Mount Monadnock via White Dot Trail and White Cross Trail
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Mount Monadnock Hike Overview
Mount Monadnock (3,165’) is the most popular mountain to hike in New Hampshire and the second most hiked mountain in the world! It towers over other mountains in the area by 1,000 feet and has plenty of trails starting in different towns that all offer beautiful views at the summit.
Trail Details
Trail: White Dot Trail > White Cross Trail
Length: 5.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,770 feet
My Trail Time: 4 hours hiking, 5 hours total
Hike Overview
Even though Mount Monadnock is not one of the tallest mountains in New Hampshire, the trails are steep and rocky. The White Dot Trail and White Cross Trail are the most popular to hike to the summit and have steep rock scrambles as you approach the summit, so do not underestimate the hike!
Also, you must make a parking reservation in advance in advance. Trust me, do not wait until you get to the gate because sometimes the pakring reservations are sold out for the day.
Mount Monadnock Hike via White Dot Trail Guide
March 26, 2016
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
Alex, my dad, and I began the hike on Mount Monadnock at 10:00 AM on a chilly but beautiful March day. Don’t let the top image fool you! It was from my previous hike to Mount Monadnock during the summer. We were all bundled up for this hike! We didn’t have too much snowfall this year, and the weather warmed up quickly, so we were so excited to hike so early in the season! And since it was early in the season, there weren’t too many people on Mount Monadnock! We parked at Monadnock State Park Headquarters in Jaffrey which is the first time I had been able to park there. In the past, I had to park in the overflow lots.
There were two trails that we could hike to Mount Monadnock’s summit from Monadnock State Park Headquarters: White Dot Trail and White Cross Trail. Both are relatively easy, 5-mile trails that gain 1,700 feet of elevation. We ascended the White Dot Trail and descended the White Cross Trail.
The White Dot Trail started off easy with a gradual elevation gain. The trail was mainly made up of roots and rocky stairways which made for a nice uphill stroll through the beautiful forest. After a half-mile, we came to the junction of the White Cross Trail. We stayed on the White Dot Trail and continued our ascent. The White Dot Trail is steeper which is why I recommend ascending it.
The fun began after the junction! White Dot Trail became steeper with larger boulders, and towards the end of the first mile, there was a large boulder we had to scramble up and around. But don’t you worry! After we conquered this boulder, we were rewarded with more rock scrambles! I love rock scrambles, so I really enjoyed this portion of the White Dot Trail. After the steep rock scrambles, we began to go in and out of the treeline. We made sure to take our time here because the views were GORGEOUS.
Once we pushed through the treeline, we were rewarded with more beautiful views and one last HUGE rock scramble to Mount Monadnock’s summit! We made it to Mount Monadnock’s summit at 12:00 PM and enjoyed our lunch while taking in the views. Because Mount Monadnock is the tallest mountain in the area, we could see for miles! This was also the first time it was not insanely packed on the summit which made for a more enjoyable experience.
After freezing our butts off while enjoying the views on Mount Monadnock’s summit, we began our descent. We followed White Dot Trail from the summit until we came to the junction of White Cross Trail. We turned to continue our descent on White Cross Trail. Even though White Cross Trail is less steep, the rock scrambles were still difficult! We stopped a few times to give our legs a break. This was the first time Alex and I hiked with my dad, so we didn’t want to push him too much and have him hate hiking with us lol! Once we were below the treeline, it was smooth sailing! (Kind of.) The trail is super rocky, so we had to pay attention to where we were stepping. Sometimes, we got ahead of ourselves and stepped too quickly… and I slipped down the trail at one point. Moral of the story was to take our time! I am okay, don’t worry. White Cross Trail was wet, so I just happened to put my foot in the wrong place and ended up with a nice bruise on my bum!
We arrived at our car at 2:00 PM and began our trek home. My dad was overly excited about the hike to Mount Monadnock and said he wanted to come on more! SUCCESS! We didn’t push him too much lol!
If you hiked Mount Monadnock, do you enjoy ascending White Dot Trail or White Cross Trail?
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!