The Wapack Trail

The Wapack Trail

The hike is a point-to-point journey from Mount Watatic in north-central Massachusetts to the trail’s terminus at Pack Monadnock in southern New Hampshire. The route connects a series of linear ridges, dipping between them as it goes, and is most commonly done south to north, as is described here. It is a route of intermittent wilderness; the trail often encounters dirt and paved roads. The trip’s only overnight options are located 8 miles from the trailhead, dividing the journey into north and south segments of 13 miles and 8, respectively. A car shuttle is required. Dogs are permitted. The Wapack Range rises above the dimpled landscape of southeast New Hampshire, a mountain range in miniature and the closest backpacking option to the Boston area. It has blueberries and view-rich stretches with few people, and makes an excellent early or late-season foray. The Wapack Trail runs the length of the range and earns its name from the starting and ending points (Mount Watatic and PACK Monadnock). When it opened in 1923, it became the first interstate hiking route in the Northeast. Today it is maintained by the nonprofit Friends of the Wapack, which publishes the comprehensive Wapack Trail Guide.

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