Mt. Ascutney via Weathersfield Trail & Summit Loop (Mt. Ascutney State Park)

Mt. Ascutney via Weathersfield Trail & Summit Loop (Mt. Ascutney State Park)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 7.15 miles

Elevation: 2,385 feet

My Time: 3 hours, 32 minutes (3 hours, 23 minutes moving)

Book Time: 4 hours, 46 minutes

Parking: Large parking lot at Weathersfield Trailhead.
Hiking Challenges: Vermont Fire Towers, Operation Alaska Benchmark Challenge, Mt. Ascutney State Park Redline

The Hike 

Oh no! I'm sick! I simply had to take a sick day after working for one day yesterday. I talked to my doctor and she said the only way to cure myself is to go back to Southern Vermont. I had to listen! I had a super sleepy drive, but I had the distinct pleasure of passing the Chicken Farmer Rock in New Hampshire! The sunrise was full of beautiful cotton-candy colors and in my last 15 minutes of driving, I had a wonderful changing view of Mt. Ascutney. 

I made it to the large trailhead at 5:36am with an aching lower back (which has been happening more and more with these longer drives) and an upset tummy (the morning ritual had not yet been performed). It was a little cloudy with temperatures around 53 degrees. There was one other car in the parking lot and while getting ready I nearly crushed a poor red eft! I got myself put together, craving a nap, but pushed onward and got to my hike!

[5:47am - Weathersfield Trail]

The Weathersfield, the most popular trail to climb the mountain according to the trailhead kiosk, climbed a stairs bridge and entered the woods, following white blazes. The trail was nice and relatively gentle with good footing in it's beginning, and just wide enough where I was not swimming through a sea of spider webs. I crossed over a cute mossy stream, passed the tiniest eft, and enjoyed a well-constructed switchback before coming to Little Cascade Falls.

[5:57am - Weathersfield Trail/Little Cascade Falls]

Little Cascade Falls were an absolute delight. On the left, the water from the stream was cascading down a chopped up slab. The water then ran over the trail and went over a steep dropoff on the left, maybe 20-30 feet down? The water wasn't trickling nor running heavily, but just enough for a beautiful, peaceful sight.

The trail climbed a bit more moderately before zigging and zagging at an impressive rock wall. It almost reminded me of the walls that make the Flume Gorge. I climbed more switchbacks, nearing the impressive wall again, then climbed more switchbacks and got a great view into the upper reaches of this wall, which formed a little canyon with a waterfall further back.

The Weathersfield Trail crossed the little canyon area and climbed up rock steps followed by wooden stairs. At the top of this mini climb was a grown-in view, but there was a slightly better view just a bit further down. 

The woods smelled like summer as I hopped across another small stream. The trail descended easily for a minute past a few efts and then after a short uphill moment came to the junction with the Falls Bypass Trail.

[6:15am - Weathersfield Trail/Falls Bypass]

I was excited to see these falls, so I did not take the bypass. The trail began to descend again as it approached the water, then following the contour before making a steeper descent.

[6:18am - Cascade Falls]

The trail comes right up to the edge of the stream that makes up Cascade Falls. Looking upstream on the right, the water was cascading down over rocks and slabs. Straight ahead the water was rushing over the slabs, and on the left the water basically ran over the edge into oblivion. Apparently the falls are 84 feet in height (compared to Little Cascade at 60 feet, which I just learned from https://www.newenglandwaterfalls.com/vt-cascadefalls.html), and I couldn't help myself to not follow herd paths around to the base of the falls.

I saw the herd paths on the left side of the falls, so I figured I'd follow them for as long as I safely could. I had to go slow and watch my footing on mossy boulders, but the trip down was more than worth it! The water created a fine mist as it hit broken slabs on it's descent, making for a really beautiful view. The forest was pretty grown-in down there, so I had to explore a bit to get a good vantage point. 

The climb up was much easier, as I simply blasted off and upward. I took one last view of the falls and then continued my climb up on the Weathersfield Trail.

[6:32am - Weathersfield Trail]

[6:36am - Weathersfield Trail/Falls Bypass]

The Weathersfield Trail climbed along the brook and had another lovely zig zag to turn away into a lovely forest full of soft pine needles. I hiked back into the hardwoods, joining and crossing a stream, and then started a longer moderate push with the stream on the right - my heart rate was up and I was sweaty! 

[6:51am - Weathersfield Trail/Halfway Brooks]

I climbed up to the sign for the Halfway Brooks (more than halfway up, mind you!), which looked like a series of slabby streams that I was simply not feeling adventerous enough to investigate. After a switchback, I could see the communications tower on the south peak through the trees, and my legs were really starting to feel the climb! I think I might have still been a little sore from Saturday's big day of Stratton and Equinox - I hadn't been that sore after a hike in a while.

More switchbacks led me back into a coniferous forest, where I'd stay for a while now. I saw my first person in this area, which was wildly eroded down to roots and bedrock. There were posts to hold rope to keep people on-trail, but they must have taken it down for winter. 

