Monadnock Trails, Monadnock Mountain, New Hampshire Hiking, New Hampshire Maps, Mount Monadnock, Jaffrey, NH, Hiking New Hampshire
Points of Interest
Above: Dutcher Point
Points of Interest
Ainsworth’s Seat. Position: N42 50.995 W72 06.477. Large viewpoint on Cliffwalk WSW of Lost Farm Trail. Named for Reverend Labian
Ainsworth, first settled minister in Jaffrey, 1784. His heirs conveyed the
200 acre lot on the south side of the mountain to the Town of Jaffrey.
Amphitheater. Rounded ravine between Bald Rock Ridge and
Monte Rosa. Amphitheater Trail skirts its rim.
Bald Rock (2640 feet). Position: N42 51.235 W72 06.418. Prominent summit on southeast
ridge, said to have been the only open spot on the mountain before the
fires. Resembles a bald head. “When the town was first settled the
mountain was covered to its summit with trees, principally spruce, excepting
a small peak southeast of the top which was called the Bald Rocks.”
(Cutter, D. B. 1881 History of the Town of Jaffrey p. 10).
Bear Pit. Position: N42 51.443 W72 07.081. Open depression west of Marion Trail by Mossy Brook-Great Pasture Junction, named by Professor Dutcher.
Black Precipice (2550 feet). Position: N42 51.456 W72 06.649. The largest
vertical cliff on the mountain. Located on Amphitheater Trail near the Smith Summit Trail.
Black Throated Blue Point. Position: N42 50.953 W72 06.494. Original view is grown in but has a view of the summit. Position is a cliffhanger walk by Cliffwalk near original viewpoint.
Brook's Homestead. Position: N42 50.438 W72 04.903. Home was built around 1796 and soon abandoned and is a cellar hole along Old Keene Road.
Boat (See Sarcophagus). Position: N42 51.784 W72 05.867. Looks like a giant stone crypt along Pumpelly Trail near Spellman Trail.
Bubbling Spring (See Falcon Spring) Position: N42 51.235 W72 05.592
Bunk Woods. Second growth woods between the mountain
pastures and the blueberry ledges. So-called because enclosed by “bunk and
toggle” fences, now forest near Pumpelly and Lost Farm Trails.
Cart Path. Built by Augustus P. Chamberlaine to a
site where he planned to build a summer house.
Chamberlain Pool. Pool in Fassett Brook near its
junction with Fairy Brook. Formerly reached via Cart Path.
Chamberlain Falls. Position: N42 51.178 W72 05.929 Along Mead Brook, a vernal stream, is a 15 foot waterfall (often dry) near the State Park Boundary. Named in memory of Allen Chamberlain.
Coast and Geodetic
Survey Camp (2550 feet). Established by U. S. Coast & Geodetic Survey in 1861 near Half Way Spring on
the White Arrow Trail.
Coffee Pot Camp. Old camp site between Bald Rock and the summit. A coffee pot still hangs on a tree.
Crag (2300 feet). An eminence southeast of Monte
Rosa. Just west of White Arrow Trail at Quarter Way Spring now grown over.
Darling Seat (2218. Feet). Position: N42 52.545 W72 06.736 An eminence and viewpoint with a stone seat east of Dublin Trail.
Dean Ainsworth’s Seat (See Ainsworth’s Seat).
Dingle Dell. A hollow south of the White Cross
Trail and north of Bald Rock.
Dinsmore’s Tavern. Position: N42 51.336 W72 06.415. Popularly known as the
“Comfortable Shantee”. A stone wall foundation, remains of a tavern built
by Thomas Dinsmore in 1826. SE of Smith Connecting Trail.
Doric Temple (2700 Feet). A rocky crag between
White Dot and Pumpelly Trails.
Dublin Summit (3060 Feet). Position: N42 51.825 W72 06.594. Rock peak near Junction
of Dublin and Marlboro Trails. Located in the Town of Jaffrey, the highest
peak one sees ascending Dublin Trail. Most people think it is the summit
until they get there.
