3 Day Hikes in Southern Vermont

There is something special about conquering a mountain, and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it can never be taken away.

As a kid, I remember always going on several hikes every year. Once we moved up to Vermont, when I was almost 9, we hiked up many of the mountains in the southern part of the state. Three of the mountains around the area are: Mount Ephraim in Springfield; Bromley Mountain in Peru; and Mount Ascutney in Ascutney/Windsor. All great places to go for day hikes!

Mount Ephraim

Mount Ephraim is a more modest mountain, standing at only 1490 feet. The trail only rises 659 feet in elevation and is around 4.3 miles round trip. There are several ways to access trails to the summit, the one I take requires you to park near some guys driveway…

It is classified as a moderate hike and is not too difficult. It starts off on a wide trail…

and once you make it to the top the trails become narrower…

There are a lot of bushes and trees on top, but there are still nice views of the neighboring mountains...

and there is a nice cairn on top as well…

Bromley Mountain

Bromley Mountain is located near Peru, Vermont, right next to the ski resort. It is 3263 feet in elevation and the trails are classified as moderate. The trail I take is part of the Appalachian/Long trail and is accessed from a parking lot off the road on the way to Manchester, VT. The rise in elevation is approximately 1414 feet and it has incredible views from the top. It is an almost 6-mile round trip hike…

it gets a little wet in places, especially in the Spring and Fall, so there are some wooden planks on the trail…

near the top, the trail opens up in a grassy area, where you can see some amazing views of nearby mountains…

there used to be a fire tower you could climb at the top, but it has since been removed. There are, however, still great views…

Mount Ascutney

Mount Ascutney has many trails winding over it. I have been on three of them. The first one is one of the longest, the Weathersfield Trail, which is accessed from a parking lot in Weathersfield, VT, and is almost 6 miles round trip. The mountain reaches to the height of 3144 feet, and the elevation change on this trail is 2263 feet.

This trail leads to a waterfall, which only runs during the Spring, but still as a nice view all year round…

it then continues on up to the summit.

The other, shorter trails I’ve been on are the Slab and Slot trails located near the top of the mountain.

These are accessed via the upper parking lot in the state park, which you have to pay a small fee to drive up to. There are even some amazing views right from the lot!

follow the sign to get to the trail…

and choose which way you will go…

the Slab trail is the easier of the two, but still requires sturdy shoes. You can go up one and down the other, since they both end up in the same place:) Parts of both trails are somewhat more open, although the trails themselves are still narrow…

It is only around 0.6 miles to the top, and there is a fire tower you can climb for some amazing views…

There are signs that show you what mountains you can see...

All three of these mountains are worth a visit if you ever find yourself in the area! Don’t forget to pack a snack and water, and bug spray is a must!

I encourage everyone to get out there and explore your own nearby peaks, regardless of where you are in the world.