Mt. Monadnock via Parker, Lost Farm, Side Foot, & White Arrow (Monadnock State Park)

Mt. Monadnock via Parker, Lost Farm, Side Foot, & White Arrow (Monadnock State Park)

Hike Type: Loop w/ Spurs

Distance: 7.25 miles

Elevation: 2,393 feet

Time: 3 hours, 35 minutes (3 hours, 8 minutes moving)
Hiking Challenges: Monadnock Redliner (2x)

The Hike

Didn't I just hike Monadnock yesterday? Yes. Why am I doing it again, why not! Really, I couldn't make a decision with where I wanted to hike - it was going to be raining up in the Whites and Mt. Greylock was just too far for me at the time (I was having another lazy day). I didn't even make it out the door until 1:00pm! As per usual, I stopped at the Leominster Cumberland Farms for some food and landed at the Old Toll Road trailhead just before 3:00pm. There were no other cars there, which was a delight! It was humid out with temperatures in the mid-70s. My body was feeling tired from the past many days of hiking and my pack was stil a little damp with sweat, but I was happy to be getting out again. 

[3:02pm - Old Toll Road]

I started by hiking up the Old Toll Road towards the Parker Trail. I initially planned this hike clockwise and including Monte Rosa/Mossy Brook, but I decided to go counter clockwise instead to get the longer wooded section out of the way early - and I'm glad I did! A car drove past me and I climbed the Old Toll Road and then I realized I, yet again, completely forgot to lock my car. The air was wildly damp and it looked like a stray shower blew through at some point recently. Thankfully, the skies were now super blue!

The road flattened briefly and then climbed again, past many browning ferns to a yellow blaze on the road which marks the start of the Parker Trail at approximately 0.58 miles, according to my watch.

[3:15pm - Parker Trail]

[3:16pm - Parker Trail/Viewpoint jct.]

I hiked briefly to the height-of-land, past the newly-signed viewpoint junction (I skipped the viewpoint, as my mindset was more on the goal of hiking the trails today versus a scenic hike), and then began the easy descent. The sun was shining wonderfully on the ferns. I also was seeing the most amount of efts I think I'd ever seen! There were many birds out, too.

[3:23pm - Parker Trail/Cliff Walk jct.]

Soon I was at the junction with the Cliff Walk Trail - my eft count was up to four. The trail skirted the edge of a recently logged area, the gnats were out, and the cicadas were buzzing. There was a bridge over dry, mossy stream and then the Parker Trail passed a very large erratic (that, knowing Mt. Monadnock, I'm sure has an official name). I reminisced about the first time I hiked on this trail - it was the first time I ever had to christen the woods of Monadnock State Park! Some more easy descending eventually brought me to the Lost Farm Trail junction.

[3:36pm - Park Trail/Lost Farm Trail jct.]

I added four more efts to my count in that last segement, bringing my total to eight! There was another recently logged area right at the Lost Farm Trail junction, and a sign read:

"Timber Harvest in Progress Along the Parker Trail

The NH State Division of Forest and Lands is conducting a timber harvest on state land just south of the Parker Trail. In two locations it comes close to the trail, you will see it in progress.

Group openings ranging from half to two acres are being established to emulate minor natural disturbances in the forest. This fosters the growth of diverse herbaceous plants and tree saplings, enabling young trees to thrive with ample sunlight, air, and space, enriching the forest ecosystem. It's crucial to recognize that although these forest management actions may temporarily alter the visual landscape, they enhance long-term forest resilience amidst a challenging climate. Additionally, they provide essential habitat elements for the numerous wildlife species inhabiting this area.

For more information on this project and timber harvesting in State Parks and State Forests, contact Project Forester, Tyler Comte at 603-227-8736."

I elected to follow the Parker Trail for the rest of its length, to Park HQ, just in case for future me (future me was thankful!). This stretch of trail was much nicer and I crossed paths with my first two people du jour - they were not friendly. I made it to the bridge crossing at the reservoir outflow, which was fully drained up. There were signs warning hikers to keep out due to crumbling rocks and deep mud - I wonder if the dam is the reason why it's drained? Is it just the drought? Not sure! The perimeter was pretty grown in, so there wasn't much to see in terms of views. 

[3:48pm - Park Trail/State Park HQ]

I turned around at the spur to the parking lot and got emotionally ready to start gaining elevation again! The return to the Lost Farm Trail was not bad at all, but boy was I sweaty from the humidity!

[3:58pm - Lost Farm Trail]

Soon I was on the Lost Farm Trail, caught up to and passed the couple from before, who were hiking in full normal clothes and at least 20 feet apart now... The trail started ascending more moderately with medium-rocky footing paralleling a dry stream on the left. After passing the humans, I started taking a few spiderwebs to the face. There were a few walking breaks intersperced with steep, short climbs. It was enough to take my "very sweaty" and elevate it "totally drenched in sweat."

I did accidentally get off trail at one point, but soon was back on (just a herd path) in a longer flat section that soon transitioned into a rocky, slippery, mossy area. My false memories of the last time I hiked this trail (years ago) told me it was an easier trail! I traversed a medium-level hobblebush grove and was contemplating death, but the trail smelled too nice to call it, so I continued. 

