Stratton Mountain & Stratton Pond Loop (Green Mountain National Forest)

Stratton Mountain & Stratton Pond Loop (Green Mountain National Forest)

Hike Type: Loop

Distance: 13.22 miles

Elevation: 2,379 feet

My Time: 5 hours, 2 minutes (4 hours, 53 minutes moving)

Book Time: 7 hours, 47 minutes

Parking: Parking for 10-15 cars at AT/LT Trailhead on Stratton-Arlington Road.
Hiking Challenges: New England 100 Highest, Vermont Firetowers, Operation Alaska Benchmark Challenge, New England 50 Finest, Long Trail Side to Side

The Hike 

I had just finished my week from hell and I desperately needed to pack up the car and drive to the mountains and talk to NOBODY for the day. Instead of my usual drive up I-93, though, I wiggled my way over to the Southern Green Mountains - an area that I have barely scratched the surface of. The plan for the day was to do two hikes: Stratton Mountain (for funsies) and Equinox Mountain (for the Taconic 12er patch). Really, I only planned on Equinox, but then I saw how close Stratton was. Stratton was going to be the easier hike, so I planned to hit that first. I my alarm went of at the silly hour of 2:25am, I was out the door at 2:40m, and I was off!

My drive on Route 2 was dark and boring, but once I stopped for breakfast at the Cumberland Farms in Greenfield, the sun began to rise and really put on a show! The colors reached their peak in Wilmington, VT, where the sky simply looked to be on fire. I gasped when I drove past Mt. Snow, which was fully illuminated in the dark morning orange light.

I made my way onto Stratton-Arlington Road, which at some point became Kelly Stream Road (and nothing online tells me where it changes). It started as a paved road and soon became gravel as it entered the Green Mountain National Forest - it was fun to be in a different National Forest! The trailhead had room for I'd say 15-20 cars in the main parking area and roadside parking was allowed for overflow. There were only two other cars in the parking area. It was a chilly 40 degree morning with now-cloudy skies. I put on my long sleeve base layer, fleece, and my Nano Puff, knowing that I'd soon shed the outer two layers likely for the rest of the day. This was also in innaugural hike for my new puff, which is a vibrant blaze orange curtosey of Emma (who lost my black one). I was a little nervous to get going because I hadn't used the bathroom yet, but I had to get going! I found myself flirting with the idea of doing a loop with Stratton Pond, even though that wasn't the plan, but I'd dwell on that more later.

[5:50am - Long Trail]

My hike started at 5:50am with the sounds of rushing water and a distant loon welcoming me into the woods. There was an illegal fire ring and campsite just inside of the woods. I was keeping a quicker pace to warm up. To my absolute joy, it was an EXCELLENT day for wildflowers! I immediately started passing painted trillium, starflowers, and to my ultimate delight, pink lady slippers! It was also a great morning for spider webs...

The hobblebush was growing in... strongly, with a few of the plants flowering, and I also passed these little, white orchid-shaped flowers in a boggy area (northern white violets, thanks, Seek!). Next up were flowers of a similar shape but purple (marsh blue violets!). I passed by some grown-in logging roads and eventually took my puff and fleece off at 0.5 miles/15 minutes. There was a small herd path/spur to a view of a little bog just after crossing the outflow stream on boards and many birds were singing (due to my rule of being on airplane mode all day, I did not utilize Merlin). 

My liner gloves came off at the one mile park. The hike so far had been delightfully mostly flat with occasional easy elevation gains. I passed more painted trillium and pink lady slippers and got cat-called by a distant turkey, or a sasquach. No way of knowing for sure. 

There was a very short uphill push that was on the easy side of moderate, and then the trail flattened out again. I found myself wondering why my hike on Crescent Mountain was all red trillium while this mountain has been painted trillium (no easy answer online, but I'm sure there's a reason, or maybe it's just by chance!). Flowering trout lilies began to appear as the Long Trail crossed a woods road - the junction was well-blazed.

