There are numerous opportunities to learn while you hike at Mount Monadnock, following the digital interpretive outings powered by the OuterSpatial app. Look at the list below to determine what outings are available from the trailhead you are planning to hike from! Clicking on the links on using your mobile device will bring you directly to the outing or prompt you to download OuterSpatial (FREE!) prior to connecting to the outing. You can also use OuterSpatial to navigate along any of the trails on Mount Monadnock.
Park Headquarters
Parker Trail - Kids Scavenger Hunt Hike
Mount Monadnock is a destination for many families, and for some young kids, hiking to the summit can be a challenging day. The great news is you don't have to go to the summit to appreciate all of the amazing natural features of Monadnock's forests! This 2.8 mile (round trip), gradually sloped out-and-back outing along the Parker Trail is a sort of scavenger hunt that will introduce young hikers to some of the natural and man-made features often seen on Monadnock's trails.
White Dot to White Cross Trail - Monadnock's Natural Communities
Mount Monadnock's summit is at 3,166 feet in elevation. As hikers climb up the trail, many do not realize they are passing through different natural communities that are dependent on the different soils and exposure to weather at each stage of elevation. On this Outing, you'll learn about the different natural communities that are found on Mount Monadnock. From tree species to natural communities, you'll come away with a new appreciation for the mountain that so many love to visit.
White Dot Trail - Monadnock Ecological Research & Education (MERE)
This outing explores research being conducted through the Monadnock Ecological Research and Education Project (MERE) at Antioch University New England (AUNE). Students at AUNE who have participated in the MERE project have conducted research on many fascinating topics from climate change to alpine wildflowers, and you can learn all about it while hiking on the mountain where this research was conducted! Enjoy your adventure!
Old Toll Road
White Cross Trail - History Tour with Henry David Thoreau
Learn about Henry David Thoreau’s deep connection with Mount Monadnock, forged during many visits where he recorded his natural and philosophical observations. Read excerpts from Thoreau’s journals written during his time on Mount Monadnock, and explore trancendentalist theory by interacting with natural features on the mountain just as Thoreau did in the mid 1800s.
Gilson Pond Area
Gilson Pond Loop Trail - Tree ID Walk
This easy loop around beautiful Gilson Pond is a great place to learn how to identify a number of the different trees found on Mount Monadnock. We'll help you spot and learn tree species by their bark and foliage characteristics, and then you can practice your ID skills on future hikes at Monadnock and beyond!