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Summit Mt. Wachusett via the West Side Trail

Westminster, Massachusetts

5.0/5
based on 1 reviews

Details

Distance

1.2 miles

Elevation Gain

750 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Gustavo Quiros

Hike to the top of this 2,006 foot mountain in under 2 hours. Wachusett Mountain gives you beautiful views of Central Massachusetts, the Berkshires, Mt. Monadnock in NH, and on a clear day you can even see the city of Boston. 

Set your GPS to Wachusett Mountain ski area. Coming from Rt. 2 turn onto Mile Hill Rd and look for your first right to take Bolton Rd. Take this road all the way until it intersects with West Princeton Rd. Turn left. and  drive down W Princeton Rd  for 1.2 miles and there should be a small parking area on the right hand side. The parking is free and the trail head begins on the other side of the street.

The West Side trail is quiet and not very populated. The hike will take you through the forest and is very beautiful. Close to the summit the trail will intersect with the Old Indian Trail that you must take to reach the summit. The west side trail is a total of a mile long so at this point you will only need to hike about .2 more miles to reach the summit. The total length up and down would be somewhere around 2.5 miles round trip.

There are many other trails one can take to the summit of Mt. Wachusett but on a typical day you will have this trail all to yourself with the exception of seeing maybe 2-4 people along the way. The trail can become steep at certain points but nothing too strenuous.

One can choose to drive their vehicle to the summit but will be subject to a $5 parking fee or $6 non-MA vehicle. The summit road opens the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and closes the last Sunday of October. In that time frame the road closes each day at sunset.

Dogs are welcome as long as they are kept on a leash.

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Features

Photography
Running
Hiking
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Forest
Picnic Area
Scenic
Wildlife

Summit Mt. Wachusett via the West Side Trail Reviews

I love hiking this trail, I hike Wachusett frequently and this is one of my favorite trails. Maps are usually available at the trailhead. I usually get one and pass along if someone needs it and return it after if not.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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