Mount Monadnock in Monadnock State Park, NH

Hike Mount Monadnock Monadnock State Park, NH

Class 2 4.3 miles 1800 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Jul 9, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Mount Monadnock is a standalone high-prominence peak in southern New Hampshire, far from the more mountainous region of the state. This of course means Monadnock State Park attracts a plethora of visitors from near and far, and fortunately it's a beautiful peak with many trail segment options to support larger visitation. My assumption was that the most popular loop seems to be to ascend the very creatively-named White Dot Trail and then descend the White Cross Trail. I inquired with the entrance gate attendant who collected my preposterous $15 day pass fee, and he informed me as much too. My research suggested the White Dot Trail had some fun scrambling, so I wanted to at least check out that trail, but the White Cross Trail barely deviated from the former, so I decided to take the Red Dot Trail as a descent alternative to make this a slightly longer hike and to change it up a bit. This also meant escaping the crowds for a time. You can pretty easily get away from the majority of hikers and enjoy the landscape by taking one of the alternative trails to the summit, of which there are many. It's fun to note that Mount Monadnock was named for the geologic phenomenon itself; a monadnock is just an exposed hill of bedrock above the surrounding landscape. I appreciated the unadorned scientific naming.

I hiked from the developed parking lot past a snack hut, a particularly nice bathroom (state park entrance fees do have their perks!), and finally made it to the trailhead. The White Dot Trail is the steepest and most direct route to the summit of Mount Monadnock, but it starts off wide and gains very little elevation for the first half mile. Rocky and crowded through uninspired forest, I didn't much enjoy this short segment of the hike. I reached a junction with the Cascade Link Trail, where I'd be coming from later. A clear sign pointed left for the White Dot Trail, where the grade became significantly steeper and introduced constructed stone stairs as well as slabs of wet bedrock that added some light scrambling.

After some hiking through the forest, the trail reached the first bit of bedrock that offers some nice views since the rock blocks trees from growing. Alternating between forest and slickrock, the hike got much more interesting and introduced more scrambling. A couple of particularly nice short sections of Class 2 scrambling might scare some hikers not experienced with wet bedrock, including one part up a low-angle dihedral. A bit more ascending like this and I emerged onto a wide swath of bedrock that would compose the remainder of the hike to the summit of Mount Monadnock. Unfortunately, my views were obscured by thick fog, but this added to the vibe and I wasn't actually too upset. The surrounding views are just toward the relatively flat surroundings of southern New Hampshire anyway, so I kind of enjoyed being hemmed-in by the weather. The last half mile or so to the summit of Mount Monadnock was a gorgeous wonderland of bedrock interspersed with short forest walks, little shrubs trying to grow in any crack they can. The summit loomed ahead for much of this portion of the hike. The White Dot Trail concluded with a lovely ascent on significantly steeper bedrock and up to the high point. There are plenty of trail blazes and cairns to help keep the intended trail obvious.

I enjoyed whatever views I could despite the fog, then headed east along the Pumpelly Trail, which included more fun sections of bedrock. I reached a junction with the Red Dot Trail, and although I'd intended to continue east along the ridge originally, the lack of views convinced me to just take this option. I descended along the rocky Red Dot Trail, which had short spurts of wet slickrock that had me more alert than I normally might be. I soon headed back below tree line, where the bouldery trail became a bit tedious, so I sped up a bit to get through the rocky terrain. One amongst a group I passed aggressively exclaimed how she didn't understand how I could be going so fast. In an attempt to make her feel less self-conscious of her speed, I offhandedly said that I'm used to poor terrain and she should just enjoy the hike at whatever speed she enjoys. At that moment I slipped and almost toppled over. That'll show you and your inflated ego, nature said. I soon reached the Cascade Link Trail, which I followed back to the White Dot Trail and ultimately to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Monadnock
3150 ft
2130 rise

