How to Hike Mt. Monadnock Via the White Arrow Trail
Park at the old toll house trail head and pay the State Park entrance fee of $3., Choose between the two different trail options to the spot of the old halfway house., Hike up the gentle sloping Old Halfway House Trail (or Old Tollhouse Road) to the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Park at the old toll house trail head and pay the State Park entrance fee of $3.
One option is to walk up the wide, gravel Old Tollhouse Road pictured here.
Another option is to take the Halfway House Trail.
Both routes are of approximately equal distance, over parallel areas, but the trail offers a more "wilderness feel" and is the more recommended route. , You will pass a variety of deciduous trees and will see beautiful foliage if you do the hike in October. , While the house is no longer there, the historical marker will remind you that you are about halfway in distance to the summit.
That said, at this point the trail becomes much steeper and the real work is still ahead of you. , At times it will be a staircase like series of rocks.
As you climb, the trees will change from deciduous trees to evergreens till the point you eventually pass the timberline. , The evergreen trees will give way to series of bushes and allow a view of the summit.
While the summit looks tantalizingly close at this point, some relatively slow climbing over steep rock remains ahead.
At this point the trail becomes a bit less obvious and it helps to follow the white paint trail markings found on the rocks every 30 feet (9.1 m) or so. , Enjoy the fantastic view. -
Step 2: Choose between the two different trail options to the spot of the old halfway house.
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Step 3: Hike up the gentle sloping Old Halfway House Trail (or Old Tollhouse Road) to the Halfway House.
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Step 4: Reach the site of the historic Halfway House.
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Step 5: After leaving Halfway House
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Step 6: the trail will quickly turn steeper.
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Step 7: Climb till you reach above the timberline.
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Step 8: Keep climbing past the false summit to the real summit.
Detailed Guide
One option is to walk up the wide, gravel Old Tollhouse Road pictured here.
Another option is to take the Halfway House Trail.
Both routes are of approximately equal distance, over parallel areas, but the trail offers a more "wilderness feel" and is the more recommended route. , You will pass a variety of deciduous trees and will see beautiful foliage if you do the hike in October. , While the house is no longer there, the historical marker will remind you that you are about halfway in distance to the summit.
That said, at this point the trail becomes much steeper and the real work is still ahead of you. , At times it will be a staircase like series of rocks.
As you climb, the trees will change from deciduous trees to evergreens till the point you eventually pass the timberline. , The evergreen trees will give way to series of bushes and allow a view of the summit.
While the summit looks tantalizingly close at this point, some relatively slow climbing over steep rock remains ahead.
At this point the trail becomes a bit less obvious and it helps to follow the white paint trail markings found on the rocks every 30 feet (9.1 m) or so. , Enjoy the fantastic view.
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James Jenkins
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