Monadnock Mountain, Monadnock Trails, White Dot Trail, White Cross Trail, maps, hiking trails, Mount Monadnock, Jaffrey, New Hampshire, Mt Monadnock
White Dot and White Cross Trails to Summit
;)
Above: White Dot Trail
White Dot Trail
is the shortest direct steep route up the mountain from headquarters. It is
by far the most used path to the summit and on a busy day you will have much
company heading up the mountain. The White Dot Trail begins at Monadnock State Park
Headquarters. From the eco-center the Dot ascends along easy to moderate
grades along a wide well worn path through a mix of pines, hardwoods and
spruce past the White Cross Trail junction at 0.5 mile and to Falcon Spring trail junction at 0.7 mile where the Dot becomes steep
exposed ledge and rock. The White Dot Trail climbs up through a hardwood forest with winter
views to just past the halfway point sign is a viewpoint where the grade momentarily eases then heads up to the Old Ski
Trail junction at 1.2 mile. The hardwood forest
mixes with spruce and bare ledge heading steeply up the White Dot Trail to the Plateau where
views of the Wapack’s and summit can be had. The White Dot Trail continues on easy grades
on a well cairned and blazed route on the plateau heading towards the summit
on open ledge with dips in spruce woods in spots soon passing the Smith
Connecter (no longer on map) at 1.6 mile then joining the White Cross Trail at 1.7 mile. Just past the White Cross
junction the White Dot drops into the spruce forested Paradise Valley then
climbs steep exposed ledge slabs to the summit.
From the start of the White Dot to Summit is 2.0 miles.
Allow 3-4 hours round trip to the summit and back for the average visitor.
Below: The Plateau on White Dot
;)
White Cross Trail
starts from the White Dot trail 0.5
mile from headquarters and is a less steep trail to the summit than the White Dot Trail. The White Cross Trail (formerly Spruce Link) starts on easy
to moderate grades along a well worn path for the first 0.3 miles to the junction of the now closed; White Cross Trail to Falcon junction. The White Cross Trail heads up an area burned over in 1953 now recovering to
a forest of young birch, climbs up a steep section with views and then
passes a few springs of water. The White Cross Trail heads uphill and soon
comes to a steep ledgy switchback that has some well built steps to hike on.
White Cross Trail offers some nice views of Bald Rock across the Dingle Dell
Valley. The White Cross continues on easy grades, heading through spruce
groves before reaching the Plateau with views of the summit. Shortly
thereafter arriving at the Smith Connecter junction at 1.7 mile, then the White Cross
joins up with the White Dot Trail to the summit at 1.8 mile. Just past the White Cross
junction the White Dot Trail drops into the spruce forested Paradise Valley then
climbs steep exposed ledge slabs to the summit. From the start of the White Dot Trail via White Cross Trail (Spruce Link) to summit is 2.1 miles.
Allow 3-4 hours round trip to the summit and back for the average visitor.
White Cross Trail
starting at
Falcon Spring Trail junction 0.7 mile from start of White Dot is now is closed. For more information see Trail News+Weather.
Smith Connecter connects Bald Rock and the Cliffwalk to the White Cross Trail and the summit. The junction is marked painted; to Bald Rock. Blazed with yellow spots and S's descends at an open ledgy area the path enters spruce woods to the Amphitheater Trail at Four Spots then to Bald Rock and Cliffwalk The Cliffwalk leads to the Lost Farm Trail which will lead back to headquarters.
The Smith Connecter (no longer on maps) headed across the White Cross and White Dot Trails then on open ledge, use care to follow blazes, to the Red Spot Trail to Pumpelly to summit.
Updated: July 21, 2009
Below: Hikers on the White Dot
;)
Monadnock Trails:
Tags: Monadnock Trails, Monadnock Mountain, White Dot Trail, White Cross Trail, maps, hiking trails, Mount Monadnock, Jaffrey, New Hampshire, Mt Monadnock, NH