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)

Hike Type: Lollipop, Lollipop Loop

Distance: 6.37 miles

Elevation: 1732 feet

Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Hiking Challenges: N/A

The Hike 

I'm calling this one my "secret hike"! I was off for Thursday and Friday for the annual music educator's conference in Worcester. Thursday was awesome - lots of professional learning and seeing old friends followed by a fun night of rose and yapping. Friday, I woke up with a social battery so drained that the thought of seeing one more person I had to make small talk with might have been the end of me. Thankfully, the three friends I was with also felt the same way. We slept in, got a late breakfast, and then I decided I'd take the day to enjoy a WONDERFUL hike up Mt. Wachusett! I drove from Worcester to the West Side Trail parking area. The sun was shining, there was hardly a cloud in the sky, and it was a warm 50 degrees with a slight breeze - just wonderful. (For the record, I flirted with skiing at Wachusett, but the thought of the off-chance possibility of having to share a chair with a stranger and making small talk made me want to jump into a river, so I opted for a hike instead). There were no cars at the West Side Trail trailhead, so I slowly got suited up and off I went!

Naturally, the moment I wrote the note "no cars so no people" I immediately ran into a kind, chatty duo! The rest of my climb up the West Side Trail was quiet, though. The few steep spots were fun and the flats were beautiful. There was a very small patch of rotting needle ice and a few rocks had lingering icicles, but we were definitely in spring! The West Side Trail crosses the Summit Road, providing a moment in the warm sun which felt amazing. I knew I was approaching the junction with the Semuhenna Trail when I could hear the Minuteman Express Quad from the ski area - I did want to ski, but again, didn't want to deal with people! I also didn't want to ski alone, which is contradictory to my other feelings... Hiking was the answer, for sure.

I continued on the West Side Trail to it's terminus at the Old Indian Trail, which steeply climbed a shoulder of the mountain before mellowing out in beautiful woods. There was some more lingering ice around the steep spot, but nothing problematic. I passed an old "OLD INDIAN TRAIL" carving on a flat rock along the trail, and then came out of the woods to the top of the ski area! The snow up top looked super slushy and there was hardly anyone skiing - I still maintain hiking was the right answer!

I hiked up the viewing platform, where it was a little breezy and chilly, but the sky was so clear and the atmosphere was delightfully quiet - it was just lovely. I stopped for a quick sip of water but quickly got moving again.

From the summit, I had a long-feeling trip down Mountain House, which is probably my least favorite trail. It's wide, wet, and boring with icky footing. Eventually, I turned onto Bicentennial, admired the old stone walls, and crossed paths with a few people enjoying the view at the High Meadow, and then I continued down to Echo Lake. 

Echo Lake was beautiful as always, and then Echo Lake Trail was wonderfully quiet. I crossed paths with only one person, hiked to the height of land, wiggled through a blowdown patch, and descended to Machias Pool.

There were a good amount of cars at this trailhead. I continued onto Administration Road for a longer-than-preferred "road" walk, but it was worth it once I was in the mountain laurel grove (still not sure the difference between mountain laurel and rhododendron - I just know the answer is usually mountain laurel) on Jack Frost Trail. Jack Frost was in excellent shape and is a major contender for my favorite trail on the mountain. The mountain laurel grove led to a dark, beautiful section which led to a couple of bridges and then a steep climb with some massive trees. There were again some iciles and now a breeze, but it was welcomed as I shot back up the shoulder of the mountain. After turning a corner, the Jack Frost Trail easily traversed through what I believe is an old-growth forest before climbing a bit more to its terminus with Mountain House Trail.

I suffered through the last push of Mountain House while listening to "KIPPIE-KI-YAY." by Kesha in my brain, and soon enough was back at the summit! I had some more water and decided to save my Reece's Big Cup for the car.

Clouds were beginning to roll in from the south as I descended on Harrington, passing some old graffiti up top. I stopped to enjoy the view and relieve my bladder at the view off Harrington and was HORRIFIED at the color - definitely needed more water! I scrambled down some more, eventually turning onto Semuhenna Trail, which gently rose to some swampland that housed some loud Wood Frogs just before the Summit Road.

My sausage fingers were in full effect as I turned back onto the West Side Trail, where I only crossed paths with a few more folks to finish out this wonderful, recharging, much needed hike.

Step-by-Step

- State hike on West Side Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Old Indian Trail.

- At summit, continue onto Mountain House Trail.

- At jct., turn right onto Bicentennial Trail.

- At terminus, turn left onto High Meadow Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Echo Lake Road.

- At jct., turn left onto Echo Lake Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Administration Road.

- At jct., turn right onto Jack Frost Trail.

- At terminus, continue straight/left onto Mountain House Road.

- At summit, turn left onto Harrington Trail.

- At jct., turn right onto Semuhanna Trail.

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

- Follow West Side Trail to car.

Wachusett Mountain State Reservation Map

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