Dutcher Point. Position: N42 51.380 W72 07.103. Rocky lookout west of Monte
Rosa. Named for Professor Dutcher of Wesleyan University.
The Eagle's Nest. Built by Stam Stowell and Charles Porter in 1931 was designed as a refuge during the Great Depression. It's location is kept secret due to the potential for vandalism.
Emerson Family Campsite. A level spot high on
the south side of the mountain used by the Emerson's in 1866. Reported in
his Journal.
Emerson’s Seat. Position: N42 51.052 W72 06.440. A lookout point southeast of Bald
Rock favored by R. W. Emerson. The viewpoint is now is overgrown with forest.
Fairy Spring. Position: N42 51.267 W72 06.757. A pool in Fairy Brook on trail
from Half Way House site to Monte Rosa.
Falcon Spring. Position: N42 51.235 W72 05.592. Spring near State Park Headquarters. A major trail junction named for William M. Falconer, first forest fire lookout
watchman who had a log cabin there called Falcon Hut.
Fassett’s Boulder Mountain House”. Position: N42 51.179 W72 06.815. A stone
foundation on Fairy Spring Trail was built by Joseph Fassett in 1855. It burned in 1856 but
was rebuilt. Decayed after Fassett’s death.
Fawsett’s Cabin. Probably a misspelling of Fassett.
Fire Warden’s Cabin. Position: N42 51.614 W72 06.491. The most recently of
forest fire lookout living quarters. Now used by Jaffrey Boy Scouts located along the Paradise Valley Trail.
Four Spots. Position: N42 51.382 W72 06.435. Trail junction of Smith Connector and Amphitheater Trails. Nearby are the abandoned Dingle Dell Trail, Teapot Trail and Inspiration Trail junctions. Four Spots is also just north of Coffee Pot Camp.
Garnet Spring (1900 feet). Improved in 1866 by
Thomas Kinney and Colonel Lycurgus Sayles. Used to water sheep and later by
Half Way House guests for drinking water. Spring can be seen from M+M trail.
Graphite Mine. Position: N42 51.210 W72 06.453. A vein in a ledge near Bald Rock
operated about 1849. The flake graphite was packed in kegs and transported down a gully to the Half Way House site.
Great Spring. Used for watering sheep and
cattle, last sheep were kept here in 1917. Pastures in area are now forest and stonewalls.
Half Way House Reservoir. Position: N42 51.153 W72 06.714. A pool constructed
above the Half Way House site for water supply.
Half Way House Site (2100 feet). Position: N42 51.074 W72 06.771. Site of a
succession of hotels since 1860. The last burned in 1954. The view at the site has been recently cleared.
Hello Rock (2120 feet). Position: N42 50.813 W72 06.760. Hikers stood on rock and
called “hello” to people coming up toll road, has viewpoints southwest and southeast.
Hunter Rock. Position: N42 50.728 W72 06.321. Large tall erratic boulder on the Parker Trail and was used by deer hunters for a stand to overlook hardwoods.
Inscribed Rock. Position: N42 51.336 W72 06.415. Boulder near Dinsmore’s tavern
site with neatly chiseled initials T. D., C. T. and F. W. (or E. W.?) 1826.
Initials believed to stand for Thomas Dinsmore, Cotton Tufts and Francis
Wright, Jr. (or Emery Wheeler) same being licensees of Dinsmore’s Tavern.
Discovered in 1910 by John O. Austin of Providence.
Inspiration Rock (2660 feet). Position: N42 51.374 W72 06.294. Outstanding view of Bald Rock, the summit and down ravine of Mead’s Brook to the east.
Jaffrey Reservoir. Position: N42 50.643 W72 05.337. (See Poole Reservoir).
Jumbly Rocks. Confused area on Purgatory Trail.
Kiasticuticus Peak. Position: N42 51.238 W72 06.409. A peaked rock so inscribed
to the east of Bald Rock. Stone resembles Animal Monster of Greek Legend.
Name is Greek for “bald”, literally “skinhead”.
Lead Mine (See Graphite Mine).
