Killington Peak via Bucklin Trail (Coolidge State Forest/Green Mountain National Forest)
Hike Type: Out-and-Back
Distance: 7.98 miles
Elevation: 2,493 feet
Time: 3 hours, 17 minutes (3 hours moving)
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025, Vermont 4000 Footers, Long Trail Side to Side
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025, Vermont 4000 Footers, Long Trail Side to Side
The Hike
I was out in scenic Schenectady, New York for a good friend's wedding and I decided to take the scenic route home and hit Vermont's southernmost 4000-footer, Killington Peak! I made sure to sleep in since I had a hotel room all to myself, and around 10am I packed up and started my journey! The drive was beautiful and I made it to the trailhead just before noon. It was a warm, humid, hazy day in the high 70s, but I didn't care how miserable the air was, because I was about to climb a mountain!! I've loved my summer in New Jersey - I spent plenty of time down the shore, hiking the Tourne, and a couple jaunts to Mt. Tammany and Harriman, but I'd been missing real mountains, especially 4000-footers. There was possible rain in the forecast around 2/3pm, but I wasn't too pressed about it. I got suited up, got catcalled by some crazy squirrels, and I was off!
[12:03pm - Start of Hike on Bucklin Trail]
The plan for the afternoon was an out-and-back on the Bucklin Trail. The Bucklin Trail started off super flat in the woods (I was basically kicking my heels in joy to be on a mountain trail again). There was one fly that was REALLY into my hair, but besides that, bugs were tame. The Catamount Trail joined at 0.1 miles and at 0.2 miles, the trail crossed a bridge over Brewers Brook and passed the trail register (I plead the fifth to whether or not I signed in...). My hamstrings were feeling super tight from my first leg day in a couple months (which was like... five days ago...). I also admired a sign warning the Pico Porcupines, which I thought was fun ("Dog Danger: Pico is overpopulated with prickly porcupines! A local veterinarian reports that he has de-quilled many dogs that were off leash and encountered porcupines on Pico. Apparently the porcupine population has surged. If you aren't sure your dog knows to avoid porcupines and don't want your hike ruined by an encounter, please leash your dog.").
The Bucklin Trail continued to travel flat through the beautiful forest, crossed a blowdown, and soon the Catamount Trail left on the left (hehe). Around 0.5 miles, the sound of Brewers Brook neared again, but the trail made a left turn away from the trailway and onto what felt like a relocated stretch (according to the Long Trail Guide, this relocation was built after Hurricane Irene in 2011).
[12:27pm - Junction with Old Route]
I originally thought this reroute was new based on how the trail looked, but I soon walked on some rotting boards which said otherwise. I passed a few people (one barefoot) in this stretch as the trail gently meandered up and down. I noticed a dormant wasp nest off in the woods when I hit the 1.0 mile mark - my pace was going well at an easy 20-minute mile. I knew I'd be slowing down soon, though...
Eventually, the Bucklin Trail descended to rejoin the old route at 1.2 miles. A sign indicated that the old route is still passable, but only in winter. The trailbed went back to a wide old road (or railroad?) grade once on the old route and then wiggled through an overgrown, wet area before crossing the brook on a nice bridge.
The road grade continued after this, still ascending incredibly easy, crossed another bridge at 1.5 miles, and then traversed a wet, rocky stretch of still mostly-flat trail. I maintained my 20-minute mile pace for my second mile, which made me more nervous for the climb to come! I did find myself thinking about how nice of a snowshoe hike this would be, though.
[12:43pm - Irene Falls]
To my delight, there was a surprise signed, eroded spur path to Irene Falls! The falls proper looked to fall from the cliffs above, but most of the that view was obstructed by trees, and the low water levels did not put on much of a show. I explored just a little bit, and did find a smaller cascade with a nice wading pool, too. It would have been nice to dunk my head, but the amount of water bugs effectively deterred me. Plus, the flying insects were alive and well in this area! I got a couple of mosquito bites here, so I took the hint and got right on out of there.
I put some bug spray on since the bugs followed me back to the Bucklin Trail. The easy grades continued just for a little bit longer and then FINALLY (for better or for worse) hit the Green Mountain National Forest land, turned off the old road, and began to climb at 2.2 miles. There were obstructed tree views to Pico and Ram's Head. The grade of the trail wasn't crazy steep, but it was that perfect storm of moderate grade, humid air, and a body that was likely still processing the gallon of wine I drank the previous night, that had my blood pumping!
There was a slight reprieve at a newly-looking-built switchback to bypass an eroded stretch, and then the climbing continued. The forest began to pivot from deciduous to coniferous around 2.9 miles, and I was proud of my ailing body to see my watch tell me my third mile's pace was only 30 minutes. This was followed by another nice walking break and a mid-sized medium recent pile of bear poop. I climbed again through super pretty fern-y woods that looked well-gladed for skiing (which would make sense). Once I neared the Long Trail, a bunch of pretty purple flowers began to pop up (according to Seek, they're Swamp Asters), and soon enough, I made it to the Long Trail!
