Mount Ascutney State Park

Weather permitting, we will have a rare chance to see the sunset and then the full moon rise from the observation tower at the summit of Mt. Ascutney.  The moon is going to rise at sunset.  Join the State Park Interpreter for this short, (0.7 mile), hike from the parking lot at the end of the toll road to the tower.  We will be returning in moonlit dark, so a flashlight or headlamp is required.  Meet at the top parking lot at 7:45pm. Keep fingers crossed for clear skies during this memorable evening.

Hike and explore a loop on the old Weathersfield Trail with the Mt Ascutney State Park Interpreter. The trail leads to the bottom of the amazing Crystal Cascade Falls, then makes a short but tricky climb up the side to the top.  After crossing the top we will return to the parking lot on the new Weathersfield Trail. 2.5 miles. Moderate to difficult. Free.  Meet at the Weathersfield Trailhead at 10am.

A Mt Ascutney geocaching challenge is being set up that will cover the entire park! Initially there will be a short geocaching class for beginners (or those wanting to refresh their expertise) to practice map reading and compass skills, and to try a short challenge exercise in the campground.  The park will have compasses to loan.  When confident in your skills, you will be given the coordinates for the park-wide challenge.  A great event for those who like to hike and explore!  Watch for updates.

Ever hiked in the dark?  Listened to nighttime wildlife noises? Challenged yourself on rocky trails with only a flashlight to light the way? Join the Park Interpreter on an evening hike from the parking lot at the top of the toll road to the Observation Tower for sunset, followed by a return hike in the dark.

The mountain road closes for uphill traffic at dusk, so be sure to head up before then. Meet at the top parking lot at 8:00pm. A flashlight and/or headlamp is required.  A warm outer layer is recommended. All participants and cars must leave the summit at the same time, as there is no overnight camping or parking allowed. Free

Hot days mean early morning exercise, preferably in the shade.  Join the Park Interpreter for a relatively easy 2.5 mile hike on the round-the-mountain Norcross Trail.  Meet at the parking area across the street from the Park entrance.  We will carpool or shuffle cars to the Windsor Trail parking lot where we will begin the trek back to the front gate.  Free

The Norcross Quarry on the Brownsville Trail is the most visible and accessible of the mountain’s four quarries, and is known for its rare green granite. But who was Norcross?  When was it active?  How was it manned? What is green granite? There is a one mile, moderate hike to the site, where we will take a deep dive into the history, workings, and folklore of the quarry, with pictures and written records.  Bushwhacking and rock scrambling at the quarry is optional.   Free.

Meet the Mt Ascutney State Park Interpreter at the Brownsville Trail parking lot at 10am.

Weather permitting, join the Mt Ascutney State Park Interpreter at the mountaintop observation platform for a stunning sunset!  There is a moderate 0.7 mile hike from the parking lot at the end of the road to the top, with a return in the dark. 

The mountain road closes for uphill traffic at 8:00pm, so be sure to head up before then.  Meet at the top parking lot at 8:10.  A flashlight and/or headlamp is required. Warm clothes are recommended.  All participants and cars must leave the summit at the same time, as there is no overnight camping or parking allowed at the top.  

A hike to check out the great views and scout out the trails that come to the top of the mountain. Guided by the Park’s Interpreter, and starting from the parking lot at the top of the road, we’ll hike to Castle Rock, Brownsville Rock, the Observation Tower, the hang glider platform, West Peak, and back to the start.  2.5 miles.  Diverse forestation, geology, and habitats.  Moderate difficulty.  Meet at the parking lot at the top of the mountain road.  FREE 

Learn some interesting and fun things about the big birds in Vermont’s sky.  The Interepreter’s program will highlight their size, nests, incredible sight, amazing strength, unique features and migration patterns.  How can we tell them apart when they are soaring above us?  We will also note how human behavior affects them.  30-45 minute program.

FREE program. Rain or Shine.  Meet at the pavilion/shelter halfway up the Mt Ascutney mountain road.  Ask at the gate about where to park.

Over the last two centuries there were four active quarries on Mt. Ascutney.  This hike takes us to the largest of the four, the Tyler Quarry.  Records indicate that Colonel Benjamin Tyler first removed granite from this quarry in 1768. As recently as 2010, the Town of Weathersfield retrieved a block to use for a memorial sculpture on the Perkinsville town green. This is a quarry with a long history.

There are three sites at the Tyler location.  Expect an adventure moving from one to another.  There is some long grass and brush.  A relatively easy 1 mile hike on an old road into the quarries.  FREE 

Meet at the parking area across the road from the State Park’s main entrance, from which we will drive to the start of the trail.