Little Mountain. Position: N42 50.575 W72 06.689. A bald crag with views south and east at the south end of Bald Rock Ridge across the notch.
Maple Tree. Position: N42 50.761 W72 05.266. A large maple to which were attached
many trail signs at the junction of the old Red Cross and Pasture Trails. The tree is now a stump at campsite 3.
Matterhorn (2200 feet). Position: N42 50.842 W72 06.695. Named by guests of Half
Way House somewhat in joking manner. Looks like Matterhorn of Alps.
Mead‘s Farm. Position: N42 50.728 W72 05.520. Founded in 1793, overgrown soon after and abandoned in 1820.
Mead’s Brook. Starts just below summit in
Paradise valley and flows into Jaffrey reservoir at State Park.
Mead’s Orchard. Position: N42 50.728 W72 05.520. Founded in 1793, overgrown soon
after and abandoned in 1820.
Mineral Spring (brook). Located off Route 124
at the former Keegan Farm. Mineral water was Tavern on third New Hampshire
Turnpike (Route 124). Contains carbonate of iron and sodium sulphate.
Monte Rosa (2540 feet). Position: N42 51.370 W72 06.820. Major height on southwest shoulder of mountain which had a reddish hue at sunset from the Halfway House. Monte Rosa was named by Scott Smith after returning from Switzerland.
Moses’ Spring (2100 feet). Position: N42 51.069 W72 06.761. Spring in rock face at Half Way House site. Discovered by Charles Larned in 1903 when “he smote
the face of the ledge” where he had noticed a seem of water. Later he
chiseled a little basin in the rock to contain the water.
Mossy Brook. Mossy Brook in valley west of Monte Rosa.
Mossy Falls. Rocks covered with green moss.
The Notch (1860 feet). Position: N42 50.622 W72 06.705. Pass of Parker Trail; a natural notch running east-west just north of Little Mountain. Best noticed when trees are bare.
Old Toll Road. Entrance: N42 50.112 W72 06.848. This major means of access
to the south side of the mountain was probably begun in 1769. Later
improved as a toll automobile road, it is now closed to wheeled traffic.
Paradise Valley. Position: N42 51.555 W72 06.376. Forested depression below cliffs just south of the summit.
Plateau. Spur on southeast side of Mountain. High fairly level area after steep climb up White Dot from the Old Ski Trail.
Picnic Grove (2100 feet). Position: N42 51.132 W72 06.784. Beech woods near Half Way House site at White Arrow-Monte Rosa-Fairy Spring Trail junction.
Point Discovery. Position: N42 51.184 W72 07.115. Ledge on south west side of Monte
Rosa above old Cart Path named by Professor Dutcher.
Point Surprise (2240 feet). Position: N42 50.873 W72 06.640 “Surprising” view to
east and south after coming out of thick woods.
Poole Memorial Road. Entrance: N42 50.619 W72 04.448 Laid out for the Mead
family in 1803 is the entrance road to Monadnock State Park. Improved in 1921 and 1922 by Joel H. Poole and deeded to
the State as a memorial to his son Arthur Eugene Poole.
Poole Reservoir. Position: N42 50.643 W72 05.337. Water supply for Town of
Jaffrey. Located near State Park headquarters.
Porcupine Ledge. Located in Robinson Memorial
Forest off Route 124, one and one-half miles west of Jaffrey Center. Owned
by Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Logging has made trails to this spot difficult to find and there is no view.
Pulpit. Position: N42 51.230 W72 06.420. A pedestal below Bald Rock.
Purgatory. Position: N42 51.536 W72 06.432. South side of summit, broken rock below smooth slide.
Pumpelly Cave. Called Megalithia by the builders; Gerald Thayer and Raphael Pumpelly II. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century and it's location is kept secret due to the potential for vandalism.
Pyramids. Looking up from below forester’s cabin, three rocks looking like pyramids now view is likely overgrown.
Quarter Way Spring. On White Arrow Trail. Dugs out by
S. A. Smith and is now not maintained
Rain Shelters. Overhanging ledges on both the north and south sides of the summit.
