mount monadnock state park

Took a Tuesday in January off from work to do a hike of Monadnock without the usual company that the weekends bring. It was a beautiful day, 7 degrees at 9:00 AM in the parking lot with bright blue skies. It had snowed overnight so everything had a fresh coat. We did the White Dot Trail up and down in about 5 hours. Cold (5 below?) above the tree line but mercifully not too windy. Glorious views in the clear, cold air with Mount Washington clearly visible shining white in the distance.If you go in the winter, I think that spikes and poles are a must have or at least bring them just in case. The snow covered trails can hide lurking ice sheets on the rocks. In fact, the somewhat gentler White Cross Trail is notorious for ice flows in the winter. You know the drill, dress in layers as you'll likely work up a sweat on the ascent and need to peel something off till you get chilled. Don't forget the sunglasses!

We were low on time so we drove instead of climes to the top. Bring binoculars because the view is awesome! A tower to climb is up there and they give u a piece of paper to let you know what you are looking at on the horizons. Fall was perfect for weather and foliage.

If you're athletic it's a fairly easy hike up the mountain. In the summer it should take about an hour or so along the White Dot Trail each way. It took me about 2ish hours each way in the winter. I was a bit rash climbing so I’d budget 3 hours each way just to be safe.Here’s a bit about the hike itself…• I hiked right after a couple of days of snow with the whole mountain covered with snow and thick ice. This made it pretty slippery and I was glad to have micro spikes on my hiking shoes. Without them it would have been incredibly tough to hike up the steeper sections. Having said that, the spikes were not sufficient on the hike down and a hiking pole would have definitely helped. I slipped and slid down the mountain a couple of times - something for you to be mindful of. • Another thing to be mindful of is the cold wind on the top of the summit. It was strong enough to sway a 200lb person like me and froze my fingers in a minute when I was clicking pictures without gloves.Now that we've gotten the hiking part out of the way let's get to why hike in the winter...• FEWER people. There were 3 people on top of the summit with me (not the 100s you see in summer) and a handful who stopped at the false summit. • The views are just as good as in the summer; better in my opinion. You get to see frozen trees that resemble a crystal forest (check my pictures out) and get to walk through winter wonderland.• The one drawback might be the fact that you have to sit on ice on the summit if you want to spend time there and given the chilly wind you might not spend too much time on top.

The second most climbed mountain after Mount Fuji (at least that is what I'm told), this majestic mountain is a lovely and at times strenuous hike. There are many trails so google- you don't need to take the ones from the park entrance and can save some money by parking away from the lot.

In August 1969, I resided in Keene, N.H., and went with my Dad, and brothers to hike up Mount Monadnock, in Jaffrey, NH Its summit is at 3,165 feet in elevation, and it is and easy day hike. Mount Monadnock is historical for me; as it was just the first mountain; which I was to hike/climb in my early years And I did it with my family at the time. August was especially beautiful time to complete this hike; as the thousands of maple trees in the area are turning various colors. These foliage views are available either from a distance, or after you left tree level, and complete reaching the top, clamoring over a rocky, dry summit!And the famous New England fall foliage season is just beginning! In subsequent years I went on, continuing my climbing career, and ascended most of the highest summits in N. America; as well as several in mainland China!

It was challenging, however, not too difficult. My husband and I got out of breath we are in shape individuals and I kept looking for the peak, however, it is very doable and well worth the trip. Great time. I would not define this as easy. Must use hands to ensure you will not fall, etc. Very steep in places. Beautiful for the foliage!

Mt. Manadnock is a treasure. It's an easy climb for people with younger children, but don't try it if you're completely out of shape. There are several trails to choose from, some easier than others. Not all trails go to the top of the mountain but give individuals who are less inclined to get their heart rates up, or who have challenges to enjoy the beautiful New Hampshire forest. On a clear day, the view is wonderful. The entrance fee is $5/person, not carload. There are basic bathroom facilities and water there along with a small store that sells very limited supplies such as candy bars and the (required) t-shirts and sweatshirts. Despite the relatively small size of the mountain, it's good to be prepared and not try climbing it with no water or other supplies.

There seem to be 2 schools concerning this hike - some say ok for beginners and others say not. We definitely side with the "not easy for beginners" crowd. We are hiking novices. Although we were able to complete this round trip hike in 4.5 hours with about a half hour for breaks, including the summit, it was one TOUGH hike. Though we are not avid hikers, we are in relatively good shape, and we brought our 8 year old who LOVES walks and regularly goes on 2+ hour walks with his grandfather. This was a difficult hike for us, but not impossible. Despite the difficulty, it was an enjoyable outing, the views were phenomenal, and we are so glad that we did the hike. We took white dot up, white cross down. For people looking for the easier hike, white cross both ways is probably the way to go. As others have mentioned, be mindful of other hikers. Rest to the sides of the trail, and let faster hikers pass. BRING ENOUGH WATER. We brought a lot, and almost ran out. There were many people who had run out, so be aware.

