Mount Wachusett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Wachusett |
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Mount Wachusett in winter
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,006 ft (611 m) |
| Prominence | 922 ft (281 m) |
| Naming | |
| English translation | "Near the mountain", "Mountain place" |
| Language of name | Natick Indian |
| Geography | |
 Mount Wachusett
Location in Massachusetts
Mount Wachusett
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| Towns | Princeton and Westminster |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 250 million years |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Auto road, ski lift, or Pine Hill trail. |
Mount Wachusett is a mountain in Massachusetts. It is located in the towns of Princeton and Westminster, within Worcester County. This mountain is the highest point in Massachusetts found east of the Connecticut River.
The name "Wachusett" comes from a Native American language. It means "near the mountain" or "mountain place." Mount Wachusett is a popular spot for hiking and skiing. You can even drive a car up to the top during spring, summer, and fall.
From the summit, you can see amazing views! Look north to spot Mount Monadnock and west for Mount Greylock. To the northwest, you might see southern Vermont, and to the east, you can even see the city of Boston. The mountain is also crossed by the 92-mile (148 km) Midstate Trail. It is part of the Wachusett Mountain State Reservation, a protected natural area.
A special area of very old trees grows along rocky ledges about 500 feet (152 m) below the summit. These trees are between 150 and 370 years old! This "old growth forest" covers about 220 acres (89 ha). It is the largest known old growth forest east of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts.
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What is Mount Wachusett?
Mount Wachusett is a type of mountain called a monadnock. This means it is a single mountain that stands out on a mostly flat landscape. Long ago, glaciers (huge sheets of ice) moved across this area. They helped shape the mountain.
You can see proof of these glaciers at a spot called Balance Rock. It's on the northeast side of the mountain. Here, two large boulders were stacked on top of each other by the moving glaciers thousands of years ago.
Mountains Nearby
Mount Wachusett has smaller hills and mountains around it. To the south are Little Wachusett Mountain and Brown Hill. To the north is Church Rock. Pine Hill is to the east, and the Crow Hills are to the northeast. The closest mountain that is similar in size is Mount Watatic. It is 1,832 feet (558 m) tall and about 12 miles (19 km) north, near the New Hampshire border.
Water Flowing from the Mountain
Rain and snow that fall on Mount Wachusett flow in different directions.
- Water from the west side flows into the Ware River. This river eventually joins the Connecticut River and then reaches Long Island Sound.
- Water from the south side flows into the Quinapoxet River. This river joins the Nashua River and then the Merrimack River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
- Water from the east side flows into the Stillwater River, which also joins the Nashua River.
- Water from the north side flows into the Nashua River through several small reservoirs.
Fun at Wachusett: Skiing and More
Mount Wachusett is home to a popular ski area. It has 25 different trails for skiing and snowboarding. There are several lifts to take you up the mountain, including three fast quad lifts.
The ski area has about 1,000 feet (305 m) of vertical drop. This means the difference in height from the top to the bottom of the ski trails. There's a large lodge at the base of the mountain. The ski area can make snow on all its trails, and you can even ski at night on 18 of them! There's also a special terrain park for tricks and jumps. Many people from nearby Worcester and Boston come here to ski because it's easy to get to.
The ski area is located inside the Wachusett Mountain State Reservation. It uses a 450-acre (1.8 km2) area on the northern slopes of the mountain.
Races and Nature
Every May, there's a 6.2-mile (10 km) road race on the mountain. It's sponsored by the Central Mass Striders.
The old-growth forest on Mount Wachusett is very important. In 2003, there was a court case about plans to expand the ski area into a special protected zone around these old trees. Some groups wanted to protect the older trees in this buffer zone. Today, the ski area has strict rules. Skiers and snowboarders are not allowed to enter the old-growth forest areas. If they do, their lift tickets can be taken away, and they might even face fines.
History of Mount Wachusett
Before Europeans came to America, the Nipmuc tribe lived around Wachusett. Today, the Nipmuc tribe has a small reservation in Grafton, Massachusetts. Many Nipmuc people feel that the ski resort on the mountain is unfair. Some hope that one day they can use the mountain as a cultural center for their tribe.
During a conflict called King Philip's War in 1676, Native Americans brought a captive woman named Mary Rowlandson to Wachusett. They released her to the colonists at a place called Redemption Rock.
