The Inn at Mountain View Farm, Darling Hill Road, East Burke, VT 05832 Phone: 800-572-4509 or 802-626-9924. "Magical..splendid." Yankee Magazine Editors' Pick. Awarded one of 30 Great Inns Travel + Leisure. Unwind on 440-acre historic Vermont farm. "One of the most breathtaking hilltop views in Vermont". Access right from the inn to 35 km of on-site trails with rolling hills, pristine lakes and spectacular views that network into 100 miles of the renowned Kingdom Trails for hiking, biking, x-c skiing or snowshoeing. Casually elegant guest rooms and luxury suites in restored Creamery, plus farmhouse rental. Seasonal packages, pet friendly. On-site animal sanctuary. 3 hours from Boston. Visit the web site for details.
Herbert & Evelyn Hawkes Trail (Mount Hor)
Willoughby State Forest
Barton, Vermont
Total Distance: 3.5 Miles
Hiking Time: 3 Hours
Vertical Rise: 1050 ft.
The trail parking area is accessed through the South Trail (Mt. Pisgah) trailhead parking area on the West side of Route 5A at the South end of Lake Willoughby. On the right side of the South Trail the Mt. Pisgah parking area is a gravel road you must follow to the Mt. Hor trailhead, bearing right at the fork and continuing to a smaller parking area approximately 1.8 miles from the highway.
Just past the parking area on the right is the blue-blazed trail climbing the bank and following an old road. Watch carefully for very few blazes marked on small trees. Follow along the hillside walk to the West Branch Trail junction at 0.7 miles leading to the wooded summit of Mount Hor, and just beyond to an overlook.
Returning to the main trail, follow the East Branch Trail along the ridge line to another overlook and junction with East Lookout Trail on the right, and then finally to the North Lookout with mountain and lake views. Return to the summit and follow the same trials back to the parking area.
Jay Peak Trail (Jay Peak)
Jay State Forest
Jay, Vermont
Total Distance: 3.5 Miles
Hiking Time: 4 Hours
Vertical Rise: 1680 ft.
Rating: Moderate
The trailhead parking area is on the South side of Route 242, approximately 1.4 miles West of the Jay Peak Ski Area and 6.6 miles East of Montgomery Center. Follow the white-blazed Long Trail, Northward up the bank opposite the parking area. The small lean-to you see is the Atlas Valley Shelter, and is not designed for over-night use. Continue past the South end of a loop trail to Jay Camp (a frame cabin with bunk space), going straight at the junction, climbing gradually and then more steeply through forest past the North end of the Jay Camp spur trail.
At the 1.0 mile mark turn left over some steep ledges, then left again at 1.2 miles to a steep climb emerging on a ski trail. Continue directly across the ski trail and climb the steep rocks to the summit and the upper station of the Jay Peak Tramway. Your return hike follows the same trials back to the parking area.
South Trail at Lake Willoughby (Mount Pisgah)
Willoughby State Forest
Barton, Vermont
Total Distance: 2.5 Miles
Hiking Time: 3 Hours
Vertical Rise: 1590 ft.
Rating: Moderate
The trail parking area is on the West side of Route 5A at the South end of Lake Willoughby, with the trailhead marked by a sign on the opposite side of the road. Follow the blue-blazes over the road embankment turning left across a wooden bridge to an old road that bears right away from a pond.
After a sharp left you follow the ridge uphill to the Pulpit Rock sign at the 0.9 mile mark. This spur trail leads to a rock overhang 650 feet above the lake. Returning to the main trail, your ascent continues along the ridge bearing right away from the lake.
At 1.9 miles another spur trail to Upper Overlook offers spectacular lake and mountain views. Your return hike follows the same trails back to the parking area.
Mount Monadnock, VT (3,140 ft. elevation)
Located 1/2 mile west of Colebrook, NH this mountain dominates the landscape in the Colebrook area. The trail is located by taking Bridge St. off Main Street in Colebrook, cross the river into Vermont then turn immediately after crossing the bridge and enter the sand and gravel pit on the left. The trail begins at the sand pit and is marked by sings. The trial passes through mixed hardwood and softwood forest, and at the top of the mountain there is a fire tower. At the top of the tower the view is spectacular in every direction. Canada to the north and Maine and New Hampshire to the east. A moderate hike.
Brousseau Mountain - Averill, VT (2,714 ft. elevation)
To find this trail head travel West on Vermont Route 114 in Averill, Vermont 1.5 miles from Lake View Store. Take a left on Mountain Road. 1.3 miles down Mountain Road there is a dead end gate. Turn your car around so you don't block anything. About 35 minutes to the top of this mountain on a will-marked trail. At this point there is no view. Take another trail to the right to the lookout point, about two minutes away. This vantage point provides a wide panorama view of the White and Green Mountain ranges.
Averill Mountain - Averill, VT
Find this by first getting to the Averill Lake View Store. Just one-half mile from the store you will see a small white sing for Averill Mountain. The mountain has a gradual ascent with verical rise of 550 feet from the trail's starting point. The trails is ery well marked and upon reaching the summit, you can see Table Rock in Dixville, NH, Mount Washington, and Jay Peak to the west.
Gore Mountain - Averill, VT
To find the trail to the top of Gore Mountain take Vermont Route 114 south from the village of Norton for 9.9 miles. Look for Lake Station Road at the north end of Norton Pond and pull off between that and Devost Road. The trail enters through a small opening on the east side of the road. The hike includes a series of beaver meadows, crossing several brooks and through the edge of an expansive logged area. From the summit there are views of the Nulhegan Basin a popular bird and wildlife viewing area. Length of the trail to the top of Gore Mountain is 3.8 miles.
