Bluff Mountain (South Peak) (Brighton Town Forest)

Bluff Mountain (South Peak) (Brighton Town Forest)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation: 1171 feet
Time: 1 hour, 59 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Northeast Kingdom Mountain Challenge; Summit Beer Society

The Hike

Back hiking in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom for the first time since the early fall! This day's goal was to hike Bluff Mountain in Island Pond and Gore Mountain from the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge, both places that we've previously visited but never hiked. We saw the early morning sunrise colors from the dirt roads, took a pit stop at the blessed porta potty right in Island Pond, and started our hike soon after on the Bluff Mountain Community Trail, which turns into the Bluff Mountain Trail. 

The hike begins in an open, planned forest where all the trees are in rows, which is equally pretty and spooky. Horror films could definitely be filmed there, but also lovely meandering walks in the woods. This section ends at a trail register, and the trail heads into the more-traditional woods. The trail here is gentle with a moderate incline- really nice hiking. We turned left at the junction with the Lookout Trail to follow the Lookout Trail, which to much dismay immediately started descending. The trail dips for a little while, and when it starts to climb it starts to CLIMB. Before we knew it we saw the "CAUTION: STEEP" signs and then we were climbing up iron rungs. 

Thankfully once the steep section was over we were immediately rewarded with a beautiful view of Island Pond (the town and the pond) and the surrounding landscape. We took a break here, had our summit beverages at 6:50am, and enjoyed the view. Thankfully, the bugs did not want to both us at this early hour. Once we were ready, we continued our hike to the junction with the Bluff Mountain Trail and found the summit sign which was just past that in the opposite direction. The hike back to the car was quick and gentle with only a few signs of moose activity and still minimal bugs. Before we knew it the morning hike was over and we were back at the car ready for the next adventure! We decided that someday we want to the whole Kingdom Heritage Trail - starting from the NWR to Gore, Middle Mountain, Bluff, and ending with dinner in Island Pond... someday!

Step-By-Step

• Park at Bluff Mountain Community Trail parking lot on Mountain Road.
• Start hike by following the blue-blazed Bluff Mountain Trail.
• At first junction, veer left to start the yellow-blazed Lookout Trail.
• At jext junction, continue on the yellow-blazed Lookout Trail, and be ready for a steep climb.
• At the top of the steepest climb is a great view of Island Pond, from there continue on the yellow-blazed Lookout Trail.
• At re-junction with Bluff Mountain Trail, turn right to return to the parking lot via the Bluff Mountain Trail. (The summit is slightly away from this junction).

Kingdom Heritage Trails Map

Photo Album