Mount Wachusett, Princeton MA

• 4-star hikes
• 1 to 4 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 600 to 1,080 feet
• Princeton, MA | Central Region
. MA Fire Towers

An outdoor scene with a tall observation tower on the left. To the right, there are several communication antennas and dishes mounted on poles. The sky is partly cloudy, and the ground appears to be a rocky outcrop with people scattered around, some walking and others sitting, enjoying the view. A metal railing in the foreground serves as a safety barrier for visitors.

The robust fire tower installed on top of Mount Wachusett.

Popular throughout the year, Mount Wachusett is one of the commonwealth's most visited natural attractions, and at just over two thousand feet in elevation it is also the state's highest peak east of the Connecticut River. The ski slopes on the mountain's northern flanks are busy in winter months, while the rest of the year people are attracted to the Wachusett Mountain State Reservation for hiking and bird-watching.

We have explored most of the ways to hike to the summit of Mount Wachusett and present them here for your choosing. By far the busiest trail is Pine Hill, which begins at the busy visitor center and takes you up its stone steps to the summit in just 0.6 miles. The visitor center is also the only paid parking lot on the mountain whereas all other trailheads are free. Note that the Massachusetts government is charging vehicles with out-of-state license plates a quadruple parking fee - shame on them.
Expand ↓ Map

4★ Pine Hill Out & Back 1.3 mi out & back, moderate, gain 600 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

4★ Pine Hill Loop Trail 1.7 mi loop, moderate, gain 600 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

4★ Mountain House Loop 2.0 mi part-loop, moderate, gain 780 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

4★ Harrington Trail 2.9 mi out & back, moderate, gain 810 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

4★ Old Indian & Semhuhenna Trails 3.9 mi loop, moderate, gain 1080 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

The visitor center is also the start of the mountain road to the summit, which is topped with a parking lot as well as a large fire tower. It's good to see mountain summits that are accessible to all, but if you're looking to hike a mountain that leads you to a more pristine and tranquil summit then you may prefer to check out Mount Watatic instead.

The trails we list in this review are all rated 4-stars and will provide you with a great Mount Wachusett experience. Before we get into more detailed descriptions of each of the trails, here's a comparison to help you determine what works best for you. All trails we've charted on this mountain are classified as of moderate difficulty, mainly due to the partly rocky terrain and elevation gain. Pine Hill is the easiest of the trails, having being built out as a series of rocky steps for most of the route. We saw many children enjoying this route, though some of the steps are a little on the larger side.

a person in a red shirt and dark pants standing on a rocky trail in a forested area. The person is facing away from the camera, looking towards the trail ahead, which is marked by green blazes on the trees. The terrain is uneven with large rocks and boulders scattered throughout, and the forest appears dense with various types of trees providing shade over the area.

Hiking the steps on the well-built Pine Hill trail.

RED

Pine Hill Out & Back
Shortest, busiest trail. Paid parking.
The default trail for many who want to hike to the summit of Mount Wachusett is also the shortest at 0.6 miles. Beginning at the visitor center by the only paid trailhead parking on the mountain, the rock-paved steps up the wooded eastern flanks make things even easier. Returning the same way is the popular option, though you may also want to consider a descent of the Loop Trail instead.

ORANGE

Pine Hill Loop
More variety than Pine O&B. Paid Parking.
The Pine Hill Loop offers a shallower gradient, a variety of terrain and even a viewpoint on your way back down. From the summit parking lot pick up the Mountain House Trail heading south and take left turns at the next three trail junctions before reaching the Loop Trail. Tackling is looping route in a counter-clockwise direction is the easiest on your knees.

For those wanting to hike the Pine Hill loop but balk at the parking fees - particularly the punitive charges for out-of-state vehicles - we've identified a link from the Mountain House trailhead. Roadside parking is free here, and you can link to the Pine Hill Loop via the 0.5 mile Bicentennial Link. Note that though there's no elevation gain on Bicentennial there is a talus field of boulders to cross that makes the hiking a little more technical (or fun!).

The image shows a person walking on a rocky trail through a dense forest. The trees have green leaves, suggesting it might be spring or summer. Sunlight filters through the canopy, illuminating parts of the trail and the surrounding vegetation.

Hiking Jack Frost Trail on the Mountain House Loop.

PURPLE

Mountain House Loop
Quieter than Pine trails, more natural.
Mountain House Loop is our favorite short way up the mountain. We recommend a counter-clockwise approach that tackles the rockier Mountain House Trail first, then returns on the more meandering Jack Frost Trail with its lush ground cover and wildflowers. There's even a distant viewpoint at the junction of High Meadow Trail and Bicentennial Trail, and a bench from which to appreciate the view even more.

GREEN

Harrington Trail
Less popular woodland route.
Hiking the Harrington Trail from Westminster Road is mostly a wooded affair. The sounds of the nearby wind turbine near the trailhead gradually fade away as you make your way along the mostly gradient-free first mile. As is common for many New England mountains, the southern slope of Mount Wachusett is populated heavily with pine trees, making for a green experience all year round. The final hike to the summit up the last rocky section of the Harrington Trail will bring you directly to the fire tower.

BLUE

Old Indian & Semhuhenna Trails
Longer route. Views from ski slopes.
This route is a great option for those looking to stretch their legs for longer. Though still a popular route up the mountain, you're likely to have sections of trail mostly to yourself. Features along the way include the picturesque Bolton Pond, a pair of erratic boulders known as Balance Rock, and some distant New England scenic views as you traverse three different ski slopes along the Old Indian Trail.

The image shows a group of people standing on an outdoor observation deck. They are looking out towards the horizon, with some individuals using binoculars and one person using a camera to observe or capture the scenery. The deck has a wooden railing, and there is foliage visible in the background, suggesting this location might be of natural interest or scenic beauty.

Wachusett's fire tower is a great vantage point for the fall hawk count.

The image shows a red and white communication tower extending above a dense canopy of green trees under a blue sky with scattered clouds. In the distance, there are rolling hills or low mountains, and two wind turbines are visible on the horizon. This image contrasts human-made structures with natural landscapes, highlighting both technology’s reach and nature’s expanse.

Impressive distant mountain views deep into New Hampshire.

Tangents:
• Mass State Parks: Wachusett Mt
• Public Maps at AllTrails: Wachusett Mt
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article

Trailspotting Nearby
4★ Watatic Mountain (2-3 mi) · 4★ Perley Brook Reservoir (2 mi) · 4★ North Central Pathway (10 mi) · Show Map

New England Fire Towers
Discover our map of fire towers and the trails to find them.

New England Summits
Explore mountain-top hikes around New England with Trailspotting.