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Madison Boulder — Pillars 37.8 Miles SSW of Chapman Inn
Carroll County, New Hampshire · USGS Silver Lake Quadrangle · GNIS 872243
Tracing roughly 0 kilometres of Carroll County, New Hampshire drainage, Madison Boulder is catalogued on the USGS Silver Lake quadrangle and reaches its closest point 37.8 miles south-southwest of Chapman Inn.
Wikidata short description: “one of the largest known glacial erratics in North America”
Landmark Profile
Classification & USGS reference
Within Carroll County, New Hampshire, the U.S. Geological Survey lists Madison Boulder as a rock pillar on the Silver Lake topographic quadrangle (FIPS 33/003), under Feature ID 872243. Catalogued in GNIS since 08/27/1980.
Coordinates & physical setting
Madison Boulder sits at 43.93035° N, 71.16979° W (DMS 43°55′49″ N, 71°10′11″ W).
Dimensions & elevation
- Length 0.03 km / 0.02 mi
Features on the USGS Silver Lake Quadrangle
The Silver Lake 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle holds 63 catalogued natural features alongside Madison Boulder. A sampling nearest to this location:
| Feature | Type | County | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davis Pond | Lakes | Carroll County, NH | 0.5 mi |
| Banfield Brook | Streams | Carroll County, NH | 0.7 mi |
| Pine Hill | Summits | Carroll County, NH | 0.7 mi |
| Salter Hill | Summits | Carroll County, NH | 1.1 mi |
| Crothers Hill | Summits | Carroll County, NH | 1.3 mi |
| Whitton Ledge | Benches | Carroll County, NH | 1.3 mi |
| Ledge Pond | Lakes | Carroll County, NH | 1.4 mi |
| Band M Ledge | Benches | Carroll County, NH | 1.5 mi |
| Whitton Pond | Lakes | Carroll County, NH | 1.5 mi |
| Tight Pond | Lakes | Carroll County, NH | 1.6 mi |
Ranking & rarity
- Among the 15 pillars catalogued within 80 km of Chapman Inn, Madison Boulder ranks #12 by proximity to the Inn (closer than 20%).
- This is one of only 15 pillars catalogued within Chapman Inn’s 80 km reach — a rare classification in the local landscape.
Historical record
Heritage listing: National Natural Landmark.
The Madison Boulder is one of the largest known glacial erratics in North America and among the largest in the world; it is preserved in the 17-acre (6.9 ha) Madison Boulder Natural Area in Madison, New Hampshire. The boulder is a huge granite rock measuring 83 feet (25 m) in length, 23 feet (7.0 m) in height above the ground, and 37 feet (11 m) in width. It weighs upwards of 5,000 short tons (4,500,000 kg). A part of the block is buried, probably to a depth of 10 to 12 feet. It was acquired by the state from the Kennett family in 1946. In 1970, Madison Boulder was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service. Open the Wikipedia article →
Visiting from Chapman Inn
Distance, bearing & drive time
Follow the compass bearing SSW out of Bethel for 37.8 miles (south-southwest) and you reach Madison Boulder; at typical rural speeds the trip runs roughly 65 minutes.
Best time to visit
Accessible May through November in most years. At this latitude (43.930°), the shoulder seasons are workable — April and November can be comfortable on mild years. At 37.8 miles from the Inn, block the full day — sunrise start, late return, packed meals. Conditions at Madison Boulder track the nearby Davis Pond lake (0.5 mi away) closely — if that is runnable, so is this.
Nearest features to Madison Boulder
| Feature | Type | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davis Pond | Lakes | Carroll County, NH | 0.5 mi |
| Banfield Brook | Streams | Carroll County, NH | 0.7 mi |
| Pine Hill | Summits | Carroll County, NH | 0.7 mi |
| Salter Hill | Summits | Carroll County, NH | 1.1 mi |
| Crothers Hill | Summits | Carroll County, NH | 1.3 mi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Madison Boulder located?
Madison Boulder is in Carroll County, New Hampshire, approximately 37.8 miles south-southwest of Chapman Inn in Bethel, Maine. It appears on the USGS Silver Lake topographic quadrangle.
How far is Madison Boulder from Chapman Inn?
The drive runs about 65 minutes, 37.8 miles south-southwest (bearing SSW) of the Inn.
What type of natural feature is Madison Boulder?
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies Madison Boulder as a rock pillar, catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 872243 on the Silver Lake quadrangle.
When is the best time to visit Madison Boulder?
Accessible May through November in most years.
How long is Madison Boulder?
Wikidata records a length of 0.03 km (0.02 mi) for Madison Boulder.
Does Madison Boulder have a heritage designation?
Yes — Madison Boulder is listed as National Natural Landmark.
How rare is pillars as a classification near Chapman Inn?
Only 15 pillars are catalogued within the 80 km radius of the Inn — a comparatively rare classification.
Wikidata: Q104841014.