adam's Playground - Piccard dugout

    Adam's Playground

    (2 reviews)

    I love Adam's playground. For the last 30-years this has been a place that i have always enjoyed…read moregoing to. They have 3 softball-baseball fields although one is too small to be used for adults. They have a skate park one of the only one within 30-minutes in any direction an outdoor basketball court that is in good condition for how old it is and how much use it gets. There are a lot of good games here and the skate park sees a lot of activity. The fields are packed for almost all of the spring and summer so it is harder to walk on. If you want to walk on for a pick up game go to ConVal or PES. There is a pool that i think opens in late June or early July and there is a playground area for the kids that has been kept in good condition. Ecco field (closest to the road) is doubled for soccer use and because of that there is no fence in right but that adds a neat feature for that. skating for hockey or just skating in the winter, sometimes is hard to keep maintained but they do a good job all things considering. Parking is hard to come by if they have a lot of people playing softball on all the fields. Some scrap construction materials laying around so you need to keep an eye on your kids for that. Tennis courts that have been kept in very good condition. One of the best features of any town in the area.

    Definitely the best playground in the area! Huge, fenced in with two entrances, something for…read moreeveryone, including a swing for handicapped kids. Tons of toddler swings, regular swings, a tire swing, a baby/toddler area where everything is scaled down for them with a small climbing "wall", slide, steps, rocking "animals" & fire "truck", etc. On the bigger kids side there are monkey bars, big slides, big "rope" ladder, big climbing wall, & more! There's the biggest sandbox I've ever seen, filled with over 20+ plastic & metal Tonka dump trucks & a kid's size pretend house area with a table & benches. There's a bubbler there which is nice on hot summer days & a few trees provide some shade, although depending on the time of day & where the sun is, there are times when the heat is just unbearable & there's really very little shade. There are benches scattered all over the playground & two picnic tables under the trees, next to the rhododendron bushes. Across the street there are bathrooms in the little building next to the baseball fields. They're usually pretty gross but hey, they service both areas & there's only 1 woman's stall & 1 men's stall so it's not surprising. Next to the playground there's a pool, basketball courts, tennis courts, big gazebos, & a big (mostly) shaded parking lot.

    Monadnock State Park - hiking - Updated May 2026

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