The southern end of the Wapack trail offers incredible views and opportunities for people of many ages and abilities to get outside. The 8.5 mile loop up Mount Watatic and Pratt Mountain is a perfect day outing to enjoy not only the most popular peak on the trail, but also a lesser known peak with undiscovered vistas and wild blueberries in the summer.
This route begins in the parking lot just off of Route 119 in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. This lot may be crowded on weekends so hikers should arrive early. There are a few ways to ascend the summit of Mount Watatic, standing at 1,821 feet, but for the most direct route hikers should bear right at the first fork for a steep one mile climb. This summit is unique as there are two spectacular viewpoints both within a short 0.1 mile walk of one another, making it easy to avoid crowds and enjoy views in many directions. Once at the summit there are a few ways to descend, but it is recommended to follow the Wapack Trail north towards Pratt Mountain to enjoy more of the wilderness area.
Hikers will take a steep descent from the peak, cross a grassy field covered with wildflowers in the summer, and next come to scenic Binney Pond which has some boardwalks for easier hiking. The final climb up to Pratt Mountain at 1,808 feet offers a second round of rewarding views, and has many untouched wild berries in the summer months. Ambitious hikers or trail runners can continue to follow the Wapack Trail past Pratt Mountain to Stony Top and New Ipswich Mountain, while day hikers may choose to turn back here and retrace the loop back to the parking lot. There is an option to follow the Midstate Trail bypass to avoid climbing Mount Watatic for a second time.
The Mount Watatic Reservation and the Wapack Trail to Pratt Mountain offer some of the best hiking in Eastern Massachusetts where residents can enjoy the mountains without driving far north. The Friends of the Wapack website provides more information and frequently asked questions on using the trail. It should be noted that camping and fires are not permitted along this trail except for in designated huts on the property of Windblown camping farther north.
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