[7:05am - Weathersfield Trail/Harry's Lookout]

I hiked past Harry's Lookout, which was basically a fully grown-in viewpoint with a sign: "Dedicated to Harry Edward Temple of Perkinsville, VT. January 9, 1941 - March 8, 2020. Longtime hiker, trail maintainer, and active ATA member." The trail rounded a corner, revealing a wonderful breeze. I took this moment to wring out my shirt, which was apparently a huge mistake? I hurt my wrist weeks ago either skiing or doing strength training, took like six weeks off, got back into it for a week, and then it started hurting again this week. Wringing out my shirt would be the straw that broke the camel's back, apparently, because that HURT. Writing this a little over a week later and my wrist is still upset. Something around the ulnar nerve or tendonitis on the outside of my left hand? I'm going to lay off strength probably through the summer and see if that helps (aka, avoid doctors at all costs).

On the plus, my shirt felt much better! I conitnued hiking up to the signed turn to Gus's Lookout.

[7:11am - Weathersfield Trail/Gus's Lookout]

Gus's Lookout was much nicer with a great view to the lowlands and a unique perspective looking down to Monadnock. It was still pretty cloudy out, so views weren't distant or clear, but still nice! Old blazes made a mini-loop of Gus's Lookout, rejoining the Weathersfield Trail a few dozen feet past where I entered.

I hiked over a few boards and made friends with a photogenic squirrel before climbing again over short, steep switchbacks to the West Peak.

[7:18am - West Peak Lookout]

West Peak was basically divided into two spurs: the summit/lookout and the vista. First, I turned left to hike to the summit/lookout. Naturally, I slipped on a wet rock and landed on my hip and bad wrist... nice! This view was the best yet - I loved getting to see what I thought was Stratton (I will soon learn that it was Okemo) and Killington off to the far right. 

[7:22am - West Peak Vista]

The trail to the vista was just a bit further down the trail and shared a junction with the Hang Glider Trail. The muddy spur trail led to a wonderful view of the nearby mountains with Killington as it's centerpiece. There was a wooden ramp and wooden deck at the main view, which I'd later learn/realize is for hang gliding! This mountain is really winning me over!

[7:26am - Weathersfield Trail]

I made my way back to the Weathersfield Trail and was ready to climb the final 0.4 miles (according to the sign) to the summit. There were plenty of pre-flowering trout lilies and eventually just a few painted trillium. There was what appeared to be an abandoned yellow-blazed trail leading left out of a flatter area, and then some rock stairs led to the top! The observation tower was over on the left and the summit was on the right - I followed the trail to the summiti first.

[7:34am - Summit Spur]

[7:35am - Mt. Ascutney Summit]

There were two communication towers that were absolutely howling in the wind at the true summit area! There wasn't much for a view, but there were what seemed to be multiple footings for old fire towers. There was also a summit disc - yay! I found another one at the base of the higher communication tower. I poked around this clearing for a little bit and then worked my way over to the observation tower, nearly dying (read as: slipping on a wet rock) in the process.

"The Fire Tower is part of our history. 

The first fire lookout tower on Mt. Ascutney was built from wood in the early 1920s. The Civilian Conservation Corps later replaced the wooden tower with a steel structure from 1938-1940. They also brought 3.5 miles of phone line up the mountain to the tower. The fire lookout climbed 72 stairs to reach the small cabin at the top of the tower. (By the 1950s, this job was performed instead by airplane pilots on weather patrols.) At 56 feet high, the steel fire tower was more than twice as tall as the current observation tower, but that did not deter visitors from climbing up to take in the view, and parts of the 1940 tower have been recycled to build the 24 foot tower that stands here today." from Parking Lot Kiosk.

[7:41am - Mt. Ascutney Observation Tower]

The tower was delightful! Not too tall, which was nice, and plenty windy up top. Each side of the railing had a view guide, which I loved. The mountain I thought was Stratton was actually Okemo - my next stop! Killington was standing proudly above everything else, plus plenty of other mountains in all directions. The signs said the whites would be visible on a clear day, which would be really fun to see. The clouds were starting to clear up, but they were going nowhere fast!

[7:45am - Brownsville Trail]

Time to start the lollipop portion of my lollipop loop! I continued onto the Brownsville Trail, which first followed yellow blazes and soon white blazes as the Slot/Slab Trails left on the right. The trail was a little wet, but overall wonderful - somewhat reminiscent of the upper wooded sections on Monadnock.

[7:50am - Brownsville Rock]

The spur for Brownsville Rock was just after a gentle rise in the trail, which provided yet another wonderful view of Killington. The trail and viewpoint had some old graffiti, which as long as it's old, I enjoy seeing!

[7:54am - Brownsville Trail]

Back on the Brownsville Trail, I passed the foundations of the "Stone Hut Site." Not much more info, but I did find a disc! I gasped! Then another disc! I gasped again! Then ANOTHER disc! I gasped again! Two arrows and a summit disc - I was absolutely shocked and delighted - what a fun surprise! It was at this point that I decided I'd have to come back four more times to make the discs "count" and at that point I might as well make it a goal to hike all of the trails on the mountain.

