Mount Monadnock Hiking Trail Guide: Map, Trail Descriptions, Pictures & More

Mount Monadnock is a 3,165 foot mountain located in New Hampshire. It is the highest peak in Southern New Hampshire and also the highest point in Cheshire County. Mount Monadnock is ranked one of the most hiked mountain in the world.

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Hike Stats | Trail Map | Trail Options | Camping | Parking & Directions

Elevation: 3,165 feet (964.69 meters)
Elevation gain: 1,748 feet (532.79 meters)
Distance: 3.8 miles round trip (6.12 km)
Duration (book time): 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

 

Need To Know Information:

• Reservations are recommended for Monadnock State Park. See details and make reservations here.
• There is a state park fees required: Parking Day Pass Fee: $15 + $1 transaction fee – See details here: https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/monadnock-state-park
• Dogs are not permitted in the state park

Trail Map

Here is a full trail map of Monadnock State Park which includes each of the trails to the summit: Click Here For Full Screen Trail Map.

 

Trails

We have listed out some of the trail options up Monadnock below. Take a good look at the above map to help decide the best trail for you to take. You’ll notice that there are several starting locations and several routes from the main starting location at the State Park Headquarters. To help you choose trails, the state park created a helpful image that is below. Recommended routes for beginners are the White Dot/White Cross or the Old Halfway House Trail / White Arrow Trail due to these being the easier options to the summit.

 

White Dot Trail – 3.8 miles round trip

There are multiple trails that reach the summit Mount Monadnock. The White Dot trail is the most popular route to reach the summit. Begin your hike at the Monadnock State Park Headquarters. About 0.6 miles in, there will be a junction with the White Cross Trail, continue along the White Dot Trail until you reach a “halfway point” sign, indicating you have made it 1/2 of the way to the summit.  The trail begins to steepen and become rocky for a bit. The White Dot passes the Smith Connecter at 1.5 mile then joins the White Cross Trail at 1.6 mile.  Just past the White Cross junction the White Dot drops back into treeline, and then steeply climbs until reaching the exposed summit of Mount Monadnock. To descend, there is a rock with “to State Park Headquarters”  painted on it to show which direction to go. Follow the trail for roughly 1.9 miles until you reach the State Park Headquarters where you started.

 

White Dot Trail Map

 

Alternative routes

 

White Cross Trail

The White Cross is said to be less steep in places than the White Dot. Both trails are very rocky. The White CrossTrail is marked with white cross shaped blazes along the rocky trail. Begin your hike on the White Dot trail roughly 0.6 mile from headquarters. Follow the White Cross Trail, passing by a few springs of water, climbing moderately through the woods on rocky trail. Continue until you reach the Smith Connecter junction at 1.6 mile, then the White Cross joins up with the White Dot Trail until you reach the summit of Mount Monadnock  at 1.7 miles.  To descend from the summit look for “to State Park Headquarters” painted in rock and follow White Dots down to White Cross junction. It is roughly 2 miles of hiking until you reach the bottom where you began.

Elevation gain: 1,742 feet (530.96 meters)
Distance: 3.8 miles roundtrip (6.12 km)
Duration (book time): 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

 

White Arrow Trail

Elevation gain: 1,627 feet (495.91 meters)
Distance: 4.3 miles roundtrip (6.92 km)
Duration (book time): 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

 

 

Hiking in winter

Mount Monadnock is a mountain that is hiked year-round. Though the summit is below 4,000 feet, genera; precaution should be taken. The trail is very rocky and crampons and/or microspikes will be necessary in icy and snowy conditions. Always be prepared beforehand.

 

Camping And Overnight Hiking Options

Monadnock State Park has designated camping areas and tent sites within the state park. Call ahead for a reservation. Fees will apply. You can read more about camping options here: https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/monadnock-state-park