Winter Hiking Trips
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Boston Area Blue Hills (Milton) deCordova Sculpture Park & Meseum (Lincoln) Mt. Wachusett (Princeton) Southern New Hampshire Mt Monadnock (Jaffrey) White Mountains Mount Washington Observatory Overnight (two days/ one night) Mt. Washington Ascent (one day)
Blue Hills
Blue Hills Reservation is a popular outdoor recreation area visited by thousands of people each year. But as the days grow shorter and the winter months descend, this busy urban hiking destination becomes a quiet winter wonderland perfect for winter trekking opportunities. Located only minutes from the bustle of Boston, Blue Hills stretches over 7,000 acres from Quincy to Dedham, Milton to Randolph providing a network of 125 miles worth of renowned hiking trails. This location provides fantastic views of the surrounding towns from its 22 hills and exposed rocky ridgelines. Many historic references and locations dot its countryside including its numerous Native American archaeological sites and remnants of early European Settlers. Hikers are rewarded with fantastic views of Boston from the viewing platform atop of Eliot Tower to the north and Buck Hill to the south. Above it all there is the Blue Hill Weather Observatory recording the longest continuous weather record since it was built in 1885. This comprehensive trail system in this Reserve offer many options depending upon conditions and desires. We start with the gentile rolling hills around Houghton’s Pond and add challenge and adventure from there.
All of our winter hikes begin at Houghton’s Pond Parking Lot. Gentile hikes start with circumnavigating Houghton’s Pond with a trip up the red dot trail to Breeze Hill. More adventurous treks can include hikes on the Skyline Trail West to Buck Hill or East to Hancock Hill. Both rolling hills provide challenging winter conditions with stunning views of the winter urban landscape. Our experienced guides will outfit you with Snowshoes and Trekking Poles to experience the float and traction of this preferred method of winter travel. If the trails crust up with ice we use Microspikes to provide traction in this slippery environment. Either way, you will have a blast getting outdoors and exploring the many virtues of Blue Hills. Come see why this is one of our favorite trips and experience our passion for winter hiking.
| Length | Cost (pp) | Meeting Location | Dates | |
| Winter Hikes | 3 hours | Houghton’s Pond | TBD |
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Pack Monadnock
Pack Monadnock has always been an Eastern Mountain Sports Favorite for low impact winter hikes. True to our roots, this 2,290 foot summit has long been an inspiration for our vision of Winter Sports and our Passion for Outdoor Adventures.
Located at Miller State Park, Pack Monadnock offers a big mountain feel with little mountain efforts. Its trail network winds its way to a wooded peak with a fire/cell tower and views of the surrounding southern New Hampshire Mountains. The Majestic Monadnock Mountain can be seen to the west 12 miles away with its prominent rocky summit and surrounding hillsides. The summit auto road is closed during the winter months and affords hikes an easier way up or down than the surrounding wooded trails. The local Native Americans names it “Pack” to denote its “little” size, buts its views to the north including Mount Washington or its southern skyline including the city of Boston are grand. It once had a hotel at the peak near the fire tower, buts its history revolves mostly around the locals using this friendly peak for outings and recreation.
Most of the time we ascend the peak on the Wompac trail 1.4 miles to the summit through a wooded granite winding trail and descend on the Marion Davis Trail or the Summit Road. These three options are perfect for snowpack or hard ice trail conditions and are a perfect warm up for many of our longer hikes including its big brother to the West. We will use snowshoes or micro spikes to provide float and traction for this frozen terrain. Come explore winter hiking with our experienced guides and learn how we outfit and layer in order to have fun outside during the winter months!
Visitors are expected to pay the $4 per person admission fee by feeding the Iron Ranger in the parking lot off of Route 101. So please plan accordingly and bring 4 one dollar bills to help support all the hard work New Hampshire State Park Systems do.
| Length | Cost (pp) | Meeting Location | Dates | |
| Winter Hikes | varies | Miller State Park | TBD |
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Saratoga Spa State Park Winter Hike
When the days grow shorter and the winter months turn Saratoga Spa State Park into a fluffy white wonderland, winter sports enthusiasts come to the park to hike, ski and explore this famous landmarks. Winter hiking with snowshoes and micro spikes has long been a way for our guides at Eastern Mountain Sports to share our passion with our customers so that they can get outside and enjoy all the months of the year! Come explore Saratoga State Park with its many miles of open trails and appreciate its beauty from a whole new perspective. Our experienced guides will outfit you with the latest winter gear that provide traction and float on this frozen terrain. We will hike the surrounding golf courses, explore the historic buildings and visit the springs throughout the park. We will cover all the tricks and practices our winter guides use to stay warm and enjoy winter sports.
Saratoga Spa State Park, distinguished by its classical architecture and listed as a National Historic Landmark, is noted for its diverse cultural, aesthetic and recreational resources. In addition to the nationally-known Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Spa Little Theater, the National Museum of Dance, the Saratoga Automobile Museum, the Gideon Putnam Resort and Roosevelt Baths and Spa, the park offers a multitude of traditional recreation opportunities. The Park has two beautiful golf courses that provide a perfect backdrop for winter hiking. There is a 12 mile cross country ski track and many options for hikers to wind around the parks many features.
