Mt. Monadnock (Lost Farm, Cliff Walk, White Arrow, White Cross)

Mt. Monadnock (Lost Farm, Cliff Walk, White Arrow, White Cross)

Hike Type: Loop
Distance: 6.4 miles
Elevation: 2080 feet
Time: 4 hours, 22 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Monadnock Redliner

The Hike

This was the day before my Disney vacation, and I was so excited to visit Mt. Monadnock for the first time in years! I have always loved this mountain and always consider it my first "big" mountain. Booked my park reservation the night before, arrived to the main parking lot at 6:30am and was greeted by truly the most beautiful sight at a trailhead - a composting toilet. I quickly made use of that and got on my way by finding the yellow-blazed Parker Trail, accidentally scaring away a pack (a flock, a gobble?) of turkeys, and paralleled the Poole Reservoir as the sun was rising. This section of the Parker Trail was gentile and slowly rising. 

The white-blazed Lost Farm trail is where elevation started to climb. Old stone walls were abundant, and there was a Spruce Grouse who was not fond of my presence. Every couple of minutes it would scare the life out of me and fly further down trail. The upper half of the Lost Farm Trail became more and more scenic and reminiscent of the higher altitudes of the Whites, and terminated at a gorgeous viewpoint looking South into MA.

From there I did some light redlining. Went away from the summit on Cliff Walk to hit the Pt. Surprise Trail and Hello Rock Trails before heading back up Cliff Walk to Bald Rock. Both the Pt. Surprise Trail and the Hello Rock Trails were unblazed and clearly less used than the other trails I've been on this day. The forest was dark and thick, and I found the cold wind that has been shielded from me all morning. Every minute or so I'd click my poles together just to alert any critters that I was around because I always get spooked in forests like those. 

My trip up the Cliff Walk was amazing and I will absolutely be back. The Cliff Walk is blazed with white triangles on trees and white "C"s on the ground. The views are nearly endless and the terminus is at the incredible Bald Rock which gives views to the South and towards the Summit (pictured at the top). I took a nice break at Bald Rock to eat and drink and rest. 

From there I descended back into the scrubby woods on the Smith Connecting Trail, and then continued onto the Ampitheatre Trail. The blazes in this are were confusing, but trails easy to follow. At Bald Rock, the Smith Connecting trail was indicated with a yellow "S," and then towards the junction with Ampitheatre it looked like a yellow cross and four yellow dots, and then I saw a yellow and a white rectangle. A mystery for now!

The Ampitheatre Trail brought me back to my beloved White Arrow Trail. Most times that I've visited Monadnock I've taken White Arrow from the Halfway House. I immediately remembered the incredible views, and I tried to not remember how steep it got towards the top. I put my poles away and took my sweet time and only swore a few times heading up to the Summit, and the summit, to my delight, had very view people and full views in all directions!

Looking back at Bald Rock from the White Arrow Trail. 

Summit of Mt. Monadnock.

After a short, windy break at the summit I started my trip down. I forgot how much I dislike descending on rock slabs. I had a lot of small, sideways, switchbacking steps heading down the upper reaches of the White Dot trail. There was a brief flat section over some vernal pools where I saw some frog eggs!

At the Dot/Cross junction, I happily followed the sign indicating that the White Cross trail was the less-steep descent. There were a couple more slabby sections that I did not enjoy, but overall it was a nice trip down. About halfway down my poles came back out to save my ailing knees, and when I made it back to park headquarters I was greeted by a sea of people. 

I love this mountain so much, it was so nice to come back, it was great to kick off my vacation week with a hike here, and I cannot wait to go back!

Step-By-Step

• Start at the paved parking lot at the park store.
• Walk to dirt lot and join yellow-blazed Parker Trail as it parallels Poole Reservoir.
• Turn right at junction to white-blazed Lost Farm trail.
• At terminus, continue straight onto white-diamond-blazed Cliff Walk towards unblazed Pt. Surprise Trail.
• Turn right at junction to unblzed Pt. Surprise Trail.
• Turn left at terminus to unblzed Hello Rock Trail.
• Turn left at terminus to join Cliff Walk.
• Follow Cliff Walk to Bald Rock.
• Continue Straight to Smith Connecting.
• At junction, turn left to Ampitheatre Trail.
• At junction, turn right to White Cross Trail.
• Follow White Arrow trail to Summit. 
• Look for signs for White Dot/White Cross trail.
• Follow White Dot trail down the mountain.
• Veer right to White Cross trail.
• At terminus, continue right onto White Dot Trail.
• Return to parking lot. 

Photo Album