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Mount Monadnock, Jaffrey, NH

Photo: Jonwmcinenrey, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sport & OutdoorOutdoor AdventureIconic

Mount Monadnock

169 Poole Rd · Jaffrey, NH

Why you should go…

Mount Monadnock rises to 3,165 feet, nearly 1,000 feet higher than any other peak within 30 miles, and its bare, rocky summit gives wide views. The White Dot and White Cross trails start at the Monadnock State Park headquarters and are the most direct routes to the top. The mountain is known from the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Parking is limited, so day-use reservations are strongly recommended, and pets are not permitted.

  • #hiking
  • #summit hike
  • #state park
  • #mountain views

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Mount Monadnock, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Monadnock Region

    Free

    Southwestern New Hampshire's Mount Monadnock, small towns, and covered bridges.

    10.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Theatre & Events
    Local Favorite

    Ashuelot Concerts

    $25–$50

    A Keene-based chamber music series that brings touring international ensembles to intimate rural venues in New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts each fall to spring.

    10.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Theatre & Events

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    Howard's Leather Store

    Free

    Third-generation family leather store on Route 9 in Spofford, NH, selling leather goods, western wear, motorcycle apparel, jewelry and gifts since 1952.

    16 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    Vermont Maple Museum

    Free

    A destination gift shop on the Molly Stark Trail selling Vermont maple syrup, candy, cheese and local products.

    29 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Ski Butternut

    $50+

    Family-friendly Berkshires ski area with 22 trails, tubing and terrain parks.

    77 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Kent Falls State Park

    Under $25

    Climb stone steps beside a series of waterfalls that drop 250 feet on Falls Brook in the Litchfield Hills.

    101 mi awayMore like this