[6:24am - Long Trail/IP Road]

This junction was with the "IP Road," also known as Forest Road 341. The Green Mountain National Forest website describes it as; "This road, also known as the International Paper or I.P. Road, can be accessed from the Stratton-Arlington Road to the south in Stratton or the Kendall Farm Road in Winhall to the north. This road is open to mountain biking and is an 18.6-mile out and back ride on a gravel road surface. There is some elevation gain and loss along this road totaling around 1,200 feet." I guess it was used/owned by International Paper for logging? Unclear if they still own/use it or not. 

The next flower I'd find is the smooth yellow violet - I'm noticing that violets (or at least these violets) all have five petals and are vaugely orchid-shaped. The Long Trail began to actually climb after this junction, but it truly never climbed at anything over a moderate pitch - it was actually pretty delightful. Next, I passed some creeping foamflowers and then some past-peak red trillium. Again, it was a great day for flowers!

The trail got a little wet in spots with a few easy stream crossings. I noticed a sound behind me, and it was another hiker hiking at a similar pace to me. I didn't pick up the pace, but I made my flower photography sessions a little smaller so we didn't end up engaging in a sad game of leap frog. 

There was a nonexitent tree view to Stratton ahead and more painted trillium at my feet. I crossed a few more streams as the trail became rockier and the climb became more steadily moderate. The footing was rockier and rougher, but overall it was not a bad hike in the slighest. I heard the thumping of the ruffted grouse as I ran out of farts (if you know, you know). 

The Long Trail eventually turned a corner and eased for a bit as it rounded a smaller sub-peak. It looked like the trail used to up and over the sub-peak. This stretch was absolutely delightful and there was a cool breeze that worked to dry me off! I stepped over a few blow downs (the second was an over-under-over) and enjoyed an even stronger breeze in the col between the main and sub-peak. 

The climbing resumed in a coniferous forest, eventually passing some flagging in a semi-cleared area. Maybe it was for a backcountry glade? No idea, and the internet is not overly helpful. There was a very partial view to a lake, though!

The trail zigged and zagged while getting rockier, but it really never got steeper. The last push did go on for a minute longer than I wanted, but the second I zoned out I was there! First, I passed an old cabin, and then I saw the tower!

[7:20am - Stratton Mountain Summit]

I spent some time wandering around the small summit area. I found the summit disc, took a few photos, admired the "maximum four people on tower at one time" sign, and then climbed on up!

The tower sounded WINDY, and it sure was! The views started at the second landing, and the wind was simply howling up in the cabin, which had a mixture of broken and in-tact windows. I whipped out PeakFinder to find out what I was looking at (it's fun to me to be in an area where I don't know the surrounding peaks!). I was surprised and excited to see the jagged Adirondack high peaks! Of course, I loved seeing my beloved Mt. Monadnock, too. I was able to identify some nearby ski mountains, and ahead I could see the top of the Stratton Ski Resort, my next stop! To the left I could make out Mt. Equinox and Stratton Pond... maybe I will do the loop?

[7:27am - Stratton Ridge Trail]

The Stratton Ridge Trail continued straight ahead (unsigned but more-traveled than the Long Trail on the left. The flower game was not nearly as strong, with only a few trout lilies and one red trillium. I did pass just a few painted trillium nearer the ski area, though! There was a lovely stretch of boards over a wet/grassy area, which led to a cut ski/access/something path and a slight uphill to a knob. Just before the top of the knob read a sign: "This trail leads to the Stratton Mountain Fire Tower, erected by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934. The tower is on the Long Trail, which was built starting in 1920 by the Green Mountain Club. The "LT" is th enation's oldest long-distance hiking trail. Benton McKaye was on Stratton Mountain in 1921 when he envisioned the Appalachian Trail. Completed in 1937, the "AT" now spans 2,175 miles from Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine, includin gthe southern 105 miles of the Long Trail."

[7:40am - Stratton Ski Area Summit]

After the knob, the Stratton Ridge Trail opens up to the MASSIVE summit area of Stratton Mountain. I explored a bit, admiring their extensive lift infastructure, and then followed a ski trail on the left to make a mini loop with that cut ski/access/something path. I comically started choking on my water as I high-stepped through wet grass to get back on the trail.

