Volunteers Dedicated to Preserving the Wapack Trail

The Friends maintain the following trails:

Wapack Trail
Cliff Trail
Raymond Trail
Marion Davis Trail
Berry Pasture Trail
Kidder Mt. Trail
State Line Trail
Spruce Knoll Trail

Courtesy on the Trail

Foot travel welcome

Leave NO trace

Be quiet near houses

Stay on blazed trails

Respect trailside property

Park cars so others can pass

Dogs always on leash and only where allowed

Once it's gone
it's gone forever.

Wapack Range from Mt. Watatic - Photo by John Callahan

The Wapack Trail

In 1923, Frank Robbins and Marion Buck (Davis) of Rindge, NH, saw a dream come true: the establishment of the 21-mile Wapack Trail from Mount Watatic in Ashburnham, MA, to North Pack in Greenfield, NH, passing through sections of Ashburnham and Ashby, MA, and New Ipswich, Temple, Sharon, Peterborough and Greenfield, NH. The Wapack Trail, a day-use trail for foot travel, is one of the oldest interstate trails in the Northeast. For the most part, the trail follows a skyline route along the summits of Watatic, Pratt, New Ipswich, Barrett and Temple mountains, then ascends the Pack Monadnocks. Yellow triangles on trees and rocks blaze the Wapack. Cairns mark the trail along bare stony sections and summits. Seven miles of side trails also provide an opportunity for exploration and spectacular scenery, including the side trail to Kidder Mountain.

Open ledges and rocky peaks provide breathtaking views of Mount Monadnock, the Berkshires and the Green Mountains to the west, Boston to the southeast, and the White Mountains to the north. The spruce forests lining parts of the trail give hikers the feeling of being deep in the North Woods.

In spring and summer, wildflowers are everywhere - as well as blueberries! In fall, the countryside is ablaze with color. Wildlife includes beaver, moose, fox, rabbit, partridge, migratory birds and sometimes wild turkey. In winter, snowshoeing and ski mountaineering are outstanding.

The trail passes old homesteads, goes through state forests, Miller State Park, the Wapack National Wildlife Refuge, crosses the NH/MA state line and the Boston Post Road constructed in 1753. The site of the Wapack Lodge, built by Robbins and Davis and once a leading center for skiing during the 1920's and '30's, is seen off the trail in New Ipswich.

The Friends of the Wapack

Property owners have permitted hiking access through their lands since the days of Robbins and Davis. The need for preserving public access and maintaining the trail prompted the formation of the Friends of the Wapack (FOW) to keep it open for future generations.

FOW is an independent, non-profit organization composed of hikers, volunteers, supporters and landowners. Since its formation in 1980, the trail has been upgraded, a trail guide and map have been printed, and a management plan has been developed. FOW encourages mutual courtesy, friendship and cooperation between hikers and landowners.

Volunteer section captains maintain specific portions of the trail. Each winter wind, snow and ice down trees. Each spring, volunteers clear sections and periodically repaint the blazes. Weekend work parties take on more difficult projects such as brush clearing, erosion control and occasional trail relocation. The FOW has also sponsored trail maintenance workshops with Trailwrights Inc., and the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Permanent protection of the Wapack is a major goal of the organization and is also coordinated with other conservation groups. Gifts of trail easements and permanent rights-of-way are being sought.

FOW is recognized as a charitable corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the US IRS code. It receives financial support primarily from members, with additional assistance from the Appalachian Mountain Club and other contributors.

We are greatly indebted to Trailwrights, Inc. for training in trail maintenance, help with trail layout and relocations, and help with heavy trail work. THANK YOU!!

Friends of the Wapack
P.O. Box 115
West Peterborough, NH
03468
info@wapack.org