Mountain Top Inn & Resort, Chittenden, VT 05737 Phone: 1-802-483-2311.
Four-season resort on 350 acres, eleven miles from Killington. Breathtaking views, endless adventures for couples and families. Miles of hiking trails are available to our guests. Order a picnic lunch from our kitchen to bring along. Equestrian and Nordic ski center. 29 classic Lodge rooms and 5 pet friendly cabins. Fine & casual dining.
www.mountaintopinn.com
Weathersfield Trail (Mt. Ascutney) - Ascutney, Vermont
Total Distance: 6.0 Miles
Hiking Time: 4.5 Hours
Vertical Rise: 2250 ft.
Rating: Strenuous
From exit 8 off I-91 drive 3.3 miles to a right turn (North) onto Cascade Falls Road. Bear left at the fork to a right turn at 3.6 miles. Follow up a short steep hill to the Ascutney State Park parking area. From the information board, take the blue-blazed Weathersfield Trail which ascends log stairs as it enters the woods.
The trail winds, rises, and falls over varied terrain to the 1.3 mile mark where it levels slightly to cross the valley and meets an old roadway.
This is the white-blazed Old Weathersfield Trail, which you follow past Gus's Lookout and a trail to the left that leads to the West Peak. Continue straight from this junction to the antennae-covered summit at 2.9 miles. Return to the junction and follow the same trail back to the parking area.
Brownsville Trail (Mt. Ascutney), Windsor, Vermont
Total Distance: 6.4 Miles
Hiking Time: 5.0 Hours
Vertical Rise: 2400 ft.
Rating: Moderate
In Ascutney State Park
From Windsor follow Route 44 toward Brownsville. The trailhead parking area is located on the South side of Rt. 44 approximately 2 miles past the I-91 overpass. The trial is well-marked and passes an old granite quarry with stone hut remains, and a short spur trail offering good Northern views. A moderate grade extends to the lookout tower and the grassy summit of the North Peak with fine views of the valley and distant mountain range. Your return hike follows the same trail back to the parking area.
The Great Cliff & Mount Horrid Overlook Trial (Mt. Horrid) - Brandon, Vermont
Total Distance: 1.4 Miles
Hiking Time: 1 Hour
Vertical Rise: 620 ft.
Rating: Moderate
In the Green Mountain National Forest
Follow Route 73 to the top of Brandon Gap with trailhead parking on the South side of the road. Cross the highway and climb the bank heading North on the white-blazed Long Trail and follow 0.6 mile to the Great Cliff Overlook. Past the sign the trail steeply ascends on log steps to a ridge, and soon becomes much rockier and steeper as it leads to a blue-blazed trail on your right to the Great Cliff of the 2800 foot Mount Horrid Overlook. Your return hike follows the same trail back to the parking area.
Pico Peak Trail (Pico Peak) - Killington, Vermont
Total Distance: 5.4 Miles
Hiking Time: 3.5 Hours
Vertical Rise: 1800 ft.
Rating: Moderate
Between the Green Mountain National Forest and Coolidge State Forest
Follow Route 4 to the top of Sherburn Pass, approximately 5 miles West of Killington or 9 miles East of Rutland. Trailhead parking is on the South side of the road opposite the Inn at Long Rail. You will find the trail directly behind the parking area heading South past the remains of two buildings to a registration box and the white-blazed Long Trail. The trail follows a moderate grade to a ridge and spur trial at 0.6 mile mark where it eases a bit to the 1.1 mile mark and becomes steeper, traversing a ski trail to the 2.1 mile mark before returning to the woods and rockier terrain to the 2.5 mile mark at Pico Camp with bunk space for 12.
Behind the Camp is the blue-blazed Pico Peak Trail which is very steep and bears left twice to cross a work road and another ski trail before ending at the 3957 foot summit at 2.9 miles. Your return hike follows the same trail back to the parking area.
Precipice Trail (Mt. Tom) - Woodstock, Vermont
Total Distance: 2.5 Miles
Hiking Time: 2.0 Hours
Vertical Rise: 1340 ft.
Rating: Moderate-Difficult
From Woodstock town center, cross the Mountain Avenue covered bridge past River Street following around a left curve to the prominent rock wall where you turn left up a paved path that leads to the trail head at Faulkner Park. The trail leads to the 1,340 foot summit overlooking the village of Woodstock, the Billings Farm and the Ottauquechee River. Your return hike follows the same trail back to the parking area.
Mount Peg Trail (Mt. Peg) - Woodstock, Vermont
Total Distance: 2.0 Miles
Hiking Time: 2.0 Hours
Vertical Rise: 1200 ft.
Rating: Moderate-Difficult
From the Woodstock Village Green, take Cross Street to High Street and turn right going over the bridge where you turn right again onto Golf Avenue. A sign on the left marks the trial head consisting of a system of groomed ski trails leading from an open field on the northern hill to benches where you can view Mount Tom across the valley and take in some of the best views of Woodstock Village. Your return hike follows the same trail back to the parking area.
HARTNESS PARK (Hilliard Hill) - Springfield, Vermont
Walking Distance: The Park is approximatley 1/2 mile in length. Most loops around the upper or lower sections are about 1.25 miles in length.
Parking: The Woodbury Road and Water Tower on Summer Street entrances each have room for 2 cars; there is also room for several cars on tthe end othe cud-de-sac on Dell Road. Parking is available at the Springfield Family Center after 5:00pm and on weekends.
Hiking Time: 2.0 Hours
Rating: Moderate-Difficult
Hartness Park was the training area for the Springfield High School Ski Team from the 1950's until the 1980's. The old ski jumps have been abandoned and overgrown. The first 40 meter jump was dedicated to John Hillard and named "Hilliard Hill" in a dedication ceremony in March of 1962. The property was given to the Town of Springfield by Governor James Hartness in 1934 with the intention that the Park should be maintained by the Town and its citizens for public use a a picnic and recreation area.
