Pack Monadnocks

Description

Hikers can ascend and enjoy the summits of South Pack Monadnock and North Pack Monadnock via many trails through lands conserved by New Hampshire State Parks (Miller State Park), The Nature Conservancy (Joanne Bass Bross Preserve), and the US Fish & Wildlife Service (Wapack National Wildlife Refuge).

For those who are unable to hike to the summit of South Pack Monadnock, there are excellent trails accessible from the parking area at the top of the Toll Road. On the summit, visitors will find a parking lots, communication and observation towers, picnic tables, drinking water, pit toilets, fireplaces, and a three-sided stone shelter. Many trails depart from the summit area, so take care to follow the correct one.

South Pack Monadnock Trails:

• Wapack Trail from Miller State Park entrance to summit of South Pack: (1.4 mi) This yellow-blazed trail starts with a steep scramble, skirts ledges, and passes two caves before heading into a spruce forest and reaching the summit. It is a section of the longer Wapack Trail, a 21-mile footpath that extends south from this region to Mt. Watatic in Ashburnham, MA.
• Marion Davis Trail: (1.4 mi) This blue-blazed trail can be used to make a loop hike of South Pack Monadnock with the Wapack Trail, and is the preferred descent trail. It travels through hardwood forest, crosses several small brooks, passes under an prominent cliff, and includes some steeper sections before reaching the summit. This trail passes through Miller State Park and the Joanne Bass Bross Preserve along its route. 
• Raymond Trail: (1.6 mi) This white-blazed trail travels up the west side of South Pack Monadnock with good views of Mount Monadnock to the west. There is no fee to use this trail. A short 0.2-mile section of the Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail is an alternate way to access Raymond Trail from the East Mountain Road. 

South Pack Monadnock Summit Trails:

• Summit Loop Trail (Miller State Park): Also known as the Red Dot or Red Circle Trail, this short red-blazed trail makes a circuit around the summit. From the loop, visitors can enjoy the Boston View lookout to the east
• Spruce Knoll Trail (Joanne Bass Bross Preserve): Spruce Knoll Trail is a 0.6 mile lightly trafficked out-and-back trail that can be accessed at the peak of Pack Monadnock Mountain, near the “Boston View” picnic area of Miller State Park. The trail traverses a shoulder of Pack Monadnock and ends with a small loop within a dark and dense spruce stand studded with lichen covered rocks. A short scenic spur trail from the knoll loop leads to a rocky overlook where you can enjoy sweeping views to the east. The trail is rated as moderate due to the rocky and uneven terrain. 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.

North Pack Monadnock Trails (Please note: These trails pass through Wapack National Wildlife Refuge, where dogs must be leashed and camping is prohibited):

• Wapack Trail from the summit of South Pack Monadnock: (2.3 mi) The yellow-blazed trail follows a gravel path from the summit and descends over ledges, before passing by a picnic area with great views north and west (where the Raymond trail heads to the west). The trail descends over ledges and hikers can visit a side path to the Joeanne Bass Bross Memorial Scenic Overlook to a viewpoint east. The trail descends farther, passing through the Preserve and then into the Wapack National Wildlife Refuge where it ascends over Middle Peak knoll, to the junction with the Cliff Trail, and finally steeply up to the North Pack Monadnock summit, marked by a large cairn. 
• Wapack Trail from Mountain Road: (1.5 mi) This yellow-blazed trail begins as an easy hike through large white pines, by a stone wall, and over small streams. About half-way up, the trail begins to ascend steeply through a boulder field before opening onto wide, flat ledges. Over granite and through the forest again, the trail soon reaches the summit with superb views of the surrounding area. The Wapack Trail continues on from here to South Pack Monadnock and eventually Massachusetts. 
• Cliff Trail: (1.2 mi) This blue-blazed trail offers great views of the region and is steep and rough in places. It is a side trail that connects back to the Wapack Trail as well as the Ted's and Carolyn's Trails. 
• Ted's Trail: (3.1 mi to summit via Cliff Trail) This yellow-blazed trail is a longer, scenic route to the summit. It crosses many brooks and passes by small waterfalls before entering the National Wildlife Refuge and ascending to ledges with views. Cross-over Trails connect to Carolyn's Trail along the way. There are many great views along this trail and the Cliff Trail will take hikers to the North Pack summit. 
• Carolyn's Trail: (2.4 mi to summit via Ted's and Cliff Trails) This trail diverges from Ted's Trail to provide a more direct route to the summit. It ascends at an easy grade before climbing up open ledges and rejoining Ted's Trail below the North Pack summit. Two Cross-over Trails allow hikers to rejoin Ted's Trail along the way.

Other Information

Miller State Park is open seasonally and charges a modest fee; operating hours vary by day - please check the Park's website or call for more information. Leashed pets are allowed in Miller State Park. This park is always open for recreation unless closed or restricted by posting. During off hours and the off-season the park is typically not staffed, comfort stations are not available and gates may be closed. The off-season poses unique risks inherent when participating in outdoor recreational activities. Please be aware that many State Park areas and trails are not staffed during the off-season, and day-use fees are not collected. Recreationists should possess the necessary knowledge, skill, and equipment to ensure their own safety. Users assume all risk while recreating in State Park lands.

The Joanne Bass Bross Preserve was acquired by the Nature Conservancy in 2001, conserving 501 acres of diverse forests and rocky ridges, and creating a large 2,700-acre swath of contiguous conserved lands by connecting Miller State Park on South Pack Monadnock Mountain with the Wapack National Fish and Wildlife Refuge on North Pack. Hikers can experience the benefits of this connection firsthand by traversing the 21-mile Wapack Trail, which passes through a corner of the Conservancy’s preserve north of South Pack Monadnock. The Nature Conservancy partnered with the New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) and the Monadnock Conservancy to acquire the preserve. 

Wapack National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1972 through a donation from Laurence and Lorna Marshall, was New Hampshire's first refuge and is managed as part of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The 1,672-acre refuge is located about 20 miles west of Nashua, New Hampshire and encompasses the 2,278-foot North Pack Monadnock Mountain. The refuge is a popular hawk migration area and provides nesting habitat for numerous migratory songbirds such as the tree sparrow, Swainson's thrush, magnolia warbler, crossbills, pine grosbeaks, and white-throated sparrow. The refuge also supports a wide variety of upland wildlife including deer, bear, coyote, fisher, fox, mink, and weasel. The summit of North Pack Monadnock offers outstanding opportunities for viewing migratory hawks and a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains. Please respect the wildlife in the refuge by keeping dogs on leash and not camping. Geocaching is not allowed on National Wildlife Refuge lands.

Trail Manager

This network of trails is managed cooperatively by many organizations. Please visit their websites online for more information and printable maps:

• New Hampshire State Parks
• The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire
• US Fish and Wildlife Service - Wapack NWR