Bromley Mountain via VT-30 (Green Mountain National Forest)

Bromley Mountain via VT-30 (Green Mountain National Forest)

Hike Type: Out-and-Back

Distance: 5.85 miles

Elevation: 1,418 feet

My Time: 2 hours, 18 minutes (2 hours, 10 minutes moving)

Book Time: 3 hours, 38 minutes

Parking: Ample parking at LT/AT Trailhead off of VT-30
Hiking Challenges: Vermont Fire Towers

The Hike 

And now... the biggest hike of the day and the final hike of my little mini-trip... Bromley! Although it was slated to be the biggest hike du jour, the stats didn't look too bad at all. I was officially running two hours ahead of schedule, and that's including my Stewart's lunch! It was still a beautiful, sunny day. There were some rolling clouds now and temps had climbed to 62 - a DREAM! I got ready at the car and was joined by some bullfrogs in a drainage ditch and a few bees that were REALLY interested in my car.

[12:03pm - Long Trail]

My hike started at a trailhead kiosk that doubled as the Long Trail and snowmobile Cooridor 7.

"Bromley Mountain

Length: 6.0 miles round trip

Elevation change: 1380 feet

Hiking level: Moderate - Difficult

This hike follows the Appalachian Trail/Long Trail (AT/LT) north on a rocky course through a mixed northern hardwood forest. Follow the trail at the end of the parking area along the old Vt. 11 route for about 50 feet then take a sharp left turn. The trail goes over a narrow bridge and from this point follows Bromley Brook. At 0.9 miles the trail crosses over Corridor 7, a major snowmobile route. After 1.6 miles, the trail makes a couple of sharp turns and becomes steeper. At 2.3 miles, there is a spur trail leading to the Bromley Shelter and tenting area. As the trail nears the summit, it opens onto Bromley Mountain's "Run Around" ski trail. Follow this to the top wher eyou will see an AT/LT sign, Summit Ski Patrol Station, and an observation deck. From the summit there are excellent views in all directions. Stratton Mountain is to the south and Mount Equinox is to the west.

The Long Trail followed the snowmobile trail for just a minute before turning left into the woods, crossing a weird metal single-lane bridge over a creek, and then traversing a sunny power cut. My legs were tired!

I continued onward on the relatively flat trail, past a large pile of bricks? The initial climb was gentle, wet, and rocky, with an occasional section of boardwalks to keep things interesting. I crossed paths with a duo as the trail followed a brook down on the left with some pretty cascades through the trees, and later past a cool broken boulder that you could walk through.

[12:17pm - Long Trail/Bromley Brook Bridge]

A larger bridge crossed Bromley Brook (signed) and rose on some pretty stone stairs! I had some post-lunch farts to contend with, which did make me a bit nervous since I've been off my regular excriment schedule recently...

I hiked over some more boards that followed a meadowy stream before crossing a few small streams - the trail had been flat for a minute now and I was trying to emotionally prep to climb, even though I really didn't want to! I realized at around a mile that I forgot to start my AllTrails, which was a solid bummer. I crossed a few more small streams, hopped along some rocks, and then crossed some more.

Some of the hobblebush I hiked past had very thin leaves, which cast a green hue onto the ground. My wrist was feeling better after yesterday's issue at Mt. Ascutney - after I wrung out my shirt yesterday, it hurt to even use my camera, but that wasn't hurting today - progress! The trail began to easily climb more steadily before flattening again. The trail was so wonderfully gentle, I couldn't help but think that it's such a bummer I'd have to climb eventually. 

[12:24pm - Long Trail/Corridor 7]

I crossed Cooridor 7 and then trail became wet and muddy with plenty of rocks to hop along. I was initially counting how many small streams I crossed, but there were more and more and more and I eventually gave up on that endeavour. At the 1.5 mile mark, there were another couple of streams to hop across and then I worked my way through a blowdown area that was full of young hobblebush and birch. I could eventually start to hear people through the woods. I checked my phone and confirmed, I was near the shelter!

[12:46pm - Long Trail/Bromley Shelter]

The Long Trail did a little zig-zag and then came to the shelter spur. I wanted to check it out, but the thought of socializing deterred me. Maybe I'll hit it on the way down. 

NOW it was time for the climb! There were flowering trout lilies on this upper third of the trail. I worked my way around a few lovely switchbacks that provided leaf views out and a spectacular breeze. I wrote in my notes "today is so wonderful I'm so glad I'm here and not at work." I did have a little bit of forearm chafing from my hip pocket, but my inner thigh chafing from yesterday was all better (thank you, diaper rash ointment!). 