Our winter hikes will begin at the warming hut parking lot alongside the Famous Avenue of the Pines. Heading counter clockwise around the North Loop of the Golf Course gives us access to the southern fairways along the Tree Nursery. The South Loop gives us 1.7 miles of rolling trails crossing over into the Geyser Loop. If time allots we will explore the Peerless loop and head back through the buildings surrounding the springs. Come see why people rave about this parks winter opportunities. Our guides at Eastern Mountain Sports look forward to sharing their passion for winter sports through these outdoor experiences. Let’s get out there, have some fun and make some fresh tracks in the snow!
| Length | Cost (pp) | Meeting Location | Dates | |
| Winter Hikes | 4 hours | Saratoga Spa State Park | TBD |
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Bear Brook
Winter Hiking in Southern New Hampshire has long been a go to favorite for our guides at Eastern Mountain Sports to get outside and have some frozen fun! Our roots grow deep in this location and these Winter Trails have inspired us to outfit hikers with the gear we know and love. New Hampshire residents have been working and playing in Bear Brook State Park for many years. The parks logging history has evolved into a well known Multi Use Recreational Area that caters to winter recreation. Winter hiking on its extensive trails is a great way to explore this park and get outside to enjoy some winter exercise.
Bear Brook is the largest developed State Park in New Hampshire and covers over 10,000 acres in Southern New Hampshire. In the 1800’s this original town of Allenstown was completely logged to supply the mills in Suncook. Over one fourth of the residents of New Hampshire lived and worked within a 15 mile radius of this area up until the 1930’s when The Civilian Conservation Corps started to build structures for the official parks opening in 1935.
Our winter hiking experience at Bear Brook will include both work and fun as we wind through its frozen trails with our snowshoes or micro spikes. Our experienced guides will cover topics that will help you stay warm and keep your traction. We will start with the trails surrounding the Podunk Road Trail Head and explore the Bear Brook Trail heading west to Hemlock Marsh or east to Smith Pond. We will explore winding single-track trails with colorful names such as Bobcat Trail, Broken Bolder and Pine Pitch. These wooded trails offer the perfect combination of rolling hills and winding direction for the winter hiker to enjoy. Come experience this winter fun at Bear Brook and see how proper outfitting helps us make first tracks in the winter fluff.
Visitors are expected to pay the $4 per person admission fee by feeding the Iron Ranger in the parking lot off of Route 101. So please plan accordingly and bring 4 one dollar bills to help support all the hard work New Hampshire State Park Systems do.
| Length | Cost (pp) | Meeting Location | Dates | |
| Winter Hikes | 4 hours | Bear Brook State Park | TBD |
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Chase Farm Park Evening Winter Hike
Come and enjoy the trails at Chase Farm Park on an evening snowshoe hike with one of our knowledgeable Guides at Eastern Mountain Sports. This is an area that is rich in history and culture dating back to the early 1800’s. It is now the site of the oldest working farm in Lincoln, RI and abuts the historic Hearthside House. Explore the open fields of Chase Farm and wooded trails of Butterfly Gardens. Our gentile winter hikes will circumnavigate Cow pond and explore the hills of Echo Point. This is a fantastic place to learn the art of winter hiking or just get out for a few after a long day at work. This area is appropriate for all abilities and offers gentile rolling hills to explore the virtues of winter traction. Our guides will provide headlamps, snowshoes, microspikes, and poles to provide float and traction to this frozen environment. Simply dress warm, dawn your winter hat and gloves bring your full laced winter boots or hiking boots and our guides will help you experience the rest. Get outside and enjoy winter with one of our experienced Eastern Mountain Sports Guides. You will be glad you did it!
| Length | Cost (pp) | Meeting Location | Dates | |
| Evening Hike | 2.5 hours | Chase Farm Parking Lot | TBD |
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Blackstone River Evening Winter Hike
The Blackstone River and Goat Hill has long been a favorite winter hiking destination in Uxbridge, MA because it offers so much diversity, history and natural beauty. The hiking trails along the canal, river and locks offer easy trekking with miles of scenic riverside views. Turning north toward Goat Hill offers an extensive network of twisting trails that challenge hikers with deep snow and slippery conditions. Often described as the hardest working river in American History with its emerging history around the industrial revolution and the canal locks of the early 1800’s – The Blackstone has long been a destination for education and recreation. Its rich cultural background and its many historical landmarks make this a fantastic place to explore. This is a fantastic place to learn the art of winter hiking or just get out for a few after a long day at work. This area is appropriate for all abilities and offers gentile rolling hills to explore the virtues of winter traction. Our guides will provide headlamps, snowshoes, microspikes, and poles to provide float and traction to this frozen environment. Simply dress warm, dawn your winter hat and gloves bring your full laced winter boots or hiking boots and our guides will help you experience the rest. Get outside and enjoy winter with one of our experienced Eastern Mountain Sports Guides. You will be glad you did it!
