How to Safely Hike New Hampshire’s Mount Monadnock 

For visitors to New Hampshire’s Monadnock Region, there’s one bucket list destination that literally rises above all the others: hiking the area’s namesake mountain. A climb up Mt. Monadnock is a two-hour adventure that culminates with the only peak in New England that offers views of all six states. Each year some 100,000 visitors take to its trails, making Monadnock one of the most climbed mountains in the world. 

The mountain’s popularity is explained in part by its accessibility. Nestled in southwest New Hampshire, Monadnock offers an outdoor outing that is relatively close to New England’s major population centers like Boston and Providence, while its understated ruggedness appeals to bothyoung families and hard-core adventurers alike.  

“I just love the feelings in the different zones as you go up the mountain, from the basic eastern woodland feel at the start of the trail to the scrub spruce sections to the bare rocks towardstreeline,” says Will Kirkpatrick, Park Manager at Monadnock State Park. “And then the summit itself is like being on another planet, with its vast expansive, open rock. There’s always something new to see and explore. And I love that the mountain is so many different things to so many different people.” 

But that doesn’t mean it should be taken lightly, says Kirkpatrick, whose team typically responds to around 40 different hiking incidents a year, many of which involve tending to a twisted ankle or assistance navigating the trails after the sun down. Like New Hampshire’s taller peaks up north, a great day on Monadnock begins long before you ever set foot on the trail. Preparation is everything, says Kirkpatrick. Read on for his expert advice on how to safely hike Mt. Monadnock.  

Make a Reservation

Like many outdoor destinations, Mt. Monadnock’s popularity soared during the pandemic. So much so that the park system introduced a reservation system for the first time in its history. Today, Monadnock State Park has kept in place its cap of 250 cars at any one time. Kirkpatrick’s advice: Even on a day when you don’t think you need to make a reservation, you should make one. “I get it,” he says. “Who thinks that they have to make a reservation to hike a mountain? But we’ve had to turn people back and that’s something we hate to do.” Reservations can be made at nhparks.org.

The Right Kicks

“I’ve seen people show up prepared to hike the mountain in flip-flops,” says Kirkpatrick. “That’s not recommended.” Instead, says the park manager, hikers should come prepared with footwear that offers good traction, whether that means old-school leather hiking boots, or more nimble trail runners. “The trails here are steep and rocky and not everyone is expecting that,” says Kirkpatrick. 

Wet Weather. It Happens

Kirkpatrick says you can never go wrong with packing a set of rain gear, including a pair ofpants. “Sometimes the mountain has different ideas than what the weatherman is forecasting,” he says. Another gear essential: A good headlamp with batteries that you’ve tested before you’ve begun your hike. 

Layer it On

Preparing for a bout of chilly weather is also s must because what’s happening at the base doesn’t portend what you may experience above treeline. Even a pristine summer day may offer up a strong wind, says Kirkpatrick, who recommends good merino or synthetic wools for your base layers, along with a windbreaker. “The temperatures will drop and if you end up taking more time than expected to get back down the last thing you want to be is cold,” says the park manager. 

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Along with all those extra clothes, your pack should also include an ample supply of water.Kirkpatrick suggests two quarts per person. “It’s rare that anyone will need that much, but it is a rugged hike, and especially on a hot day, you’re going to go through a lot of water,” he says. “And one of the first things to go as you start getting dehydrated is your coordination, which increases your chances of stumbling and slipping.” Both water and food can be purchased at the Monadnock State Park store. 

The Right Trail

Asking a park manager to pick their favorite trail is like asking a parent to pick their favorite child. They all have their great qualities and Monadnock is adorned with an assortment of options, including several outside the park grounds. But for newbies, Kirkpatrick recommends beginning at the park headquarters and following the White Dot-White Cross loop. The four-mile roundtrip route is the mountain’s most direct, steepest hike, but it comes with an assortment of photo-ops along the way. “Even at the halfway point there are some really great views so if you don’t make it to the top, you haven’t been totally shortchanged,” says Kirkpatrick. Another important tip: Stay in the middle of the trail. “Our trails are wide and eroded already,” says the park manager. “And when people hike off the side or get into the woods, they crush plants and cause more erosion, making the trails even wider.”

Share Your Plans

One quick act of preparation that often gets overlooked, says Kirkpatrick, is the simple act of letting others back home of your plans. “Sharing your route and when you’re expected back is just a good practice,” says Kirkpatrick. “Because even if you have done a lot of hiking or spent a lot of time on Monadnock, sometimes things don’t go as planned.”