This was a personal list that I created to tackle all of the significant peaks, as I viewed them, of the Wapack Range. Ten of these peaks actually sit on the Wapack Trail, so it’s not overly difficult to locate all of them, and you could knock all of them out in one day if you’re a true masochist. I did add one extra peak to this list, in Kidder Mountain, because while not directly on the Wapack Trail, it links to it by a side trail, and is of a significant prominence, worthy of exploration. So, the Wapack 11 it is.
Living in southern New Hampshire, I love how accessible these peaks are. We can’t always be heading to big mountains, and these guys give me something when I want to get out for a few hours and feel far away—without having to go too far away. If you live in northern MA, southern NH, or just find yourself in the area, these are worth a look. Below is a table listing out how I’d rank them in terms of preferred hike, 1-11. But these are highly subject to change. Some of these I climbed a long time ago and now that I’m done with the list, I’m determined to return to the ones I have a foggier memory of. Happy hiking!
This way to some great hikes
Summits of the Wapack Range
| Mountain | Description | Trip Reports, Stories, & Photos |
| 1. Pack Monadnock | You can’t go wrong with this one. There is a raptor observatory at the top, as well as a fire tower, and plenty of views. If you’re not a hiker, you can even drive up, but it’s not crowded like Mount Washington’s summit. | |
| 2. Mount Watatic | I’m ashamed to say it, but this might be the prettiest one, even though it’s in neighboring Massachusetts. It’s also a pretty fun trail. There are wide stone faces to sit on at the summit and enjoy a snack, and you get great views of both Mount Wachusett and Pack Monadnock. Especially if you head over to the subpeak of East Watatic, which I prefer. You can also loop this one with Nutting Hill, which gives you a little variety for the descent. It’s always more interesting when you can loop hike a destination. | A 16-Year Reunion |
| 3. Burton Peak | One of the best views I’ve seen of Mount Monadnock. | Another Side Quest |
| 4. Stony Top | Wide, expansive views. Nestled in between New Ipswich and Pratt Mountain, Stony Top gives you a mountain ridgeline that’s perfect for a lunch break to take in the region. | Still Looks Good When the Weather is Bad |
| 5. Temple Mountain | What I like about Temple is that it’s just as accessible as Pack and North Pack, but it’s also an old ski area. I’ve snowshoed it, skinned up it, and skied it. The snow has to be great to make it worth it, but a mountain that offers such variety is a pretty good find. It’s fun to see the old chairlift foundations as well. | Skin Up, Ski Down |
| 6. Pratt Mountain | From the Binney Road Trailhead, you have to hike a little longer than you expect to get to it, but there is a great overlook of Binney Pond on the upper slopes of Pratt. What makes this a good hike is really it’s access to Stony Top, where you get a nice open ridge hike and views in either direction. | Great View of Binney Pond |
| 7. Kidder Mountain | This one was a surprise to me, because it’s not on the main Wapack Trail. But what I found were several open views over a consistent, manageable grade up. | Through the Portal |
| 8. North Pack Monadnock | I’ve probably climbed this one the most and I’m never wowed by it, but it’s a nice view. For some reason this one always feels like it’s just about getting a workout in, but that’s probably not fair of me. It’s a nice peak for a single-peak mission, and that’s usually how I tackle it—as a quick peak to get my heart pumping. | Look Who’s Back |
| 9. New Ipswich | I would ascend this from the Binney Road side rather than the Windblown approach. Getting to New Ipswich is long either way, but I found the views and the hike more enjoyable from that direction. | The Windblown Way The Binney Road Way |
| 10. Barret Mountain | It was a long snowy slog to get to Barret and New Ipswich. Hiking past the old Windblown Ski area, you pass by some electric poles and some old properties, before you start making progress. Maybe on a summer’s day this will feel like less of a chore to find somewhere good. It’s still a good hike, but you feel a little like “I’m not supposed to be here.” | The Windblown Way |
| 11. Nutting Hill | Finally went back to Nutting Hill after a long, long break. In my memory, I couldn’t recall much in the way of views, and a recent hike confirmed it. Still though, it’s a pretty trail, and makes for an excellent loop hike with Mount Watatic. | A 16-Year Reunion |