Great hike! Defiantly a busy place. The view would of been gorgeous but it was cloudy. The hike is still a great adventure.

A friend and I hiked Mt. Monadnock recently, during our annual "friend visit." Due to our respective injuries in prior years, we could not partake in this particular adventure until now. It was well worth the wait. My friend said she has hiked Monadnock on at least 3 prior occasions. This was my first time. Because she had knowledge of the mountain and the many trail options, my friend mapped the general climbing route we would take, then we made impromptu changes while en route up the slope. We began at park headquarters, paying each a reasonable $5.00 entrance fee, where we parked the car, and used the nearby restrooms. It was a partly sunny day in the low 70's and while there were other hikers on the trails, it was not overcrowded. We ascended the White Dot trail, encountering several other hikers along the way. Once we veered off onto the Cascade Link Trail, and then the Red Dot Trail, we did not run across another human until near the top at the intersection with the Pumpelly Trail. From there we made our way across the various viewing outposts along the Pumpelly until we reached the summit at 3,165 feet. Monadnock peak is above tree line, and it offers spectacular 360 degree views of the surrounding valley and distant mountains. Monadnock stands alone in the valley as the only significant mountain peak: the next nearest being at least 20 miles away. We were not able to see Mt. Washington or the other Presidentials in the haze, but were able to see the top edge of the Boston skyline with the use of binoculars. At the peak were about a dozen other people. Unfortunately, some of them were smoking just beyond the rocks where we chose to rest, have some water and trail mix snacks- and the nasty cigarette smoke wafted in our direction. The trails that we hiked on this day were mostly free from human waste, though we did notice occasional trash left behind by inconsiderate polluters, most of which was in the form of beer cans. Temperatures at the top of the mountain were pleasant, though about 10 degrees cooler than at the mountain base- and there was a nice breeze. For our trip down, we accessed the White Cross to the White Dot Trail. Hikes in both directions were moderate in difficulty in many spots, with several places when the trail became steeper and more challenging: having to climb over bare rock surfaces and traverse the occasional pool of water from rain which had occurred the day before. Our round trip hike, including 20-minute rest at the summit, took about 5 hours in total. This was a great hike with a good friend on this beautiful late summer day. I will surely plan to hike Mt. Monadnock again, perhaps next time allowing more time in which to explore different trails for a slightly different experience.

We had a great time climbing Mt. Monadnock. The cost was $5.00 per person. There is a store and restrooms in the parking lot. No pets are allowed in the park. The ranger recommended that we go up the White Dot Trail and come down the White Cross Trail which we did. It is pretty steep in some areas on both trails, but certainly doable for non expert climbers like us. The brochure said that 95% of injuries occur on the way down because of exhaustion and lack of focus. You really need to watch your footing. Wear good footwear. Also, bring plenty of water, a hat, and sunscreen because once above the tree line you are totally exposed to the sun. Snacks are also good. The views at the top are beautiful so don't forget your camera.

I hiked Mt Monadnock going up the white dot and coming down the white cross. I found the hike tough. There are quite a few steep rock climbs. Nothing that I considered dangerous but very strenuous. It took me about 1 1/2 hours to get to the top and about an 1 hour going down. Unfortunately when I got to the top it was cloudy and misty and I could not see a thing. Oh well, it was a good work out . If you go bring plenty of water and wear appropriate shoes/boots. The fee was $5 and they took debt/credit cards which was good as I had no cash with me. I started up at 8am and It wasn't too crowded, but on my way back down I encountered packs of people. I think a tour bus or camp must have dropped some them off , also families with small children. It would not have been a fun experience if I was in the middle of that many people going up. So I would say try to get there before 10 am and bring your patience for the inexperienced hikers that you are sure to encounter

Never heard of a state park that didn't allow dogs. Pet owners beware! It's absolutely ridiculous. Won't be going back. Too many other beautiful hikes that I don't even have to drive into NH for.

This is a difficult climb. We took the white dot and white cross trails. Be prepared with lots of water, snacks, proper shoes and a good attitude. Remember some hikers are quicker than others. Be considerate and know proper hiking etiquette.There are a couple of scrambles on the way up that are tricky. They do have hand holds. There are a couple of false summits. The last 1/10 mile looks easy but the grade is around 60%. Views from the top are beautiful. Going down is quite steep also but there is some fun sliding.

We naively started walking up Mount Monadnock without any water or other provisions, and were exhausted by the heat and humidity by the time we reached the summit. We placed our rock on the cairn, and enjoyed what there was of the view, as it was disappointedly misty. We appreciated the walk down better, and picked some blueberries along the way to accompany the long drinks of water that we all enjoyed once we had returned to our friend's home situated near at the start of the mountain trail. We didn't see anyone else on our walk - perhaps the heat and the haze had out others off. Probably wise, but we enjoyed our hike nonetheless!