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Best Fall Foliage Hikes: Mount Watatic
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There are a couple of types of hikes that qualify, for me, as a "Best of Fall Foliage Hike". The first type ascends to a panoramic view. Absolutely a must! Some will be easy, leisurely ascents, some will be .jpg)
steep, athletic ascents. These hikes are the grand symphonies that rise to a crescendo as the sweeping view appears. The second type of hike is one through a deciduous forest with either a high canopy dappled with sunlight illuminating rich colors or else a thick canopy walk offering a gorgeous, varied, palette of yellow birches, red maples, orange elms and more. These are the hikes that immerse you in the sumptuous Fall day.
Mount Watatic at 1832 feet in elevation, is a fairly short--30 to 40 minute--moderately steep hike of the grand panoramic view variety. The summit is attained by following the MidState Trail yellow blazes from a parking lot on Route 119 in Ashburnham. (An hour and a half from Boston.) After a brief walk through lowland forest, sharp switchbacks zig zag through a soft, low vegetation pine forest. Here and there granite slabs break through the thin soil. As the top is neared there are views west and south through gaps in the trees. At the summit, however, the view is open and spectacular. Mount Watatic is a monadnock, that is, an isolated landform rising sharply from the surrounding terrain, and as such on it's summit you have clear views all around. To the south you can see Boston and to the west the Mount Wachusett ski area. My last trip here was on Columbus Day and I had plenty of company from trail head to summit. A short and very satisfying hike.
This is a short and moderately steep hike suitable for all ages.
Directions: From Route 2 take Route 12 north to Route 101 north to Route 119 north. The parking lot is a short distance on Rt. 119 on the right.
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