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Wapack Range: Temple Mtn. and Kidder Mtn.
Route Summary This is a point-to-point hike northwards on the Wapack Trail with a detour to the summit of Kidder Mountain which offers great views. The section of Wapack Trail covered by this hike traverses Temple Mountain's ridgeline, including its two summits, Burton Peak and Holt Peak. The two summits are wooded but views are available elsewhere along the Temple Mountain ridgeline, including those from Sharon Ledges and Temple Mountain Ledges. There are also interesting cairns and chairs built with rocks on the last section of this hike below Holt Peak. Wapack Trail is blazed with yellow triangles (and cairns on the ledges) and Kidder Mountain Trail is blazed in blue. This is a point-to-point hike so be sure to shuttle cars to both trailheads, or otherwise arrange for transportation, before heading out on foot.
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Trail Guide
For this hike on the Wapack Trail, we planned on starting from the trailhead on Route 123/124 and walking along the western slopes of Kidder Mountain with an option to climb a side trail to the summit, which would give us views. The side trail adds 1.8 miles. From Kidder we would then hike the four or so peaks of Temple Mountain coming back down towards Route 101 at which point there is a further option to climb South Pack Monadnock to get to the Raptor station a short distance north of the summit. If we were to skip both options, the whole hike would cover 7.1 miles. Seven people started out together on the Wapack Trail. Upon reaching the cutoff for Kidder, we decided to summit it and were rewarded with great views of the Wapack Range to the south. We soon split into a faster and slower group, and at the first Temple Mountain peak we were joined by another four hikers who had started at the Temple Mountain trailhead (the Wapack Trailhead on Temple Road). The trail was very diverse, with lots of ups and downs and several peaks and viewpoints. The highest peak, Holt, is wooded with no views. We also had the greatest age range of any hike in recent memory, from 8 to 82! No one opted to climb Pack Monadnock, as we had had no luck seeing any migrating raptors, probably because it was too late in the season, although the weather was perfect! It was a nice day and a very interesting hike with lots of rock cairns and formations. Quite the variety of terrain and hiking companions. When we reached the end, we encountered a horse and rider in the parking lot; apparently there are also riding trails around Temple Mountain. |
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Driving Directions
This is a point-to-point hike starting on Route 123/124 and ending on Route 101. Be sure to shuttle cars to both trailheads, or arrange for other transportation, before starting the hike. Wapack Trailhead on Routes 123 and 124:
Wapack Trailhead on Route 101:
Wapack Trailhead on Temple Road:
About The Wapack Trail The Wapack Trail is a 21.6-mile hiking trail, established in 1923, and located mostly in southern New Hampshire but dipping a little bit into Massachusetts. This hiking route follows the Wapack Range ridgeline which runs mainly south to north, hitting several summits and traversing open ledges which provide many views as well as good blueberry picking. The trail starts at the base of Mount Watatic in Ashburnham, Massachusetts and extends to the northern base of Pack Monadnock in Greenfield, New Hampshire. The peaks traversed include Mount Watatic (1832'), Pratt Mountain (1821'), New Ipswich Mountain (1880'), Barrett Mountain (1850'), Temple Mountain (2055'), South Pack Monadnock (2290'), and North Pack Monadnock (2278'). The beginning of the Wapack Trail runs concurrently with the Midstate Trail, and like the Midstate Trail (which runs south-north through central Massachusetts), is marked by yellow triangles throughout its length. Connected to the main trail are about seven miles of side trails to further expand your exploration of the Wapack Range. The Wapack Trail runs through a mixture of private land and preserved land including Watatic Mountain Wildlife Area, Binney Pond Natural Area, Mountain Pond Forest, Cabot Memorial Forest, Temple Mountain State Reservation, Miller State Park, Joanne Bass Bross Preserve, and Wapack National Wildlife Refuge. The trail was built by Marion Buck Davis and Frank Robbins, two nature enthusiasts who fell in love with each other while creating the trail and eventually married. It was Marion that devised the name of the trail using the "Wa" of the route's starting point (Mount Watatic) and the "Pack" from the ending mountain (Pack Monadnock). A non-profit group established in 1980, Friends of the Wapack protects and maintains the trail and has published a map and trail guide for the range. You can visit their website to get the most up-to-date information on camping and dog regulations, which are restricted throughout much of the route. Mountain bikes and other wheeled vehicles are not allowed at all on the trail. Friends of the Wapack offers several group hikes; again check their website for the current calendar. |
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