Summit Mt. Monadnock via Marlboro Trail
Details
Distance
4 miles
Elevation Gain
2300 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Added by Emily Miller
An amazing day hike/summit with 360 panoramic views at the top - only 2 hours from Boston. On a clear day, you can even see all the way to the city. This particular trail (Marlboro trail) is very enjoyable with some rock scrambling at the top and views along the way.
Start at the Marlboro Trailhead (you can enter this in Google maps) off Shaker Road. There's parking and porta-potty bathrooms. The trail is well-marked with white dashes/M marks all the way up. Once on trail, the initial 800 ft climb is through forested terrain with a few brooks and streams along the way, especially if there's been recent rainfall.
You'll make a clear transition once you are above the treeline to climbing boulders and large slabs of rock almost all the way to the top. There are some great views at the intersection with the Marian Trail - great place to stop, eat a snack, and enjoy the beautiful view above the forest.
You'll keep climbing another 1,000 ft or so to the summit for some wonderful views and a great spot to eat a picnic lunch. Be wary if it's a particularly rainy or windy day - this trail could be extremely slippery and there's not much wind protection on the summit. The rocks do tend to get steeper near the top, but it's very doable to climb.
Enjoy!
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Reviews
Leave a ReviewBeautiful View
This was my first mountain! So much fun, very breezy at the top. Make sure to have good shoes with good grip, and bring a snack/lunch with you. You’ll be hungry
5.0
too much taco bell
since I'm somewhat fat, it took me 2 hours to climb this thing. Definitely, not a beginners hike, just be cautious and follow the markers. It's easy to get lost and I did get lost a few time. The view from the top though, it's quite spectacular.
5.0
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