Mount Watatic & Nutting Hill, MA

• 4-star hikes
• 2 to 3 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 610 to 710 feet
• Ashburnham & Ashby, MA | Central Region
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A person sitting on a portable chair at the edge of a rocky overlook, facing a vast landscape. The person is wearing a wide-brimmed hat and is looking through binoculars. To the right of the individual is a long stick standing upright with a model of an owl attached to the end. The background reveals an expansive view of forests and a clear sky with scattered clouds.

Hawk migration count from Watatic's summit viewpoint.

Mount Watatic delivers excellent natural New England scenery for a short hike. Take one of two woodland trails that lead to the 1,832 foot summit, then continue on just a little further to a slightly lower viewing area that boasts wide panoramic views from Mount Monadnock in the north to Mount Wachusett and beyond to the south.

The trail begins at a large parking lot just off Route 119 and heads towards a marshy pond. Thankfully there's a boardwalk that will keep your feet dry. Take a right turn up Mid State Trail and you'll be on the shortest route to the summit. Mid State does have some moderate climbs, so if you prefer to take things easier there's also the State Line Trail that takes a shallower approach and also summits the smaller Nutting Hill. Our favorite way to complete this as a loop is to counter clockwise up Mid State then back down via Nutting Hill.
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4★ Watatic & Nutting Loop 2.9 mi loop, moderate, gain 710 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

4★ Watatic Out & Back 2.3 mi out-and-back, moderate, gain 610 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

Views at the summit of the mountain are modest, so continue a little further east to the best views. It's here in the fall that you'll find birdwatchers conducting the annual hawk migration as birds of prey head off to South America for the winter. Apparently the owl-on-a-stick featured in the photograph at the top of the page is to entice curious hawks and give the ornithologists a closer look at the birds.

Mount Watatic also marks the southern terminus of the 21.4 mile Wapack Trail. Previously we've explored the north end of this trail at North Pack Monadnock and Miller State Park. Eventually we'll likely add an article for the trail's full length, so consider following Trailspotting to be notified.

a forest scene with large, moss-covered boulders and a person in the distance walking on a path between them. The sunlight filters through the dense canopy of green leaves, highlighting the natural beauty and tranquility of the woodland setting

Hiking through a large erratic boulder split in two.

The image shows a natural wetland scene with standing water, surrounded by various trees, some of which are leafless and appear dead or dormant. The sky is clear with few clouds, suggesting a sunny day. Reflections of the trees can be seen in the calm water.

Marshland at trailhead easy to traverse, thanks to boardwalks.

The image shows a wooden trail sign with white lettering, indicating directions and distances to various locations. The sign reads “WAPACK TRAIL,” followed by a list of destinations: “MT. WATATIC SUMMIT 1.1,” “NUTTING LEDGES 2.0,” “BINNEY HILL ROAD 3.5,” “NEW IPSWICH MTN. 5.9,” “RTE. 124 WINDBLOWN 9.3,” and at the bottom, it states “NORTHERN TERMINUS 21.4.” The sign is mounted on a tree, and the background is filled with green foliage.

Watatic Mt marks the southern end of the Wapack Trail.

The image shows a natural outdoor scene with a large rock formation and vegetation under a blue sky with scattered clouds. In the foreground, there is a prominent stone plaque with engraved text, which is dedicated to Mount Watatic.

Engraved stone below Watatic's Summit.

Tangents:
• Public Maps at AllTrails: Mount Watatic
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article

Trailspotting Nearby
4★ Perley Brook Reservoir (2 mi) · 4★ Mount Wachusett (1-4 mi) · 4★ Miller State Park (3-7 mi) · Show Map

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