Join in a storied tradition of conservation at Mount Monadnock!
Mount Monadnock has attracted and inspired recreational explorers since the 19th Century. Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mark Twain, Abbott Thayer, and Willa Cather are just a few of the artists and writers deeply influenced by their time spent on and around the mountain. To this day, it is a pilgrimage site for many, a rite of passage for others, and the obsession of more than a few dedicated hikers.
The Forest Society has actively protected land on Mount Monadnock since 1914 and today owns and stewards more than 5,000 acres on Monadnock and Gap Mountains in a patchwork stitched together with other lands in town and state ownership, and conservation easements on private lands. Much of the land operated as Monadnock State Park is held by the Forest Society, managed by the state under a lease from the Forest Society.
Located within hours from many New England cities, the challenging hike up Mount Monadnock can be accomplished in a half-day, but truly exploring its 40 miles of trails, different approaches and deep well of lore can take a lifetime. On an autumn day you will encounter the full spectrum of humankind in all manner of footwear and gear—first time hikers, international travelers, small children running up the mountain, seasoned mountaineers, and locals on their daily, weekly, monthly or annual ramble.
Six main trailheads serve the mountain: the Marlborough Trailhead, Dublin Trailhead, Pumpelly Trailhead in Dublin, and Gilson Pond Birchtoft Trailhead, Monadnock State Park Headquarters, and the Old Toll Road, all in Jaffrey. The Old Toll Road, located on Mountain Road/Route 124 in Jaffrey, is perhaps one of the oldest trails, leading to the site of the Halfway House, once a grand mountain hotel, and on to the White Arrow Trail that steeply approaches the summit. On a clear day at the summit, it is possible to see all six New England states and sometimes a silver streak of ocean at the coast, the snow-capped White Mountains, and the Boston skyline.
The site of the Halfway House and the Old Toll Road were transferred to Forest Society ownership after the hotel burned in 1954. Today, an average of 10-12,000 hikers annually enter from the Old Toll Road Trailhead, where there is space for 65 cars.
Continuing the tradition of conserving the character of the mountain, the Forest Society now has an opportunity to acquire and protect 30 acres adjacent to the Old Toll Road Trailhead in Jaffrey. Situated on the east side of the current parking area, this patch of mixed hardwoods and softwoods includes a small stream that drains off the mountain, forming a low gully and flowing under Mountain Road.
The 30-acre tract will be subdivided from a larger parcel, and purchasing this land will buffer the trail from potential future development and will allow for future parking expansion if needed. Based on an appraisal of the 30-acre parcel, the Forest Society must raise a total of $275,000 to support the purchase price, project costs, and long-term stewardship of the expanded trailhead area.
We hope that you will join in a long tradition of citizen action to conserve Mount Monadnock by making a contribution to acquire the Old Toll Road Trailhead Expansion in Jaffrey. Our goal is to raise the entire $275,000 from private sources by March 1, 2025. To do so, we will need your help!
Please make your contribution today and help us spread the word to others who love this place.