Buildings constructed by Half Way House Association for hikers are long gone.
Rock House. Position: N42 51.777 W72 07.156. A sheltering rock about one-half way up Marlboro Trail. Near the turn of Marian Trail.
Salt Oak. Used for salting cattle on old Cutter Farm. Situated 100 feet back of a
shelter used by Monadnock Bible Conference on Poole Memorial Road now a private guests only area.
Salt Rock. Rock where salt was put out for cattle at upper edge of pasture on the north
side of the mountain.
Sarcophagus (2880 feet). Position: N42 51.784 W72 05.867. A large erratic boulder
on Pumpelly Trail shaped like large stone crypt was also known as the boat. Slab at north end has cracked off.
Sauna. Finnish steam bath house built by the Exel family when they operated the
Half Way House. In field below Half Way House Site.
Spooky Woods. Woods (large White Pine) off Memorial Road – dark even during day; no longer after having been recently logged.
Spring of Perpetual Youth. Dug out by S. A. Smith. Near Point Surprise and Hello Rock Trails.
State Park. Entrance: N42 50.723 W72 05.235. Monadnock State Park entrance is at the top of Poole Rd. The State Park is where the White Dot Trail begins the shortest route to the summit.
Steps (2700 feet). Stone steps built on White Arrow Trail by W. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1861. Said to have been 400 steps (Peterborough Transcript, August 3, 1861).
Summit Stone Shelter (3165 feet). Position: N42 51.685 W72 06.484. Formerly a forest fire lookout post, and later used as a refreshment booth during the
summer by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Now
gone and is a square depression next to summit now used for wind protection by hikers.
Sunset Rock. On Hello Rock Trail used by guests of the Half Way House to watch sunset and is now overgrown by forest.
Sweetwater Spring. Position: N42 51.278 W72 06.823. By the Monte Rosa Trail a small stagnant pool of water that is actually sour.
Thoreau’s Bog. Position: N42 51.820 W72 05.885.
Headwaters of Mountain Brook northwest of Pumpelly Trail.
Thoreau’s 1858 Camp Site (3000 feet). Position: Southeast of
summit. Location uncertain.
Thoreau’s 1860 Camp Site (2700 feet). Position: N42 51.457 W72 06.161. On edge of
Plateau southeast of summit. Just off White Cross Trail.
Thoreau’s Seat (2375 feet). Position: N42 51.025 W72 06.454. Named for Thoreau
on Cliff Walk Trail.
The Tooth. Position: N42 51.389 W72 06.731.
A pointed rock between Monte Rosa and Black Precipice. Looks like a dog’s
tooth.
Town Line Peak (2920 feet). Position: N42 51.968 W72 05.748 The high point on
the Pumpelly Ridge at the Jaffrey-Dublin town line.
Twisted Birch (1900 feet) Position: N42 51.086 W72 07.004. Yellow birch winding
around a red spruce blew down in 1938 hurricane.
Tufted Spruce. Position: N42 51.237 W72 07.048.
Seen on Ridge of Monte Rosa from Half Way House.
Smith’s House. Position: N42 51.000 W72 06.808. Built by Chamberlain in 1880 – later owned by Scott Smith, William Bicknell, Wayne Green and bought by Harsen of Marlboro in January,
1970. Now the private residence at the top of the Old Toll Rd. is owned by the Hollisters.
Watchman’s Hut (See Fire Warden’s Cabin).
What Cheer Point. Position: N42 50.915 W72 06.584. Named by Providence trail
cutters. What Cheer Point is off the Cliffwalk just northeast of Point Surprise. What Cheer Netop was the greeting given Roger Williams by the
Indians at his landing in Providence.
Wolf Dens. Position: N42 51.182 W72 06.465. Caves near Graphite Mine named by Dr..
Dutcher as possible wolf dens.
Monadnock Guide ©1970 Henry Baldwin SPNHF
Annals of Grand Monadnock©1936 Allen Chamberlain
Monadnock, More than a Mountain©2007 Craig Brandon
Updated to current descriptions and with GPS by author.
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