 

My return hike to the summit was quick and easy. I noticed a little survey pipe just off-trail right before the summit, which was fun!

[7:57am - Long Trail/Stratton Mountain Summit]

Okay FINE I'll hike the loop! I knew this would be adding miles to my day, but it wasn't even 8:00am yet! I had all day! I turned onto the Long Trail to continue my journey. It was visibly less-traveled than any trail I'd been on so far, but it was nothing terrible. The grade steepened to the steepest thing I hiked all day! It wasn't ridiculous, but some care was needed in wetter spots. There were also occasional green flagging tape around trees? They were always along the Long Trail, maybe for winter navigation? Unsure.

[8:02am - Long Trail/Water Spur]

The trail zig-zagged down, passing a presumably illegal firepit, and then passed a sign to a spring. I followed it out of curiousity, and it soon led to a cute tiny little spring, almost just as promised! The Long Trail was more wet and more slippery after the spring, but again, still nothing too arduous. I passed a pile of dry moose poop and then a little peek-a-view toward Stratton Pond and Mt. Equinox!

The painted trillium and green flagging were both going strong as I descent back into the land of windflowers. The steeper descent mellowed out to cross a little stream (I think the same stream that the spring fed) and then I unloced another flower! It was a fuzzy white/pink ball (dwarf ginseng, thanks, Seek!). 

The Long Trail crossed a very old roadbed followed by another one that was mostly flooded, which led to another junction with the IP Road!

[8:43am - Long Trail/IP Road]

After crossing the IP Road, the bugs started making themselves known. Thankfully, they only were annoying when I was not moving. I hiked past a fresh, mid-sized mamallian poop as I bug-sprayed my hair for good measure. I crossed a bridge over a larger stream that appeared to flow into a meadow (I initially thought into Stratton Pond, but I was not as close as I had hoped to be). The trail rose again (to my dismay) with a little bit of sunshine through the trees. There was a gentle breeze that felt good on my sweating-again skin, and then I descended to the junction with the Stratton Pond Trail!

[9:03am - Stratton Pond Trail]

The Long Trail turned right here as the Stratton Pond Trail turned left, running cocurrent with the Catamount X-C Ski Trail. It was a nice change of pace to see blue blazes! Just afer turning onto the Stratton Pond Trail, the spur path to the pond proper turned right.

"The trail to Stratton Pond gradually ascends through a forest of mixed hardwood and softwood species. Several areas are wet and particularly susceptible to erosion, so planking, known as puncheon, is set over soft ground to minimize damage to the trail and surrounding ecosystem. The trail is managed for foot travel only. Stratton Pond is the most heavily used location on the Appalachian Trail in Vermont. The potential for recreation use to impact the pond's ecosystem is serious. Camping is restricted to designated sites only. Shelter and tent platforms are available near the pond on a first come, first serve basis." from Trailhead Kiosk.

[9:05am - Stratton Pond Spur]

The spur felt recently relocated as it easily descended past an AMC canoe to a picturesque view of the pond proper. I passed a hiking duo, the first of the day, that looked like they were backpacking and not overly friendly. The pond was calm with just a few ducks and songbirds wandering about. It looked like there used to be a trail or herd path around the pond, but it was signed as closed:

"Trail Restoration Project! Stratton Pond is home to loons, beavers, brook trout and a variety of unique wetland plants. In order to allow our natural communities to thrive and to maintain the water quality of Stratton Pond, some sections of trail have been relocated away from the shoreline. Please help us in preserving this ecologically sensitive area and stay on designated trails!"

To my shock and delight, I found a USGS disc right where the sign was! I took some photos and then sat down for a snack, but the bugs fully activated once I sat down so I had my protein bar to-go and started to hike back to the Stratton Pond Trail.

[9:16am - Stratton Pond Trail]

[9:17am - Stratton Pond Trail/Stratton Pond Shelter Spur]

I passed the tent platform for the Stratton Pond Shelter caretaker and worked my way along the trail, which was luciously green and gentle.

