Mount Major is a great hike to get your legs in condition for bigger hikes! With only taking around 2 hours for a 3.7-mile trip, this was a nice casual Saturday afternoon hike. Though it’s 2 hours from Boston, it was worth it to escape the city for a bit! We even caught a proposal and engagement at the summit. Dogs are allowed and a-plenty on this trail, so furry friends and kiddos are welcome on this one!
Date Hiked: Saturday, April 23, 2022
Distance: 3.7 miles (round trip)
Elevation Gain: 1,150 feet
Highest Elevation: Mount Major summit (1,786 feet)
Route: Ascended via Main Trail, descended via Brook Trail (loop!)
Parking/TH: Large parking lot on Mount Major Highway (Route 11)
Drive from Boston: 2 hours
Weather/Conditions: A little chilly and windy, but temperature averaged ~55 degrees. The clouds made for a nice summit view! No need for spikes and only a little muddy.
Highlights: You know how much I love a loop trail. This was a fun one with scrambles and steeper sections on the ascent via the Main Trail and a very gradual hike down the Brook Trail. Amazing views of Lake Winnepisauke throughout and an open summit!
Mount Major is a sweet lil’ hike for families, kiddos, doggos, and people looking for accessible quality time with Mother Nature. We opted for hiking the steeper Main Trail (BLUE blazes) on the ascent, which was a good decision because there were some scrambles which were a wee bit wet! The descent via Brook Trail (YELLOW blazes) was very gradual and could be a potentially better ascent option for younger kids or families first exploring outside with their little ones. The views at the top of Mount Winnipesauke are gorgeous and I’ve been told this would make a beautiful sunrise spot. I made sure to remind Justin we should come back for sunrise throughout the hike, hah!
The entire loop took us just over 2 hours, which means we spent double the amount of time in the car from Boston, but we felt it was worth it for time spent outdoors.
Another option for hiking Mount Major is the Boulder Loop Trail (Orange) to Main Trail (Blue), which is a moderate hike of 3.7 miles with 1,100 feet of elevation gain. All trails to the summit of Mount Major include over 1,000 feet of elevation gain, so bring extra water and food to keep your body fueled!
Overall, it was easy to follow the route and the trail was well marked with the colored blazes!
