Wapack and Back

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

The Wapack and Back Trail Races consist of a 50-mile ultramarathon and an end-to-end trail race run on the 21.5 mile Wapack Trail (www.wapack.org). Leading from Mt. Watatic in Massachusetts to North Pack Mt in Greenfield, NH, the rocky ledges of this technical trail (approx 4600 ft elevation gain in each direction, 50-miler is around 10,800' climb) afford views of the Boston skyline to the east, Berkshire and Green Mountains to west, and the White Mountains to the north.

Rocky, rooty, and technical in spots. There are great views from the high points.

The Pack Monadnocks on the northern end of the trail offer the longest climbs, moving through boulder fields and slab ridges with great views of Mt. Monadnock to the west. Once descending the rocky trail to Miller State Park running south, there is a climb to the Temple Mtn. ridge up a fire road before the trail enters the wooded singletrack again. Rolling along the Temple Ridge, there are a few small climbs and many overlooks for views to the east and west. The descent to Nashua Road is a mix of singletrack and fire road, that then reaches about a half mile section of paved road connecting the Temple Mountain area to the gradual uphill to Windblown XC ski area.

After a road crossing, the trail skirts around the outside of the Windblown XC area and makes its way up Barrett Peak on a tough singletrack climb. Once at the top of Barrett, there are many small ups and downs over the summits of the New Ipswich Mountains with their open ridge scrambling across slab rock. There is a steep downhill leading down to Binney Pond and the trail travels around the perimeter before joining up with a fire road. This road gradually climbs the backside of Mt. Watatic.

After approaching near the summit of Mt. Watatic, the descent is steep and rocky to the parking area on Rt. 119.

The trail is 92 years old and was abandoned for a while before being restored.