| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Wachusett, MA |
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 | Trails: |
Echo Lake Trail, Echo Lake Rd., High Meadow Trail, Jack Frost Trail, Mountain House Trail, Lower Link, Administration Rd. |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 31, 2026 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking was full at the Echo Lake Rd. trailhead (on Mountain Rd.) around 10:30 AM, so we went to the Echo Lake Trail parking area on Westminster Rd., where there was plenty of space along the roadside. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No crossings of note. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
All trails and interior roads in excellent shape- no blowdowns noted. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw several of them, and conditions were very suitable. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Scenic and interesting collection of trails on the south side of Mt. Wachusett, on a cold but absolutely clear day. The steep climbing on the High Meadow Trail worked well for warming us up. Snowshoes were the footwear of choice on the less traveled trails (Echo Lake Trail, High Meadow Trail, Jack Frost Trail)- there were postholes up to 2 feet deep which probably weren't a lot of fun for the people who created them. These trails had a nice trench established, and were well packed for snowshoes, but were somewhat choppy in places. The Mountain House Trail and interior roads were already consolidated, and any footwear would work here. I suspect the rest of the trails will be packed out nicely within the next couple of day. We saw an opportunistic field mouse that came out to greet us during a snack break, but did not indulge it in any human-intended calories. Full details on Unnecessary Climb! |
|
 | Name: |
Jason |
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 | E-Mail: |
kurlando7@hotmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-02-01 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://unnecessaryclimb.wordpress.com/mt-wachusett-via-high-meadow-trail/ |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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