| Length | Cost (pp) | Meeting Location | Dates | |
| Evening Hike | 2.5 hours | Tri- River Family Health Center | TBD |
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deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum Snowshoe Tours
For the past few years we have teamed up with the deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum to offer guided snowshoe tours. For the past few years we have teamed up with the deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum to offer guided snowshoe tours. The park is located 20 miles from Boston, 15 miles from Cambridge, and is easily accessible from several major highways. These tours are great for ages 8 to adult and a fun family activity. Trips appeal to anyone who wants to enjoy nature and art in winter. If you enjoy walking, then you can snowshoe! If you have never been snowshoeing, you are in for a treat. It allows you to enjoy nature and the beauty of deCordova in spectacular form. Cost includes instruction, a tour, and your admission to the Sculpture Park and Museum. Tours are approximately 90 minutes and are led by trained deCordova Museum tour guides and EMS guides.
To learn more about these tours or to book an event, Please contact deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum for dates, times and to book a tour. Click here for Museum website http://www.decordova.org
Mt Wachusett is an excellent place to explore winter hiking! First time hikers rave about the views and the quality and quantity of trails. Trails surrounding this 2,006 ft summit hold their winter conditions very well, and provide hikers with deep snow and ice pack early and late into this season. The DCR Visitor Center provides a warm and informative meeting place to start as well as an excellent place to sit by the fire and enjoy lunch after the hike. The 3,000 acre State Reservation contains a wealth of natural resources such as alpine meadows, old growth forests, local wildlife and great views from its newly built viewing platform at the summit. From the summit you can take in majestic views of Mt. Monadnock to the north, Berkshires to the west, and views of the Boston skyline on the east. We start by outfitting you with snowshoes or micro spikes depending upon conditions. After a brief “how to” chat and discussion about layering for warmth we begin to ascend the mountain on Pine Hill Trail via Bicentennial Trail. We will soon be rewarded with views to our North and discover how these winter trekking tools really help with traction and stability. Snowshoeing in a few inches of powder is a blast and looking back to track your progress with each snowshoe print is a treat. At the summit we enjoy the views while hydrating and snacking. On the way down we are rewarded with Old Growth Forests, Alpine Meadows and the prints of winter wildlife. At the end of the hike you can warm yourself in the visitor center and rejoice in the great winter hiking opportunities Mt. Wachusetts has to offer. Come see why this is one of our favorite trips and experience our passion for winter hiking. Gear List
Meeting Location/ Directions
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Mt. Monadnock
This majestic 3,165 foot mountain located in Southern New Hampshire is surrounded by thousands of acres of protected highlands and provides the best mountain views south of the White Mountains. This highly sought after hiking destination is a fantastic winter trekking spot that provides many options for winter hiking enthusiasts. . The trails surrounding its summit retain their winter conditions early and late into the season providing excellent snowshoeing and winter trail hiking. With views as far north as the Whites and south as Wachusett Mountain, its majestic platform provides the perfect peak for winter explorers looking for that big mountain feel. Designated as a National Landmark with its Native American and Early Settlers History, its claim to fame is most often tied to the well known writings of Emerson and Thoreau. Much of the mountains upper third are exposed rock, perfect for winter hiking and big mountain views. It also offers many miles of trails of varying levels of difficulty so there is something here for everyone. Often touted as the second most climbed peak in the world, visitors can see why people are drawn to its summit and how its sights, sounds and smells have permeated our American Culture. This hike provides a more challenging approach and requires a bit more layers and equipment to remain warm and comfortable throughout the day. Adventurous days could include visiting its historic Half Way House, Monte Rosa or Bald Rock. Either way, there are challenges, adventure and experiences for all to enjoy. Come explore the adventure Grand Monadnock has to offer on one of our winter trekking opportunities. We start by outfitting you with snowshoes or micro spikes depending upon conditions. After a brief “how to” chat and discussion about layering for warmth we begin to ascend the mountain by the infamous white dot/white cross trail. We will soon be rewarded with views to our South and discover how these winter trekking tools really help with traction and stability. Snowshoeing in a few inches of powder is a blast and looking back to track your progress with each snowshoe print is a treat. Using Micro Spikes and trekking poles inspires confidence and opens up many slippery hiking opportunities. Either way, we experience the virtues of winter trekking and see how they can be used throughout the winter months. At the Peak we enjoy majestic views while hydrating and snacking on this exposed ridge. On the way down we are rewarded with the sights and sounds of nature in this pristine frozen state. Come see why this is one of our favorite full day trips and experience our passion for winter hiking. Gear List
Meeting Location/ Directions
Itinerary
Included/ Not Included
| Length | Cost (pp) | Meeting Location | Dates | |
| Mt. Wachusett | three hours | Wachusett Mountain Visitor Center | TBD | |
| Length | Cost (pp) | Meeting Location | Dates | |
| Mt. Manadnock | five hours | Manadnock State Park Visitor Center | TBD |
