Mt Ascutney, Windsor VT
• 5-star hikes
• 1 to 9 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 310 to 3,000 feet
• Windsor & Weathersfield, VT | Southern Region
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Repurposed fire tower, now a viewing platform close to the summit.
Mount Ascutney towers over the Connecticut River and the neighboring town of Claremont with its 2,700 foot prominence, challenging hikers to climb to its tallest 3,144 foot peak. We have reviewed all of the most popular routes to the summit, complete with downloadable maps, plus links to the other two trails that we're yet to fully explore. The ones we haven't yet reviewed are indicated with an asterisk.
The majority of the trails are within the boundaries of and maintained by Vermont State Parks, which also includes the Mount Ascutney Parkway allowing folk to drive within 300 feet of the summit - see Summit Loop below. Parking lots at the beginning of all trails that we've reviewed are well sized and easily accessible, but at busiest times expect the Weathersfield Trail lot to fill up first. Note that the park is not open during winter, and its operating season begins late May and ends mid October each year.
⬤ 4★ Summit Loop
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions GPX? |
⬤ 5★ Weathersfield Trail
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions |
⬤ 4★ Windsor Trail
AllTrails · GPX File Directions |
⬤ 5★ Brownsville Trail
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions |
⬤ Futures Trail*
Public Map at AllTrails · Directions |
⬤ Bicentennial Trail*
Public Map at AllTrails · Directions |
⬤ Summit Loop
Short summit hike. Paid entry.
The 3.7 mile Mount Ascutney Parkway ascends almost all the way to the summit, offering a sceninc drive and the opportunity to stand atop the summit with only a short hike. Once you reach the upper parking lot, the Summit Loop is around 1.4 miles in length and only 310 feet in elevation gain. It can be tackled just as easily in either direction. Be sure to climb the observation tower, visit the true summit and check out the West Peak Lookout also.
⬤ Weathersfield Trail
Most popular route. Features a waterfall.
Trail of rocks and roots, gradually ascending to the summit with waterfalls fed by small creeks. One minor rock scramble. Around 1.1 miles into the hike is Cascade Falls, a stream that seemingly drops off a short cliff, though we were underwhelmed since the trail leads only to the top of the falls and there's no way to view what's below. Definitely check out all the viewpoints along the way, including Harry's Lookout, Gus' Lookout and the West Peak Overlook.
West Peak Overlook is on the Weathersfield and Summit Loop trails.
⬤ Windsor Trail
Summit trail. Features a waterfall.
One of two trails up the mountain's northern flanks. Slightly shorter that the Weathersfield Trail, but with a little more elevation gain the Windsor Trail follows a creek to Gerry's Falls. Beyond, the trail heads into mixed woodland and heads for the summit. The only viewpoint is a good one - Blood Rock Viewpoint - though it does require a 0.3 mile diversion and a little additional hill climbing.
⬤ Brownsville Trail
Our favorite trail, with an abandoned quarry.
The same elevation as Windsor trail but a slightly longer trail. Follow an old road up to the former quarry, where abandoned equipment and stacked 'Ascutney Green' granite blocks lie beside the trail. There's even a great viewing point at the end of a short section of rail track that points over the cliff edge. Brownsville also includes several further viewpoints on the way to the summit, making it our favorite trail. Forest scenery is mixed and pretty, and trail conditions are moderate with no scrambling required.
Cascade Falls on Weathersfield Trail. Not much waterfall to see from above.
⬤⬤ Brownsville & Lincoln Loops
Connecting the northern trails.
We've mapped out a couple of additional routes in case you'd like to combine the Windsor and Brownsville trails into a single loop. The first is the shortest and requires connecting the two trailheads by walking on Vermont Route 44 for a mile. If you start at the Windsor trailhead and finish with the road section, then you will at least be doing so downhill, though note that there's no sidewalk along this mostly quiet road. Alternatively begin at Windsor trailhead and walk west up the Norcross trail that switchbacks through forest to meet the Brownsville Trail. We'd recommend hiking Norcross in a westerly direction (a counter-clockwise route) since the trail is more popular with mountain bikers than hikers, and heading west will give you the best view of any cyclists coming downhill towards you.
Norcross-Brownsville-Windsor Loop
7.9 mi loop, medium, gain 2670 ft.
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions
Abandoned Stone Quarry on Brownsville Trail
Quarry rail track leads off the side of the cliff.
Blood Rock Viewpoint is a short distance off Windsor Trail.
Tangents:
• Official: VT State Parks
• Public Maps at AllTrails: Brownsville, Weathersfield, Windsor
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article
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