[7:58am - Windsor Trail]

[7:58am - Castle Rock Trail]

[7:59am - Castle Rock]

The Brownsville Trail descended for just a minute afterwards to the junction with the Windsor Trail, which was also blazed in white. Just after that was the Castle Rock Trail, and just after that was Castle Rock proper! There was a partially grown-in view from the rock, but nice nonetheless. I could see Monadnock! The forest around Castle Rock felt prehistoric, which I just loved. 

After the viewpoint, the trail began to descent on a very narrow footbed, soon joining the Summit Trail at the junction with the Slab/Slot Trail (it's confusing on the map and signs what is specifically what around the summit, but the collection of trails that are blazed with yellow diamonds make up the "Summit Trail" in addition to whatever their official names may or may not be).

[8:01am - Summit Trail]

I descended on narrow rock stairs and had an annoying crawl-under blowdown to navigate. I reentered a deciduous forest and saw some leaf views towards the South Peak and New Hampshire. The Futures Link and Slab Trails eventually joined before the trail crossed some power lines and came to a junction with the Hang Glider Trail on the left. I stayed right, making a little side-visit to the parking lot, which was signed as 0.1 miles away.

[8:12am - Parking Lot]

The parking lot had plenty of room and a nice view of the South Peak. There was the world's cutest porta potty and a kiosk with a little bit of information on the mountain:

"Is Mount Ascutney a volcano? Not quite! There was a volcano here (possibly 5,000 feet above the current summit!) but it has since eroded away. Mount Ascutney was formed underneath the volcano, and has stood up to the water, wind, and ice that weathered away the surrounding volcanic rock and schist bedrock" from Parking Lot Kiosk.

[8:14am - Summit Trail]

[8:17am - Hang Glider Trail]

I didn't stay for long and got right back on the trail, soon continuing onto the blue-blazed Hang Glider Trail. I hiked back into the conifers and past some flowering hobblebush, gently descending with rugged, piney footing. It was a really beautiful area, like the Halfway House area of Monadnock. The Hang Glider Trail passed a grassy meadow (that was not yet overgrown) and then rose gently to the Weathersfield Trail, concluding my lollipop!

[8:24am - Weathersfield Trail]

[8:29am - Weathersfield Trail/Gus's Lookout]

I got greeted by the first screaming squirrel of the day once back on the Weathersfield Trail. My tummy was feeling WERID. I hiked down past an enormous boulder that I somehow missed on the way up, waved to Gus, nodded to Harry, and had to take my boots off to remove that simply had to have been the world's sharpest pine needle. I enjoyed the abundance of switchbacks as I made my way down, soon passing the Halfway Brooks.

[8:43am - Weathersfield Trail/Halfway Brooks]

I made my way back in to the world of Efts as I paralleled the brooks. The air was warmer and more humid down here.

[8:54am - Falls Bypass]

After a bit of mindless hiking, I turned left ont othe comically short Falls Bypass, which was delightfully flat with faded blue blazes. 

[8:56am - Weathersfield Trail]

The Falls Bypass brought me back to the Weathersfield Trail in a bright deciduous forest. This stretch of trail was truly a lovely, flat ramble with just a touch of uphill. I descended the wooden stairs into the canyon area, catching some rays of sun around 9am! The canyon area was cooler than the surrounding forest, which was nice. 

[9:11am - Weathersfield Trail/Little Cascade Falls]

I made my way across Little Cascade Falls, reluctantly going off-trail and downhill to get another view (medium worth it) and then wandered along the rest of the trail, passing a few older logging roads in a lush, green forest back to the parking area!

[9:19am - End of Hike]

There was a new car at the trailhead, but I did not see any new people. I was running 35 minutes ahead of schedule - yay! I got a map for Mt. Ascutney at the trailhead kiosk for a suggested donation of $1 with full intentions of starting a redline on this mountain - it was a fantastic hike!

Step-by-Step

- Start hike on Weathersfield Trail.

- At jct., stay left on Weathersfield Trail to falls.

- At jct., continue left on Weathersfield Trail.

- Hike spurs to Harry's Lookout, Gus's Lookout, West Summit, and West Vista, then continue on Weathersfield Trail.

- At terminus, turn left to summit Mt. Ascutney.

- At summit, turn around and hike to tower.

- From tower, turn left onto Slab Trail.

- Soon, continue left onto Brownsville Trail.

- At jct, turn left onto Brownsville Rock spur.

- At Brownsville Rock, turn around.

- At jct., turn left onto Brownsville Trail.

- At jct., turn right onto Windsor Trail.

- At jct., turn right onto Castle Rock Trail.

- At terminus, continue straight on Summit Trail.

- Follow Summit Trail to parking lot.

- At parking lot, turn around.

- At jct., continue straight onto Hang Glider Trail.

- At terminus, turn left onto Weathersfield Trail.

- At jct., turn left onto Falls Bypass.

- At jct., turn left onto Weathersfield Trail.

- Follow Weathersfield Trail to car.

Map of Mt. Ascutney State Park

Photo Album