Page 14 - July_2014

12

fun, short

hikes in

Vermont

By Nevie Wetmore
Photos by Angelo Lynn
Lake Dunmore looking at Mount Moosalamoo
in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area
near Middlebury.

F
ortravelers looking to stretch their legs on a road

trip, or for locals looking for fun and quick hikes,

here are a dozen great hikes that are a half day or less

from the trailhead back to the car.

QUECHEE GORGE, QUECHEE, VT.
“d,” insisting that the name “Vermont”
Part of the 612-acre Quechee Gorge was too similar to vermis, latin for ver-
State Park in the village of Hartford, min. Convinced that it should have been
Quechee Gorge is perfect for sightseers named “Verdmont” instead, the rever-

and hikers alike. Route 4, which runs end’s ghost is rumored to haunt Killing-
above the gorge, looks down from an im- ton to this day.
pressive height of 165 feet onto what is of- Ghost stories aside, Killington is home
ten called “Vermont’s Little Grand Can- to the Wildlands Trail, a beautiful, na-
yon.” Formed by glacial activity roughly ture-oriented climb to the 4,241-foot
13,000 years ago, Quechee Gorge is high summit. From the K-1 base lodge

Vermont’s deepest gorge and makes for a it’s a 2.2-mile walk to the top. The sum-
stunning hike.
mit reaches above the tree line and offers The trailhead at Smugglers Notch.
Trails lead down to the Ottau- a view of southern and central Vermont,
quechee River and along the gorge for a New Hampshire, New York and Mas-
mile and can be taken to the head of the sachusetts. Free parking is offered at the summit of Mount Ascutney: the Futures MOUNT TOM, WOODSTOCK, VT.
lodge, where one-way or round-trip gon- Trail, Weathersfield Trail, Brownsville Faulkner Trail on Mount Tom ends
gorge where a woolen mill once stood in Trail and Windsor Trail.
in a breathtaking view of the Woodstock
the 1800s. Although the mill closed in dola tickets to the summit can also be The Brownsville Trail offers hikers
1952, remains of the dam can still be seen purchased.
Village and surrounding mountains seen
as part of Mill Pond Falls.
Killington Resort 4763 Killington Road views of the Norcross Quarry, a granite from the south side of the mountain. This
From I-89 north take exit 1 to US 4 and Killington, info@killington.com, 802-422- quarry from the early 1900s, as well as easy-going hike is 2.75 miles round trip
6201.
excellent views from Quarry Top Look- leading to an elevation of 1,250 feet, the
travel three miles west. Quechee State Park out, Knee Lookout, North Peak Lookout last 100 yards becoming slightly more
5800 Woodstock Road, Hartford, VT. Park and Brownsville Rock, which is also the challenging due to rocky and uneven
Phone: 802-295-2990
MOUNT ASCUTNEY, WINDSOR, VT.
Although located in Vermont, Mount mountain’s hang-gliding launch site.
footing. The path switchbacks most of
WILDLANDS TRAIL, KILLINGTON, VT.
Ascutney’s geologic history is more The 3.2-mile hike leads to Ascutney’s the way up, stopping before the top at a
It was from the top of Killington Peak, closely related to that of New Hamp- summit, where a 24.5-foot observation serene overlook spot with benches.
the second-highest peak in Vermont, that shire’s White Mountains. Formed over tower provides a striking view of the sur- After reaching the top further pos-
rounding countryside. Trailhead parking sibilities of exploration are possible; the
the Rev. Samuel Peters first called the sur- 100 million years ago by magma pushing is found off Route 44 in Windsor.
trail is connected to the Marsh-Billings-
rounding land “Verd Mont” or “green upwards into neighboring metamorphic
mountain.” When Vermont later be- rock, erosion has left the igneous gran- Mt. Ascutney State Park, 1826 Back Rockefeller National Historical Park,
came a state named after this declaration ite rock peak rising 3,144 feet above sea Mountain Road, 802-674-2060. Open which can be explored from the South
he was reportedly upset by the missing
level. Four trails run from base to the
for day use: 10 a.m. to sunset
Peak by taking the Mount Tom Road

14 VTSPORTS.COM
JULY 2014