Mt. Wachusett loop

Where: Mt. Wachusett
When: December 4, 2025
With: Solo

I was in need of some trail time, but a long ride/full day trip to the White Mountains wasn't in the cards. A quick run over to Mt. Wachusett was in order. A storm earlier in the week had dropped about a half a foot of snow, and I wasn't quite sure what to bring for traction so I brought both spikes and snowshoes.

There were about half a dozen cars at the Echo Lake Trail trail head when I arrived, mostly parked along the road. I checked out the snow depth and figured I'd be okay with microspikes, but carried the snowshoes anyway, just in case. After a quick chat with other hikers who'd just arrived, I set out for the short (half mile) walk down the road to the Harrington Trail.

The trail showed signs of travel, but only boots...no snowshoes. I slipped the spikes on and began the hike. The snow wasn't especially packed down - it seemed like only a few folks had walked the trail since the storm - but the snow was only six inches or so deep, and powdery, so it wasn't difficult to make my way. I probably should have worn the snowshoes though, just to pack down the path.

Things stayed the same until the trail crossed Administration Road, when it became a well-defined trough thanks to snowshoe hikers. Soon afterward it began the steep, rough scramble to the summit. I made my way up carefully, thinking the snowshoers must have had a tough time going up those rocks.

I made a short detour over to Josti's Vista to check out the view, a traditional stop for me. Returning to the Harrington Trail, it was a short climb to a final road crossing, then a few steps more to reach the summit. I could hear the ski area chairlift running as I joined perhaps half a dozen other folks in the summit area. Three were on the observation tower, and I joined them there. I looked for Boston (couldn't see it, despite a blue sky day), took a few photos, and chatted with the other folks. At one point someone noticed that the top of Mt. Monadnock was lit up with sunlight, and we all rushed to get pictures.

Beginning my hike down, I headed for the Mountain House Trail. Probably the most popular route to the summit, it was a white sidewalk. Snowshoe wide, packed solid, and icy. With my spikes though, it was easy travelling. When it turned east, I continued straight, now on the Jack Frost Trail. It led through a patch of old growth forest, one of my favorite spots. The whipping wind knocked snow off the trees, and I zippered up my layers for protection.

A few more steps and I was at the High Meadow Trail junction. I walked past it, then thought to check my map and found I needed to take it. A quick backtrack set things right. The High Meadow Trail descended some ledges to its namesake meadow, then dropped down through the woods to Echo Lake. There was a short walk past the lake along Echo Lake Road before I turned onto the Echo Lake Trail and went back into the woods. That trail led me back to my car, where I tossed my gear in the back and headed for home.

The numbers: half a mile on the road, 3.5 miles on the trails, 900ish feet of climbing, about 2 hours round trip.

Final note: The only people I saw all day were at the parking area and the summit. I didn't see anyone on the trails. Just the way I like it!

Photos are here.

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