Mt. Wachusett via Summit Road, Old Indian, Donborow (Wachusett Mountain State Reservation)
Hike Type: Loop w/ 1 Spur
Distance: 5.85 miles
Elevation: 1138 feet
Time: 3 hours, 32 minutes (2 hours, 46 minutes moving)
Hiking Challenges: Wachusett Trail Tracer, Sunrise Six
Hiking Challenges: Wachusett Trail Tracer, Sunrise Six
The Hike
The weather was supposed to be nice, sun shining, minimal clouds, and I was feeling brave, so I decided to do my first real sunrise hike (i.e., starting in the pitch black) - at least mostly real. I guess I didn't hike up on any trails... It counts! I made it to to the Donbrowo Trailhead at 4:45am, all by myself. It was below freezing, but no wind, which was welcomed. I got all my pre-hike chores done as another car pulled in. I couldn't get over how dark it was! I told myself to not be a baby. Off I go!
I followed the Summit Road all the way to the top, and it was still very closed for the season. The lower summit road had a good amount of blowdowns, and the skislopes still enveloped parts of it. The snow was hard packed ice on the slops, making spikes mandatory. It was very peaceful, yet spooky. I thought about taking Old Indian up, but decided the road in the dark was a big enough step for this day (also it would have turned the hike into a big loop versus an out and back). There were STEEP banks along the slopes crossing Down Summit Road - I'm so glad I decided to get a pair of Hillsounds so my Kahtoolas can be used as rock spikes. All throughout the forest there were sounds of running water from the melting slopes.
The first colors started to appear around 5:10am, and was very grumpy that I actually brought my zoom lens with me, but left it in the car. I was surprised to come across the Harlow Overlook, guess I missed it on the map - what a great view! I enjoyed the early colors from the overlook before continuing on. The weather was actually great for hiking - I had to shed a layer as I was starting to sweat. A perk of the road walk is that it never gets too steep!
I finally made it to the summit around 5:35am and it was a balmy 26 degrees with minimal wind. There was one other person who may have camped up here, but it was unclear. I got my spot on the tower and opened up my Cumberland Farms Hot Chocolate - brutal. It was like someone put a single Hersey Kiss in a cup of boiling water. It's FINE. Thankfully it was still super hot - thank you Yeti! I was reminded that it was Easter Sunday when a large group arrived around 5:45 with light-up flashing bunny ears, and this officially marked the end of my quiet morning. More and more people arrived as the sky got brighter and brighter. The colors continued to brighten with every passing minute, and I had to put my puff on becuase it was getting chilly. There was someone skiing down already before sunrise, and it was LOUD skiing. The second loudest thing was an old man giving an Easter sermon from the top. More and more people showed up and then the sun broke above the horizon! It was just beautiful, and nice to have a bit of lizard time finally. I took a bunch of photos and then made my way down to beat the crowds.
I was shocked and delighted how dry Old Indian was, with just a few patches of avoidable ice (that I didn't realize was ice until I was slipped up). I also saw my first mountain chicken of the season (grouse)! It was nice to be alone again as I worked my way down. My knee was starting to act up, but thankfully it never got worse than a dull pain. There was a red concrete block in the ground in an area that might have been the old growth area? Not sure, but the woods were beautiful. There were a good amount of blowdowns, but thankfully all avoidable, and there were at least five different woodpeckers getting their breakfast high up in the soon-to-be budding canopy. I did get the fateful tummy rumble near the terminus, but it went away... for now...
I passed Balance Rock and went onto the SOAKED Bolton Pond Trail. Some a**hat left their dog's poop bag in balance rock, which was just annoying. I dodged blowdowns and deep puddles on Bolton Pond Trail, while other times I just walked through the stream that was apparently the trail. The pond itself was beautiful with a family of ducks swimming about, and the drainage was FLOWING. I encountered my first spiderwebs of the season on the final bit of the trail, before hitting the terminus, admiring a cool Jeep, and retracing my steps, where I got whipped HARD by a stick.
I followed the uneventful Balance Rock Trail to the ski lodge and prayed for a bathroom (I was unsuccessful). I did enjoy some of the people skinning up to ski down, since the mountain closed for skiing yesterday. I followed the side of the Easy Rider magic carpet and dipped back into the woods on the Donbrowo Trail. There were a couple spurs to the right that showed a nice view of Monadnock, and some old cellar holes and a large chimney. I had to POOP though, verbally yelling at my colon to suck it back in. There were a good amount of easy blowdowns toward the end, and finally made it to my car without having an accident! Even more impressively, I made it all the way to Cumbies. A great morning!
Step-By-Step
- Park at Donbrowo Trailhead.
- Hike along Summit Road.
- Turn left onto Down Summit Road.
- Turn right onto Summit Road.
- Summit Mt. Wachuett.
- Descend via Old Indian Trail.
- Cross Balance Rock Road, continue onto Balance Rock Trail.
- At Balance Rock, turn left onto Bolton Pond Trail.
- At terminus, turn around.
- At Balance Rock, continue left onto Balance Rock Trail.
- Walk around Ski Area deck to Easy Rider magic carpet trail.
- Walk up along magic carpet.
- Continue to the right of the woods and then into the woods along the Donbrowo Trial.
- Hike Donbrowo Trail to car.
This steep, rocky trail ascends the north slope of Wachusett Mtn. It begins on Balance Rock Rd. (closed to vehicular traffic), opposite the terminus of Balance Rock Trail. To reach the trailhead, begin at the parking area for Balance Rock Trail, which is to the north of the ski lodge off Mile Hill Rd. Alternatively, park on Bolton Rd. and climb to the trailhead on Bolton Pond Trail. Old Indian Trail leaves the road on the south side and proceeds through mixed hardwoods and pines. Semuhenna Trail enteres right at 0.2 mi. At 0.4 mi., Old Indian Trail diagonally crosses a ski trail, reenters the woods, and passes under a ski lift at pole 12. The trail goes across Up Summit Rd., begins to climb gradually, traverses an intermittent stream, and then climbs steeply to a jct. with West Side Trail. Old Indian Trail continues steeply upward on stone steps and zigzags over rocks, crossing a ledge that on a clear day offers a view of Mt. Monadnock and Mt. Greylock. Here the route passes through an unusual grove of stunted old-growth forest. A few hundred above this point, Old Indian Trail levels off and climbs gradually ot the summit, ending at the beacon tower on the north side.
"Balance Rock Trail" from Massachusetts Trail Guide, 11th, Ed. (2021)
This trail begins at the edge of the ski area parking lot on Mtn. Rd., about 1.2 mi. north of the reservation visitor center. Follow an old woods road for about 0.3 mi. before turning onto a woods path, which soon reaches Balance Rock, a glacial erratic. The path continues a few hundred feet farther to Balance Rock Rd. (closed to vehicles). Across the road, Old Indian Trail continues toward the summit.
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