Pumpelly Trail

The Pumpelly Trail is located on Mount Monadnock in Monadnock State Park, New Hampshire. The trailhead is typically accessed from the park's main entrance. Parking is available at the park, but it's advisable to arrive early, especially on weekends, as spaces can fill up quickly. There may be a fee to enter the state park and park your vehicle.

Yes, as the Pumpelly Trail is located within Monadnock State Park, there is an entrance fee required to access the park and its trails. This fee typically covers parking and trail access. No specific hiking permits beyond the park entrance fee are generally needed for day hikes.

No, pets are prohibited on the Pumpelly Trail and within Monadnock State Park. Please leave your furry friends at home when planning a hike on this route.

The best time to hike the Pumpelly Trail is generally from late spring through early fall (May to October) when the weather is milder and the trail conditions are most favorable. Fall offers spectacular foliage views. While possible in winter, it requires specialized gear and experience due to ice, snow, and colder temperatures, making the already challenging terrain even more difficult.

Despite some initial flat sections, the Pumpelly Trail is generally rated as 'very hard' or 'hard'. It involves a significant elevation gain of about 1,950 to 2,014 feet over its length. The latter half features steep, rocky climbs and descents, often requiring rock scrambling. Wet conditions can make the ledges very slippery. It's suitable for experienced hikers with good physical fitness.

The terrain is highly varied. The initial 1.75 to 1.8 miles are relatively flat, winding through pine forests. After this, it becomes significantly steeper and rockier, with rugged forest paths, open ledges, and numerous rock scrambles. The upper half is particularly known for wet, slippery ledges and challenging rock faces. Closer to the summit, the trail is largely exposed granite.

The Pumpelly Trail is renowned for its continuous and expansive views. As you gain elevation, the forest gives way to open ledges offering increasing vistas. From various points on the ridge, you can see west into Vermont and north towards the White Mountains and Green Mountains on clear days. The Mount Monadnock Summit provides a 360-degree panorama.

The estimated duration for hiking the Pumpelly Trail is around 1 hour 54 minutes for the recorded segment. However, given its challenging nature and length (approximately 8.3 to 8.8 miles out-and-back), a full round trip to the summit and back can take significantly longer, often 6-8 hours for an average hiker, depending on pace and breaks.

Compared to other routes on Mount Monadnock, the Pumpelly Trail is one of the least popular, offering a more solitary hiking experience. While Mount Monadnock itself is one of the most climbed mountains, choosing this trail can help you avoid the busiest crowds, especially if you start early.

The trail is generally well-worn. In the lower forested sections, traditional blazes may be present. However, near the summit, where the trail is largely exposed granite, navigation relies primarily on large rock piles known as cairns. It's important to pay attention to these cairns to stay on the correct path.

Yes, the Pumpelly Trail is part of a larger network on Mount Monadnock. While it covers 100% of the recorded route, it also passes through sections of the Cascade Link, Red Spot Trail, Spellman Trail, and White Dot Trail, offering options for longer or alternative routes.