[1:33pm - Long Trail]
The Swamp Asters continued in abundance once on the Long Trail, which hiked much more ruggedly than the Bucklin Trail. I didn't realize this stretch of the Long Trail was also the Appalachian Trail, which was fun! The trail climbed on the easy side of moderately to the Cooper Lodge, whose perimiter was lined with thick, bright orange ratchet strap-type things. I initially thought they were to mark the closed lodge, but I think they're actually there for back and side-country skiers to mark the point of no return (which was also indicated by a sign: "The mountains will be just as cold and lonely as they were 200 years ago. Point of no return.).
I did a quick shirt-wring-out and hydration break at the lodge, said hi to some passing hikers, and then continued up past some tent platforms and to the Killington Peak Spur.
[1:41pm - Killington Spur]
This final push was going to short and STEEP. Thankfully, it was the fun kind of steep. The kind of steep where you simply cannot go too fast becuase it's so silly. The trees quickly went from full-grown to scrubby, and the hazy views quickly began to show themselves, especially out towards New York. I then caught a view to Pico, passed some signs for a "J Trail" (one of the trails from the resort), and made it to the top in one piece!
[1:50pm - Killington Peak]
The view was hazy, but lovely, and the weather felt immaculate up top. There were some people on the summit, but it was not too crowded. My real only complaint was that the goldonas were running, so there were some folks who were not sweaty, disgusting, and exhausted, which always feels unfair! The main view was towards Pico and the Adirondacks, but the far views were mostly obscured by the haze. I wandered around the main summit area for a bit and then meandered around the communication tower area just off the summit. There was one spooky fire tower that seemed closed to the public - sad! I eventually made it back to the true summit where I had a sit and snack. The group of backpackers I saw at the lodge made it up about 10 minutes after me, and I learned that they're finishing a multi-day backpacking trip and planned to take the gondola down (which, happy for them, but at that point I'd rather hike down to feel satisfied, but I'm also crazy...).
[2:04pm - Killington Spur]
Darker clouds began to roll in, so I decided to pack it up and head on down. I was okay with getting caught in the rain, but I wanted to be off the summit before it hit (I also was over three hours from home still). The descent was comically steep and I found myself grateful for my solid sense of balance, becuase I was able to mountain-goat myself down relatively quickly. I passed one guy on the descent and we both lamented about the steepness. He said "I skipped my summit beer today because I knew I'd have to come down this and if I go I want it to be on my own terms" which was very funny!
[2:13pm - Long Trail]
Once back on the Long Trail, I took a quick break at the lodge to tighten my shoes, which were still new and feeling a bit loose after a couple hours of hiking (this might have been a mistake... more on that when I write about Mt. Wolf). My shorts and underwear were SOAKED with sweat, which had me worrying about chafing, but I am happy to report I survived mostly unscathed. I was significantly warmer and more humid once in the woods, which was an expected bummer. My stint on the Long Trail was short-lived, and I was soon back on the Bucklin Trail!
[2:17pm - Bucklin Trail]
The upper stretch of the Bucklin Trail was expectedly rough. I always struggle with which poison to pick - do I go slow and fight gravity, which will be harder on the thighs, or do I let gravity work, which is harder on the feet. I let gravity do it's thing, which had my speed up, but my feet definitely felt it (again, more on that for Mt. Wolf...). I did feel a delightful relief when I hit the old road grade - the feeling of switching which leg muscles are being used feels like shifting gears on a car, I think at least.
[2:44pm - Irene Falls]
Once on the road grade, I soon passed Irene Falls again and continued along, crossing the bridges, wiggling through the wet, overgrown stretch, and then coming to the junction with the old route, which had me dreading the few uphills that were about to come.
[2:58pm - Junction with Old Route]
To nobody's surprise, I was being dramatic and the relocated spur was completely fine. I made my way up and down, back onto the old route, and was overjoyed to see the first big bridge over Brewers Brook and the trail register (still pleading the fifth). I had a little bit of hip pain and overall fatigue at this point, but that was fully expected at this point of the hike, especially since I maintained a faster pace without much of a break... at all.
[3:15pm - End of Hike]
I was soon back at the trailhead, getting catcalled by red squirrels, and all was good! I changed my clothes, drank some water, had a snack, and started my long-but-beautiful drive home. This was Vermont high peak #4, leaving only Camel's Hump left, which I should hopefully be able to hike Labor Day weekend!
Step-by-Step
- Start hike on Bucklin Trail.
- At terminus, turn right onto Long Trail (southbound).
- After cabin, turn left onto Killington Spur.
- At summit, retrace steps back to car.
Map of Coolidge Range
Photo Album
