Mount Watatic Reservation
Mount Watatic is one of the most visited mountains in central Massachusetts because its bald summit gives 360-degree panoramic views: to the east, the Boston skyline, to the south, Mount Wachusett, to the west, Mount Monadnock and to the north, the Wapack Range. The landscape is diverse with open ski slopes and rock outcroppings in various stages of succession, and remnants of old growth along steep forested slopes.
Directions & Parking
Directions
MA-119 Ashburnham, MA 01430
Limited parking is available in the designated parking area off MA-119 in Ashburnham, Mass. Please note that parking is prohibited along MA-119 – a policy that is strictly enforced.
Views from the Trail
Trail Description
A classic monadnock, Watatic stands alone on the landscape and rewards hikers with sweeping 360-degree views from its open summit. Whether you're chasing a heart-pumping climb or just looking for a short adventure with big payoffs, Watatic delivers.
From the parking area, you’ve got two great choices for reaching the summit:
Mount Watatic via Midstate Trail
This is the most popular and direct route to the summit of Mount Watatic. The trail begins flat as it passes through a swampy area with a small pond, then steepens gradually. The trail is mostly wooded until you reach the summit, which is marked by a large cairn.
- Distance: 2.1 miles
- Elevation Gain: 613 feet
- Trail Type: Out & Back
Mount Watatic via Midstate Trail
This route follows the Wapack Trail – a 21.5-mile hiking trail that begins at the Watatic Parking lot off Route 119 and runs north-south up through new Hampshire, following the Wapack Range. You'll take the same initial approach as the Midstate Trail, but after summiting Watatic, continue down the northern slope toward Nutting Hill, where scenic ledges offer additional viewpoints before you loop back to the parking area.
- Distance: 3 miles
- Elevation Gain: 725 feet
- Trail Type: Loop
About This Property
Ownership
Mount Grace does not own Mount Watatic. The property has shared ownership between the towns of Ashburnham (50 acres) and the Town of Ashby (231 acres).
Property History
Mount Grace assisted a partnership of six groups including the Ashburnham Conservation Trust and the Ashby Land Trust in protecting 280 acres, including the summit of the mountain, in 2002.
Year Protected
2002
Mount Watatic is one of the most visited mountains in central Massachusetts because its bald summit gives 360-degree panoramic views: to the east, the Boston skyline, to the south, Mount Wachusett, to the west, Mount Monadnock and to the north, the Wapack Range. The landscape is diverse with open ski slopes and rock outcroppings in various stages of succession, and remnants of old growth along steep forested slopes.
The reservation is part of a larger 900-acre block of protected open space that creates an important wildlife corridor through the heart of Massachusetts.
Who Manages Mount Watatic?
The Mount Watatic Reservation is managed by a partnership of several entities, including the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW), and the towns of Ashby and Ashburnham.