Monadnock Trails, Monadnock Mountain, Bald Rock, Cliff Walk, New Hampshire Hiking, New Hampshire Maps, Mount Monadnock, Jaffrey, NH, Hiking New Hampshire, Mt Monadnock
Bald Rock
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Above: Bald Rock
Bald Rock Trails:
Bald Rock Ridge is the ridge directly south of Grand Monadnock with Bald Rock a bare crag is the highpoint on the spruce forest covered ridge. The ridge is speckled with declivities of open ledge along the Cliff Walk Trail which starts at the Parker Trails and follows the length of the ridge to Bald Rock. On top of Bald Rock is a large glacial erratic boulder inscribed Kiasticiticus Rock. Separated by the Dingle Dell is Inspiration Rock another open crag just northeast of Bald Rock. Also nearby to the north of Bald Rock is the site of Dinsmore's Tavern of 1825. Bald Rock is accessible from the summit by a fine hike down the White Arrow to Amphitheater to Smith Connecter as well as the White Dot to Smith Connecter. A scenic route from the summit to Bald Rock is Pumpelly Trail to Red Spot Trail to Smith Connecter to Bald Rock. There are many side trails that access this ridge from the Half Way House Site. A popular route from State Park Headquarters is the Lost Farm Trail to Cliff Walk. Another longer way is the Parker Trail to the start of the Cliff Walk. A wild way up is the abandoned obscure Mead Brook Trail to Dingle Dell Trail to Bald Rock Ridge. There are many trails to choose from on the current Monadnock State Park Map to hike Bald Rock Ridge.
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Above: What Cheer Point
Cliff Walk is a very scenic route with lots of declivities of open ledge with views along the trail as you hike up. The path is mostly along moderate grades with some steep spots. With some rogue paths care should be taken to follow Cliff Walk for novice hikers to not lose one’s way. The path is marked with white C's and now orange disks
There are number of side paths that connect the Cliff Walk with the Half-way House Site. The Cliff Walk starts north from the Parker Trail .3 miles east from the Old Toll Rd. The Cliff Walk shortly reaches a ladder climbing up a steep spot. From here the Cliffwalk heads west then takes a dip then climbs north up a steep slope and goes around a hill then climbs a steep spot up to Hello Rock which has viewpoints SE and SW. The forest changes from hardwoods to spruce then the Cliffwalk dips to the Hello Rock Trail junction, left, then heads up by the path to Matterhorn, on right, a sharp tall protrusion of ledge that you can stand on and has views, the entrance has some down trees on it. A short distance further Point Surprise, a fine viewpoint, and Point Surprise Trail then the path to What Cheer Point, right, then further up there are several more viewpoints, namely Ainsworth Seat (now no sign, is a large open spot before Lost Farm junction) and Thoreau Seat after Lost Farm junction (signs). Then above Thoreau Seat there is Emerson Seat, overgrown with trees, on the right. The Cliffwalk shortly reaches the less used Do Drop Trail. The Noble trail is the next left on the Cliffwalk which has a nice view to the summit, south and west 20 yards from the trail. There are the Wolf Den’s side path on left then there is the Graphite Mine Path that leads west by an old mine around to the Hedgehog trail. The Cliffwalk then climbs steeply shortly up to Bald Rock.
Smith Connecter offers superb close-up views of Monadnock on its way from Bald Rock to the
Red Spot Trail. The Smith Connecter descends north from Bald Rock is well
marked by cairns and yellow paint blazes on open ledge down into spruce and
some views toward Monadnock ahead then reaches the Amphitheater (to White Arrow and summit) junction
known as four spots and continues through spruce woods before it opens with
views up near the White Cross Trail (to summit).
The Smith Connecter to Red Spot Trail will no longer be on the State Park Map. Use care to follow yellow spots leading shortly to the White Dot trail
and continue up on open ledge to patchy spruce bush where there is a yellow blaze on the left, northeast which
is the; Old Smith Connecter, is marked by yellow blazes on
open ledges to the Red Spot trail. The Smith Connecter continues
east on open ledge of the upper plateau to the Red Spot Trail. The Former
Smith Connecter is a good route toward the Red Spot Trail with continuous
views of the summit to the right. The current Smith Connecter is a good
route heading from the Red Spot Trail heading west with views facing the
summit of Grand Monadnock. Taking the Red Spot to Pumpelly Trail is a scenic way to the summit.
