Mt. Wachusett via West Side, Echo Lake, Mountain House (Wachusett Mountain State Reservation)

Mt. Wachusett via West Side, Echo Lake, Mountain House (Wachusett Mountain State Reservation)

Distance: 6.70 miles
Elevation: 1,755 feet

Time: 4 hours, 34 minutes (3 hours, 42 minutes moving)
Hike Type: Lollipop-Lollipop Loop
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Operation Alaska Benchmark Challenge

The Hike

Rewinding a few days before this hike, Sarah and I were talking about going for a hike! She mentioned she wanted to hit Moriah, I wanted to hit the Belknaps (in hopes that they weren't as snow-blanketed as the Whites), but we eventually landed on our hanging chad, Carter Dome, pending trail conditions. Now fast-forward to the day before this hike, neither of us spoke, but little did we know the other was constantly checking New England Trail Conditions hoping that SOMEBODY would post Carter Dome, and they did! Only, they made it sound miserable. To my delight, Sarah initiated plan B, and we pivoted to a classic morning on Mt. Wachusett!

We made it to the West Side Trail parking lot just after 7:30am. I was HURTING after Boston TubaChristmas the day before (apparently if you only play the sousaphone once a year your body doesn't get used to it...). It was 19 degrees outside and I was running a few minutes ahead of Sarah, then I got a call...

"How did you get to the trailhead? The gate is closed!" said Sarah. I had no idea what she was talking about, as I simply drove to the trailhead gate-free. I checked her location, and her GPS was trying to take her onto the summit road and then over North Road, the first of which is closed for the season, and the second of which I believe is always closed to vehicular traffic. Thankfuly, due to the powers of modern technology, I was able to watch her location and navigate her around the north side of the mountain to the correct spot unscathed! She arrived a few minutes later and then we were off!

I really enjoy hiking the West Side Trail - it has a more rugged "mountain" feel to it than the Mountain House Trail, it's not as steep and miserable as Pine Hill, and it doesn't cross any ski runs like Old Indian. It also splits up short steep bits with nice walking breaks. We hiked up, crossed Up Summit Road for a first time, and then as we approached the Semuhenna Trail we heard a unique sound... snow guns! We hopped off-trail to peek at the top of the Minuteman Express Quad and enjoy the pre-winter sights and sounds.

Continuing onto the Semuhenna Trail now, it was a little bit icy, but not enough to warrant any traction. A large group of trail runners passed us (and we would end up seeing them a few more times throughout our hike), and then at the terminus we turned onto Harrington for the steepest climb of the day. Thankfully, the trail was mostly ice-free, and the viewpoint part-way up makes for a great stopping point. It was cold, though!

Soon enough we popped out of the trees and we had made it to the summit for the first time today! I also found a USGS disc that I had never seen before, near the Harrington Trail sign - yay! We did a quick drive-by summit, since we knew we'd be back in an hour or so. It was cold and windy, but now a balmy 23 degrees. Sarah had a quick snack up on the platform, but it was too cold for my sweaty body. I put on a fleece and hid out of the wind. If we were staying I would have fully layered up to enjoy the view, but I knew I'd be sweating again very soon.

We descended via Mountain House, popping over near Pine Hill first to find another USGS disc I had read about on Facebook, and then to Jack Frost - which was as beautiful as ever. The Hemlock Grove is just stunning, and the neat bridge-area after the steep descent is neat. We continued through the Mountain Laurel to Lower Link, and then had a nice, easy walk on Administration Road to the Echo Lake Trail trailhead, where there were a good number of cars.

We circled around Machias Pool and started up the Echo Lake Trail, which was quiet and dusted in snow. At the height-of-land, we found a cell phone on a tree stump! Sarah picked it up, and it had frozen to the mossy stump, but it was still on... and unlocked! She opened up the messaging app and texted the most recent person, Carol, who the owner sent a photo of the summit to. We told Carol where the phone was and left it there, hoping that the hiker would return to get it (versus us taking it with us back up the summit and down to the other side of the mountain). 

We joined Echo Lake Road, circled Echo Lake, enjoyed the old fireplace there, and then made our way onto the High Meadow Trail. At the viewpoint, we turned onto Bicentennial and followed it to Mountain House (this is the nice stretch of Bicentennial Trail - the stretch between Mountain House and Loop is a rocky mess that I am not the greatest fan of). 

I remembered why I'm not overly fond of the Mountain House Trail - its moderate grade continues almost the whole climb and its featureless, so it feels like it goes on for much longer than it actually does (in all reality, it's completely fine). We were crossing paths with more and more people until popping out at the top - time for a nice break!

We sat beneath the tower to avoid the cold wind. It was now 32 degrees and the sun felt heavenly. I "cooked" us up some hot chocolate and Sarah surprised me with apple crisp!! It was truly a lovely break. I walked up to the tower for a couple of photos, but the wind was too cold to enjoy for long. 

Eventually, we packed up and started down the Old Indian Trail, to the top of the Polar Express Quad, where there was a lovely view and some lovely piles of snow. I wanted so badly to throw my body onto them, but I remembered to #RespectTheSnowmakers. We continued through the beautiful flat stretch and then started the steep descent, which was about as sketchy as I expected it to be. Thankfully, we made it down no problem, and then had an easy final return to the cars via West Side Trail.

Step-By-Step

- Park at West Side Trail trailhead.

- Start hike on West Side Trail.

- At second crossing of Up Summit Road, cross road and continue on Semuhenna Trail.

- At terminus, turn left onto Harrington Trail.

- Summit Mt. Wachusett.

- Continue onto Mountain House Trail.

- Turn right onto Jack Frost Trail.

- At terminus, turn left onto Lower Link Trail.

- At terminus, turn left onto Administration Road.

- At terminus, turn left onto Echo Lake Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Echo Lake Road.

- Soon after, turn left onto High Meadow Trail.

- At jct., turn right onto Bicentennial Trail.

- At jct., turn left onto Mountain House Trail.

- Summit Mt. Wachusett.

- Continue onto Old Indian Trail.

- At jct., turn left onto West Side Trail.

- Follow West Side Trail to car.

Map of Wachusett Mountain State Reservation

Photo Album