Monadnock State Park Headquarters — Attraction in Jaffrey

Mt. Monadnock white dot trail on the way up to the summit and down white cross (loop) is the perfect loop as far as difficulty and length. Not too hard and not too long. The 360 view at the top is amazing but keep in mind the other mountains in this region are on the smaller side. At least you're not looking at cities.

No waterfalls on the route but some water pools at the summit. Look for tadpoles! I saw thousands!

4 mi round trip. It took me from 2:05pm-3:40pm (1h35m) to summit. Then I spent a long time (35 min) enjoying and eating (a full lunch and snacks) at the summit. It was soooo windy. From 4:15pm-5:50pm (1h35m), I hiked down but I'm a super slow down hiker because I have bad knees.

I used 2.5L to get up Monadnock and another 1L to hike down (I'm obsessed with hydration). It was 80 degrees to 55 degrees on this day in June 2022. I was thankful for a light long sleeve at the top. Bugs were minimal.  Definitely glad I wore sunscreen and a hat because much of the hike is a scramble (rocks) so there aren't a lot of trees in those areas and there are none at the summit.

Parking was $15. Very well maintained route and well marked. The path isn't super wide which I appreciate because it makes me feel closer to nature.  I was worried it'd be too crowded but it wasn't at all. Apparently it gets crowded but they have an option to buy a parking pass (I think) so that might be security for next time. Bathrooms were very clean and multiple water bottle filler stations at the base by the...

I hike Mt Monadnock yearly, now for the past 4 years, in the May/June timeframe. White dot up, white cross down. I usually don't go to the actual peak because the lower peak has excellent views, and it can get chilly on the upper peak.

Bugs can be problematic in the forest section, which is lower 2/3rds of the hike. But only 1 year were they really bad. I usually wear pants and long/sun sleeves anyhow.

Last year we saw red eft newts, which almost look like plastic toys. This year, I saw a frog and two snakes on my way back down, on the white cross.

This hike is very steep. I have to wear hiking boots and bring poles, otherwise it is not fun for me to navigate the 98% rocky terrain. There are a few rock scrambles where I have to use my hands.

The amenities are well kept. A small store, bathrooms, and usually water from a water fountain. But it wasn't turned on this past week yet, so I just filled my bottle from the sink, and the water tasted fine.

Fellow hikers are friendly and diverse. We're all in it together. :)

The day use fee this year (2025) is $15. They take credit cards. I usually buy it online the day before but this year, I went early on a Wed and just paid there. I am happy to support the maintenance/care of NH's...

This is one of the best hiking trail in New England with the perfect balance of work/reward. The trail is very scenic right from the get go with plenty of challenge even for experienced hiker. But it can get a little crowded on a good day so make sure you hit the trail early.

The white dot trail is the more difficult thus why they recommend you take it up and come down on the white cross trail. So if you're not experienced it is better to take the white cross trail for both up and down.

The view from the peak is breathtaking so make sure to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy a well deserved rest and soak in the spectacular sight...