[9:20am - Stratton Pond Trail/Lye Brook Trail]

Next up was the Lye Brook Trail, which led to a campsite called "Stratton View," but I was not overly interested in adding MORE miles to this hike when I had an even more difficult mountain to climb next - another day! The trail sign said the parking area was three miles away, but someone used a pencil to add a ".8" to that "3," which hurt but made more sense. I cracked open a "two chicks" canned cocktail and started some civilized hiking!

The trail meandered gently up and down for a while through pretty forests with birches standing high and evergreens down low at hip-height. I comically wrote in my notes "thank goodness no one's been on this trail today I'm so glad to have more webs." I hiked over a huge pile of bear poop and entered a true sea of hobblebush. I was really enjoying my civilized hiking - it was passing the time on a rather mundane trail really well. There was nothing wrong with the trail, it was actually prettty wonderful with easy grades and good footing! I was just a little tired and a little secretly bored after a bit. I conitnued onto a lovely boardwalk section as I approached a junction with an old woods road. Here, the Catamount Trail turned left.

[9:46am - Stratton Pond Trail/Catamount Ski Trail turns left]

I continued on, eventually hitting a longer stretch of lovely boardwalks. I found myself instinctively reaching for my phone due to boredom, but I held onto my airplane-mode rule for the day, which I'm glad and proud of. My next note also made me laugh: "just vibes and painted trillium."

I hiked over a swamp on more boards and spooked a family of deer, which in turn spooked me back. They stopped for photos, though, so I forgave them! I was thinking that if I were to suggest this hike, which I would, I'd suggest it in reverse. Still park in the same area, but do the road walk and the Stratton Pond Trail first, then a steeper climb, and then a relatively easy descent back to the car directly. I followed deer prints as I began my final descent - yay! My legs and body were tired, but I was hellbent on still hiking Equinox! I was hoping a nice sit in the car and a Celsius would bring me back and I got into the mindset that today is a training/conditioning day for my trip to Maine in a month! I see the road!

[10:29am - Kelly Stream Road]

There was one car at the Stratton Pond trailhead, presumably for the duo I saw at the pond. I turned left to start my road walk back to the car! I initially crossed paths with a few bikers and spent some time admiring the abundance of dandelions. There was an obstructed tree view ahead to Stratton, which would probably have been photo-worthy if there were no leaves. 

The dandelions began to intermingle with some lesser periwinkle as I midlyless dragged my body along the road (that was so dramatic-sounding). There was an unfortunate amount of empty beer cans along the road. I walked over a stream/culvert and then an unmarked woods road on the left.

[10:44am - Kelly Stream Road/FR 384]

After a few minutes of nothing, I passed Forest Road 384 on the right and then some virginia strawberry flowers (thanks, Seek!). Soon after was where the Catamount Trail joined the road (exactly at my watch's 13-mile park). Just a few minutes of walking and I passed the Long Trail/Catamount Trail's turn on the right and then I was back to my car after the bridge over the East Branch Deerfield River!

[10:51am - End of Hike]

This hike ended up being MUCH longer than planned... oops! No regrets, though. I was surprised to see how FULL the parking area was now, especially after seeing hardly anyone for so long! I changed my clothes at the car and got what I needed ready for a drive over to Equinox - thank goodness I downloaded the offline Google Maps beforehand! I also heard a weird buzzing/hissing sound from under my car, but couldn't figure out what it was... hopefully it'll go away?

Step-by-Step

- Park at AT/LT trailhead on Stratton Arlington Road.

- Start hike on the Long Trail/Appalachian Trail.

- At summit, continue onto Stratton Ridge Trail.

- At terminus, explore top of ski area and turn left onto ski trail.

- At jct., turn left onto grassy road.

- At jct., turn right onto Stratton Ridge Trail.

- At summit, turn right onto Long Trail/Appalachian Trail.

- At jct., turn left onto Stratton Pond Trail.

- At jct., turn right onto Stratton Pond Access.

- At Stratton Pond, turn around.

- At jct., turn right onto Stratton Pond Trail.

- At terminus, turn left onto Stratton Arlington Road/Kelly Stream Road (same road).

- Return to car.

Photo Album