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A 9-mile ridge trail with a great variety of terrain - climbs, views, streams, lakes.


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Map Key

9.0

Miles

14.5

KM

93%

Runnable

1,145' 349 m

High

547' 167 m

Low

1,084' 330 m

Up

1,062' 324 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

21%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Runner Notes

Some very rocky sections of the trail. Parts of the trail are wet/muddy during the spring.

The section near Wachusett Street is often overgrown and can be tough to navigate.

The last segment of the trail (Sholan Farm to Samoset School) is very difficult to navigate. There are no trail markers for almost a mile heading from Sholan to Samoset.

Trail maps are available from Leominster Trail Stewards.

Description

The Monoosnoc Ridge Trail crosses Leominster from end to end. It is great as a point-to-point trail or as an out-and-back.

This is a classic ridge-style trail with four long climbs and several other shorter ups and downs. Most of the trail is singletrack and doubletrack, but there is a ~0.25-mile stretch of road on Elm Street. To follow this trail end to end, simply follow the blue blazes. Parking is available at the end of West Street (northern end) and Sholan Farms (southern end). The trail crosses only two roads over 7.8 miles, Elm Street and Wachusett Street. There is parking at both of these locations.

The best view is on a cutoff section of the trail (yellow dot) near Elm Street.

The trail technically ends at Samoset School, but the last 1.2 miles (Sholan to Samoset) is very difficult to navigate.

Parking Areas:
Northern End:
  • 1049 West Street, Leominster, MA
  • 71 Wachusett Street
  • 886 Elm Street
Southern End:
  • 1125 Pleasant St, Leominster

Flora & Fauna

Deer and turkeys (frequently), porcupines (occasionally), moose (on very lucky occasions).

Shared By:

Will Guerra

Trail Ratings

  3.6 from 8 votes

#14855

Overall
  3.6 from 8 votes
5 Star
25%
4 Star
25%
3 Star
38%
2 Star
13%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#160

in Massachusetts

#14,855

Overall
16 Views Last Month
5,255 Since Apr 24, 2015
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

0%
0%
38%
0%
63%
0%

Photos

Sun rising on Monoosnoc Ridge Trail.
Feb 17, 2020 near Fitchburg, MA
UpNorth Virtual Trail Tour: Monoosnoc Ridge Trail
Feb 22, 2022 near Fitchburg, MA
KMart Lookout UpNorth [Trail Gem] Monoosnoc Trail
Apr 6, 2022 near Fitchburg, MA
UpNorth Trail Gem (Fitchburg City Forest Waterfall) 2022
Apr 6, 2022 near Fitchburg, MA
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
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