The final push was damp and slippery again and home to ALL the efts! The trail began to open up and get more piney, and then I caught a wonderful view of the Wapack Range just before the Cliff Walk! It was nice to see it front-lit for a change. Just after the view the trail terminated. I saw 13 efts on this stretch, bringing my total to 21!

[4:36pm - Cliff Walk]

[4:37pm - Thoreau Trail]

I had a very short jaunt on the Cliff Walk and soon scrambled up to Thoreau's Seat and then back into the woods to Thoreau Trail. Thoreau Trail was a little confusing to follow in the upper plateau area, but the rest was fine. I did get pine sap on my hand which was a solid bummer... at least it smelled good! There was a wonderful breeze in these woods. 

[4:47pm - Old Halfway House Clearing]

[4:48pm - Sidefoot Trail]

[4:50pm - Sidefoot Trail/Do Drop Trail jct.]

[4:53pm - Sidefoot Trail/Noble Trail jct.]

I was soon at the Old Halfway House Clearing, which was a little grown-in but the view was lovely. I looped back into the woods to start climbing again on the Sidefoot Trail, which had some nice rock steaps with ferns tickling my shins. The climb was steady but not too steep with many rocks and soft needles. I passed the Do Drop and Noble Trail junctions, and forgot to look for the abandoned Hedgehog one. 

Higher up, the rocks and open canoby both increased. I passed my third person of the day in this upper stretch - it was so wonderfully quiet. 

[5:08pm - Sidefoot Trail/Ampitheatre Trail jct.]

I stopped briefly to wring out my shirt for a third time at the Amphitheatre Trail junction, and both trails coincided easily to the White Arrow Trail. I caught some sun for the first time all day on this stretch, and it felt GOOD. I usually climb this mountain in the morning, so it was nice to experience it in the afternoon light. 

[5:10pm - White Arrow Trail]

Time for the final push! I hadn't been on the White Arrow Trail in a LONG time - since pre-COVID, I think. The trail climbed from the Amphitheatre junction to a mostly dry, flat, boggy area with stepping stones. I remember the first time I hiked this trail, in April when I was in college, and I was blown away that there was still snow and ice here!

The climb soon resumed and broke through the trees. It was really fun making this push with "new" views - I'd gotten to used to the views towards the Wapack - it was nice to see something else! The weather above the trees was, dare I say, perfect. I decided to skip the Monte Rosa leg of the hike I had planned just so I could enjoy more time out in the sun. The trail has some trickier/fun scrambles to a false summit, and then a classic Mt. Monadnock "basically just choose your own adventure" to the actual summit area.

[5:28pm - Mt. Monadnock Summit]

The first thing I wrote in my notes for the top said "so f-ing beautiful and actually nobody's up here I'm in awe and in shock," which I think sums it up perfectly. It was such a perfect afternoon, and as we all know from my August hikes, I'd been mentally going through it, so it was so nice to just sit and enjoy nature. I had my strawberry lemon poppi soda again, which was lovely, and eventually 4-ish people did show up, but I just refused to acknowledge they were there. I used my PeakFinder app to see Killington! When I was getting ready to leave I wrote down "definitely skipping Monte Rosa it's too perfect out to work harder haha."

[5:49pm - White Arrow Trail]

After 20ish minutes, I finally started my descent. The sun and weather just felt spectacular. Tragically, the people at the top also started their descent, so they were behind me for most of the trip. The view with the afternoon lighting was just unreal and I was NOT upset that I would "have" to come back to finish up!

[6:02pm - White Arrow Trail/Sidefoot Trail jct.]

I crossed paths with a guy hiking up near the Sidefoot Junction who was playing 80s power ballads out loud, which was a choice! The trail was super rocky, but the footing was not awful and I was able to maintain a decent pace. I could still hear the people behind me, but I couldn't see them so I didn't feel bad.

[6:13pm - White Arrow Trail/Fairy Spring Trail jct.]

I was back to full sweaty Betty status once deep in the woods and I let two faster folks pass me at the Fairy Spring Trail junction - the rest were further behind. I thought again about hitting Monte Rosa, but I maintained it was too nice out to work harder, and I was excited to get home before dark.

[6:16pm - Old Toll Road]

[6:17pm - Old Toll Road/Cart Path jct.]

I leap frogged with the faster two hikers at the Old Toll Road, as they were looking at some turkeys off-trail. My foot was feeling shockingly good, especially for my speedy descent. My hip was a little mad, but that was okay. I crossed paths with one more person on the way down, totally missed the Parker junction, and soon enough, was back at the car and on the way home!

[6:37pm - End of Hike]

Step-by-Step

- Start hike on Old Toll Road.

- At jct., turn right onto Parker Trail.

- At State Park HQ, turn around.

- At jct., turn right onto Lost Farm Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Cliff Walk.

- At jct., turn left onto Thoreau Trail.

- From Old Halfway House Clearing, hike to Sidefoot Trail.

- Follow Sidefoot Trail to terminus.

- At terminus, turn right onto White Arrow Trail.

- Summit Mt. Monadnock.

- Descend on White Arrow Trail and Old Toll Road to car.

Map of Monadnock State Park

Photo Album