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Mount Monadnock (not to be confused with its neighbor Pack Monadnock) is a popular peak in Monadnock State Park in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. It’s actually one of the most popular hikes in the world! I hiked this with my friend Cindy and her husband on a Friday in October 2021. There are multiple trailheads but we opted for the Old Toll Road trailhead and hiked the Old Halfway House trail to White Arrow trail up to the summit, a little over four miles round trip. This route can be found on AllTrails and is rated hard. I’d say it’s more moderate than hard but the last push to the summit was more difficult than the rest of the trail.
About three-quarters or so of the way up the trail you’ll come to a false summit. It’s the perfect place to stop for a snack and take a short rest before the rock scrambling begins. The views here were beautiful and it was quiet – we didn’t have any company at this point.
After some minor Class 2 scrambling, we reached the summit and it was very busy. There was a large group of kids up there eating lunch, plus a lot of smaller groups and individuals taking in the views. The day we went was warm but very breezy at the summit. We got some pictures but headed back down shortly after.
The way down was a little treacherous – the trail was wet and muddy so the steep descent slowed us down a bit. At the time I had a pair of L.L. Bean hiking boots. As much as I love L.L. Bean, these boots didn’t have great traction and I ended up slipping and falling twice – luckily nothing serious – but I decided it was time to start boot shopping when I got home.
🥾 Approximately 4.25 miles round trip
⛰️ Approximate elevation gain 1,608 feet
🌲 Moderate to hard, depending on fitness level
💰 $15.00 per vehicle
🦮 No dogs allowed
🚽 Pit toilets available
The timing of our hike was perfect – we got to experience the classic New England foliage but with warmer temperatures. The beginning/end of the trail through a densely wooded area was beautiful. If you haven’t done Monadnock, I’d recommend it – not a 4,000 footer but still a challenging hike with great views.
Have you hiked here before? Let me know in the comment below!
📍I acknowledge the lands mentioned in this post are the ancestral lands of the Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy), N’dakina (Abenaki / Abénaquis) and Pennacook people.
The Adventures of Suze 
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