Hiking Trails on Mt. Monadnock—Fairy Spring Trail
Under Construction. Some data may be incomplete.
This trail does not go to the summit, but may be used as a link in various routes that do.
- Distance from White Arrow Trail to Smith Summit Trail:
- 605 yards (0.5 km)—
- Ascending time:
- —
- Descending time:
- —
- Difficulty rating/rank:
- 4/-
- Crowd Factor:
- 2 (on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being near-continuous contact with others.) You may meet an occasional person on the trail, or see fresh footprints.
- Access:
- White Arrow Trail above the Halfway House site (Map)
- Trail marker:
- White bars
- Average Grade:
- 18%
| Quick Facts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Time (ascending) (approx.) | Distance (ascending) (approx.) | Altitude (approx.) |
| White Arrow Trail Junction | - | - | 2154 ft (652 m) |
| Fassett House Ruins | 130 yards (120 m) | 2202 ft (667 m) | |
| Fairy Spring | 319 yards (290 m) | 2323 ft (704 m) | |
| Monte Rosa Trail Junction | 418 yards (380 m) | 2400 ft (727 m) | |
| Smith Summit Trail Junction | 605 yards (550 m) | 2525 ft (765 m) | |
The Fairy Spring Trail ascends from the White Arrow Trail to Monte Rosa. It is a narrow, slow trail through thick hardwood forest, and it feels steeper than its average 19% slope.
The trail begins innocuously enough as it branches to the left from the White Arrow Trail, about 155 yards (140 m) above the Halfway House site. As you ascend from the Halfway House site, you first pass the Monte Rosa Trail on your left, and only about 10 yards farther on you encounter the Fairy Spring Trail. These two trails unite just below Monte Rosa. The Fairy Spring Trail is more or less level for the first few yards, then drops down for a short distance, perhaps 85 yards (75 m) or so, before it turns to the right up a very steep section.
About 130 m from the beginning of the trail, you'll encounter a turn to the left. Watch carefully for the worn trail and a sign indicating the ruins of the Fassett House, one of the early inns on the mountain. After another 200 yards or so, you'll cross the Fairy Spring area, which may be dry if there hasn't been much rain. The trail continues ascending and eventually you come head on to a solid rock face, about 12 feet high, that presents a little challenge. Above that, the trail levels out for a little while. Perhaps 100 yards (90 m) past Fairy Spring, the Monte Rosa Trail comes in from the left. Just a few yards above that, the Monte Rosa Trail branches to the left, going up to Monte Rosa and connecting above Monte Rosa with the Smith Summit Trail. The Fairy Spring Trail stays to the right, bypassing Monte Rosa itself and becoming the Smith Summit Trail after another 190 yards (170 m).