Wachusett Mountain

3.7 miles, 1,083 ft of climbing, 5.5% average grade.

The closest real climb to Boston and Worcester: a short, honest ascent from the ski area to the summit of Wachusett Mountain State Reservation. When it runs, it's the series' most accessible test, big fields, fast times, and a summit view that reaches the Boston skyline on a clear day.

Highlights

• The metro-Boston hillclimb, under an hour from the city
• Short and fast: a flat-out effort, not a war of attrition
• Summit views from Boston to Mount Monadnock
• A frequent past stop on the BUMPS calendar

Must Know

• Not on the 2026 BUMPS calendar. Check the race's own page for its current status.
• The summit road inside the reservation is one-way with cyclist access rules; ride the marked 'up' road.

Lodging

Princeton is small and quiet; Worcester (25 minutes) or the Route 2 corridor towns have the hotels.

Food & Views

• Princeton's general-store cafés
• Views: the summit observation area over the Boston basin

Nearby Routes

• Road: the Princeton–Barre rollers and the Quabbin gates
• Gravel: Leominster State Forest's dirt roads
• Hike: Wachusett's summit loop trails
• MTB: Leominster SF's classic technical network

Resources

• PJAMM climb profile
• Race listing