Monadnock State Park — Attraction in Jaffrey

This is a big mountain so be prepared. The most common mistake is people taking the White Dot Trail because it's the fastest route to the top. It is the fastest and one of the most difficult. You will need to use your hands many times to climb the mountain. The first mile of the White Dot trail is mostly rock and log stairs, then the steep parts. There are several vertical sections so pace yourself and sip water. I say sip because you dont want to get cramps by drinking too much. Drink when you get to the top. Bring bananas and rice cakes or protein bars and eat some about half way up and eat a more substantial snack at the top. Feeding your muscles will prevent them from aching and youll perform better.

When you think you're almost to the top, you're about half way there. At one point you'll see the peak and that's just past half way. And there are still several more steep sections to go. The weather at the top may be different than the base so I suggest you bring warmer clothing in your pack. I usually change out of the sweaty clothes at the top which makes for a much more comfortable trip down.

Plan on the accent taking 2 hours and the decent about an hour and a half. Its possible to go faster, many people do go fast. My personal record is 59 minutes up and 37 minutes down. Those are a grueling, out of breath and knee battering 59 minutes. The decent is a different kind of pain since most of the trail is rocky, the impact is high. You'll find yourself sliding on your butt for some of the steeper sections.

If you have bad knees or balance problems you're best off taking the White Cross Trail. It's a longer more gradual trail that meets up with the White Dot Trail but even the White Cross Trail will have some very steep sections near the summit. This is a big mountain and it acts like it. People need to be rescued almost daily. Be prepared and know your limitations.

There will be mud and running water in some sections. Try you best not to step in water so your shoes dont get slippery on the rock. Some people bring poles which may help but you'll still need your...

We drove an hour here and were turned away from a half-empty lot because we didn't have "reservations." While I understand we might have avoided this situation had we checked the park's website, I have gone hiking in numerous states and several dozen countries. Aside from a scarce handful of ecologically sensitive locations in South America and Asia, this is the only place I have come across where reservations are necessary to embark on a day-hike. I don't think most people would ever anticipate the need to reserve a hiking spot at a state park.

While I'm not sure if it's true, a local couple we encountered on another trail said Monadnock started its reservations policy in response to COVID-19. I understand the need for precautions. However, at this point, almost everyone who wants to be vaccinated--as I myself am--has had the chance to be. This seems overbearing considering the current state of the pandemic (note: I just checked online. This is a COVID policy).

I find it bizarre and utterly comical that, while New Hampshire allows hotels, restaurants, and other businesses to run without any capacity restrictions, people are still restricted from hiking miles-long trails. Why does this state allow people to cram into bars but not hike on a miles-long trail? You can't get more socially...

We stayed at the Gilson Pond Campground. It was peaceful, there was plenty of space between campsites, showers work and showers / toilet are clean and well kept. Water is cold in the shower, but for 50 cents (make sure to bring quarters) you can have 3 minutes of hot water powered by propane, which is super helpful and practical. There is continual monitoring by staff of the grounds and there is a guided walk that we took 7:30pm around Gilson Pond on saturday night that was one of a kind, followed by guided star gazing at the playground. Directly across the street from the Gilson Pond campground is the town beach which is nice and small and a convenient get away; and the water doesn't go deeper than about 4 feet, which is perfect for the kids and family; there are trees around this area, along with grass, to allow members to enjoy some shaded relaxation. Great experience and would highly recommend checking out the camp photos to pick a spot to stay since each camp site is different in it's setup and layout; some with platforms, and a few with electrical power, and almost all with close access to...