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White Dot Trailhead.
White Dot Trailhead.
Along the White Dot Trail, the main portal into the trail system, so it was crowded and wide.
Along the White Dot Trail, the main portal into the trail system, so it was crowded and wide.
Progress along the initial bits of the White Dot Trail.
Progress along the initial bits of the White Dot Trail.
Junction with the Cascade Link Trail, where I'll be coming from later.
Junction with the Cascade Link Trail, where I'll be coming from later.
The White Dot Trail heads left and away from the wide trail, now ascending more steeply.
The White Dot Trail heads left and away from the wide trail, now ascending more steeply.
Some light scrambling along the White Dot Trail.
Some light scrambling along the White Dot Trail.
Constructed stone staircase.
Constructed stone staircase.
Some rocky obstacles along the White Dot Trail.
Some rocky obstacles along the White Dot Trail.
The White Dot Trail ascends out of the forest onto plots of bedrock which prevent trees from growing.
The White Dot Trail ascends out of the forest onto plots of bedrock which prevent trees from growing.
A view back during one of these sections.
A view back during one of these sections.
More woods walking for a bit.
More woods walking for a bit.
And then some Class 2 scrambling begins.
And then some Class 2 scrambling begins.
Nice portions of light scrambling.
Nice portions of light scrambling.
View back from a bedrock-filled portion of trail.
View back from a bedrock-filled portion of trail.
More fun scrambling up this little low-angle dihedral.
More fun scrambling up this little low-angle dihedral.
View back down the dihedral.
View back down the dihedral.
And just a bit more scrambling before emerging in the higher-elevation terrain with far more sparse trees.
And just a bit more scrambling before emerging in the higher-elevation terrain with far more sparse trees.
Above the forested portion of the hike, now continuing along bedrock.
Above the forested portion of the hike, now continuing along bedrock.
It's a really pretty area, low shrubs creeping through cracks in the rock and little trees growing where they can.
It's a really pretty area, low shrubs creeping through cracks in the rock and little trees growing where they can.
The trail is well-marked by blazes and cairns.
The trail is well-marked by blazes and cairns.
Mount Monadnock seen ahead.
Mount Monadnock seen ahead.
Close-up of the peak.
Close-up of the peak.
Short sections of forest walking before reemerging onto bedrock once again.
Short sections of forest walking before reemerging onto bedrock once again.
Image 23 from gallery
Image 24 from gallery
The final steep section below the summit.
The final steep section below the summit.
View back down at my progress up the steeper bedrock toward the summit.
View back down at my progress up the steeper bedrock toward the summit.
Mount Monadnock seen just ahead.
Mount Monadnock seen just ahead.
Blazes help mark the most efficient way to the peak.
Blazes help mark the most efficient way to the peak.
Expansive views (I assume, when the fog isn't so thick).
Expansive views (I assume, when the fog isn't so thick).
Approaching the summit, where there's more light scrambling.
Approaching the summit, where there's more light scrambling.
View back down at a rock marked with the White Dot and White Cross Trail options. I chose to descend using neither.
View back down at a rock marked with the White Dot and White Cross Trail options. I chose to descend using neither.
A view north, sort of.
A view north, sort of.
I chose to take the Pumpelly Trail, which would take me to the Red Dot Trail.
I chose to take the Pumpelly Trail, which would take me to the Red Dot Trail.
Along the Pumpelly Trail, which included more gorgeous hiking through the bedrock wonderland.
Along the Pumpelly Trail, which included more gorgeous hiking through the bedrock wonderland.
View back toward Mount Monadnock.
View back toward Mount Monadnock.
View east along the ridge in the direction I was hiking.
View east along the ridge in the direction I was hiking.
More fun rock features along the trail.
More fun rock features along the trail.
Another shot back toward Mount Monadnock.
Another shot back toward Mount Monadnock.
Junction with the Red Dot Trail.
Junction with the Red Dot Trail.
Descending the Red Dot Trail through yet more gorgeous landscape.
Descending the Red Dot Trail through yet more gorgeous landscape.
Image 41 from gallery
There were slick sections of rock on the way down.
There were slick sections of rock on the way down.
Back below tree line, I continued along the Red Dot Trail, which was riddled in boulders.
Back below tree line, I continued along the Red Dot Trail, which was riddled in boulders.
Steep, but not as steep as the White Dot Trail.
Steep, but not as steep as the White Dot Trail.
The Red Dot Trail felt more lush than the White Dot Trail, and felt more intimate since it was less wide.
The Red Dot Trail felt more lush than the White Dot Trail, and felt more intimate since it was less wide.
Image 46 from gallery
Junction with the Cascade Link Trail.
Junction with the Cascade Link Trail.
Minor stream crossing along the Cascade Link Trail. I took this trail back to the White Dot Trail and returned to the trailhead.
Minor stream crossing along the Cascade Link Trail. I took this trail back to the White Dot Trail and returned to the trailhead.
Image 49 from gallery

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