I hiked past some big either quartz or marble rocks and I began to remember that the old fire tower book from 2005 said there was a blue-blazed vista spur somewhere, I wonder if it is still around?

[12:58pm - Long Trail/Vista]

Literally one minute after wondering about the vista, I came to the junction with the blue-blazed spur to the vista! There was a wonderful ledge view over to Stratton Mountain Ski Resort (and the fire tower along the ridge) with a surrounding sea of green trees.

After the vista, the forest type became more transitional for a literal second before getting back into the hardwoods. I climbed up some stone steps, realizing that I was almost there and really hadn't climbed up anything steep... at all. The Long Trail rounded a shoulder and then became wonderfully flat again before opening out onto a ski slope!

[1:09pm - Long Trail/Ski Slope]

The ski slope was a little wet, but nothing too horrible. I was thankful that it was late May, because the grass wasn't annoying long yet! There were a few gnats buzzing around my head, but that was the extent of annoying insects. I began to hike up the ski slope, eventually hitting the headwall of the run and what was probably the steepest part of the day. I was hearing people up at the top, which was a bummer, but also literally fine. I rounded the last shoulder, awkwardly said hello to two people sitting in Adirondack chairs basically on the trail, and then I made it to the summit!

[1:14pm - Bromley Mountain Summit]

There were a ton of people up at the top, but I think they were all, or mostly all a part of the same group. Nobody was on the tower, though, so up I went! It was a huge, sturdy, metal tower and it was WINDY. The view was simply spectacular, and I think my favorite of my three recent days in Southern Vermont. A few of the mountains that I was excited to see from here were: Equinox, Stratton, Magic, Killington, Pico, Ascutney, and Monadnock!

I wandered the yellow dandelion-covered summit area for a few minutes, taking in the sights, but I noticed the massive group looked like they were getting ready to blast off, so I got ahead of them and start my return trip, hiking past an adorable little privy right at the start of the descent.

[1:22pm - Long Trail]

My trip down had an interesting start. I was taking photos of the view from the ski slope when a woman asked "are you looking for the trail?" to which I said "no, well, yes, but I'm on my way down now!" (I was on the trail). She made a face at me and said "... well I know where it is..." I saw myself out. The view on the way down was just lovely - I was blown away by this hike! Truly the perfect finale to my little trip - great view, perfect weather, and a not-too-hard hike. I also saw there was more rain happening over in New York, I didn't think I would need to be racing it, but I wanted to blast off just in case! I used PeakFinder to see what mountains I was looking at, and they both had some fun names: Mt. Aeolus and Mother Myrick Mountain. I also could see Equinox!

[1:26pm - Long Trail enters woods]

[1:34pm - Long Trail/Vista]

I hopped back into the woods with a little boost from a scary fart. I just realized that I made it through this whole hike without a single spiderweb! I rambled through the upper shoulder stretch and descended down and past the vista, ultimately taking the detour to the shelter.

[1:42pm - Long Trail/Bromley Shetler]

The Bromley Shelter spur first passes the privy, which I thought about using, but then thought about using a clean, air-conditioned bathroom, and that took priority. There were tent platforms and the main shelter, which was nice and delightfully vacant! I took just a few photos before returning to the Long Trail.

[1:45pm - Long Trail]

[2:03pm - Long Trail/Corridor 7]

[2:08pm - Long Trail/Bromley Brook]

I continued my descent, noticing more flowers than I had before. Probably because I was no longer huffing and puffing uphill. 

I made my way down into the land of 1,000 streams, hopping along rocks to keep my feet dry. I learned/remembered quickly that the marble/quartz was much slipperyer than the other rocks... I eventually joined the Bromley Brook, crossed Corridor 7, and made my way to the bridge over Bromley Brook soon after.

I passed a trio of older hikers who asked if I passed a large group of hikers. I told them I hadn't, but when I left the summit there were a bunch of folks up there. The trio did not seem happy with my answer.

Closer to the road, I passed a little baby snake, scooted through teh power cut, and crossed the weird single-track bridge before joining Corridor 7 and finishing my wonderful hike of Bromley Mountain!

[2:20pm - End of Hike]

I changed into my delightfully dry clothes back at the car and noticed those dark clouds that were over New York were coming this way! My return trip was long, but fully unproblematic. Naturally, I found myself itching to get back...

Step-by-Step

- Start hike on the LT/AT from the VT-30 trailhead.

- Summit Bromley Mountain.

- Return to car with optional visits to the shelter and vista.

Photo Album