Amphitheater Trail runs around the Amphitheater from Four Spots across open bare ledge marked
by yellow paint blazes to the Sidefoot Trail to the White Arrow Trail (no
sign, is blazed) crosses a small drainage then crosses some ledge and into
some spruce woods then heads down to Black Precipice and over to the Smith
Summit Trail.
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Above: Little Mountain
Parker Trail is a hike through forest on gentle grades heading east from the Old Toll Rd. at .6 north of route 124 connects to the Cliff Walk, Lost Farm Trail and the State Park headquarters. In about 50 yards where there is a sign for the Parker Trail a side path heads southeast to Little Mountain. From the sign the Parker Trail heads through a pass called the Notch (most noticeable when the trees are bare) and past a stone wall. The Parker Trail then heads downhill on gentle grades to the Cliffwalk junction at .3 miles, in another .1 mile turn north for the former route of the Cliff Walk (which heads under cliffs in woods but has a very steep difficult spot especially when damp). The Parker Trail continues east shortly past a tall glacial boulder called Hunter Rock at a stonewall crossing then shortly crosses a vernal stream and continues past the Lost Farm Trail at .7 miles. The Parker Trail continues on easy grades through a hardwood forest to the south end of Jaffrey reservoir just before reaching State Park headquarters (follow signs) 1.4 miles from the Old Toll Rd.
Lost Farm Trail is a well worn well marked and easy to follow path leading from the
Cliffwalk to the Parker Trail. Starting below Thoreau Seat (sign at
junction) the Lost Farm Trail heads in an easterly direction through spruce
then shortly into hardwoods descends mostly along moderate grades through
woods heading to nearby Mead brook then turns south along the west side of a
stonewall heading down mostly easier grades to the Parker Trail. For
description in reverse see
StateParkSideTrails.
Side Foot Trail parallels the White Arrow Trail and heads through a shady spruce forest
until reaching the Amphitheater Trail. The Side Foot trail is a less used
alternative to the White Arrow Trail and accesses Bald Rock via side
trails. The Side Foot bears northeast from the White Arrow trail from the
Halfway House Site. The Side Foot turns north at the Do Drop Trail, then on
a northeasterly course passes the Noble and Do Drop Trails on right,
continues up at moderate grades to the Amphitheater Trail then marked with
white/yellow blazes on rocks heads to White Arrow Trail.
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Above: View from Noble Trail
Hedgehog Trail is the shortest route down the ridge; descends west from Bald Rock to the Sidefoot Trail. It is a steep drop then
the grade eases where it reaches the Graphite Mine Path (which heads
southeast to the Cliff Walk and is brushed in at the entrance). The
Hedgehog trail levels off for a short distance near a mossy area then heads steeply
down to the Sidefoot trail. Hedgehog is a well beaten path but in places
may be difficult to follow for a novice hiker. Hedgehog Trail with
currently poor signage is a less used path.
Noble Trail offers nice views of the summit
and southwest near the Cliffwalk. The path leads up moderate to steep
grades from the Side Foot to the Cliffwalk near Bald Rock. It has gotten
more use now that the Hedgehog is less used and is easy to follow.
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Above: Point Surprise
Do Drop Trail leads steeply up through a
spruce forest from the Sidefoot trail just above the Halfway House Site to
the Cliffwalk, Bald Rock Ridge trail junction.
Thoreau Trail is a shady path through spruce
woods from Thoreau Seat joining the Hello Rock and Point Surprise Trail by
the Halfway House Site. The Thoreau Trail along with the other connecters
to the Cliffwalk is a lightly used path with some novice hikers have
reportedly had gone off course.
Point Surprise Trail leads on easy grades from the Halfway House Site through a shady spruce
forest to the Cliffwalk by Point Surprise. Point Surprise Trail is a less
used path and mossy in spots but easy to follow.
Hello Rock Trail leads through a shady spruce forest from the Halfway House Site around end of Bald Rock Ridge to the Cliffwalk just below Hello Rock. Hello Rock Trail is a less used trail and care should be taken to follow path in spots. If you go off the path backtrack and take right course.
Below: Hello Rock Looking Southeast
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Monadnock Trails:
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