Brighton Trails Day

GMC & Brighton Recreation

Saturday June 25th

Brighton Town Pavilion – 8:30am

Brighton Trail Day – Bluff Lookout

Join the Green Mountain Club and Brighton Recreation for a guided hike on one of the area’s great trails! Some hikes will lead to summits, while others will explore the forests, streams, and ponds.

Sign up for hikes is between 8:30am to 9:00am at the Brighton Town Pavilion; there is a limit of 10 people per hike. From there we will carpool to the trailheads.

Pets will not be allowed on these hikes

 

Several of these hikes meet and follow the Kingdom Heritage Trail (KHT)
Hike Details

Gore Mountain East Trail (KHT), Lewis, VT – 5 Miles Round Trip

A moderate hike to the summit of Gore Mountain. This hike takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes with 1206 feet elevation gain. The trail winds through beautiful forest on the east side of the mountain. There is a viewpoint at the trailhead overlooking Lewis Pond. It is about a 40 minute ride from the pavilion to the trailhead. Total time: 5 hours

For more details: Trailfinder: Gore Mountain

Unknown Pond / Middle Mountain Trail (KHT), Norton, VT – 7.2 Miles Round Trip

A moderate hike to the summit of Middle Mountain. This hike takes approximately 5 hours with 1805 feet elevation gain. The hike begins on the Unknown Pond Trail with a steady climb, crossing several small streams until the junction of the KHT. From there the KHT ascends more steeply to a new viewpoint about 1/10th of a mile from the junction. Continuing on there are glimpses of Bald Mountain and Unknown Pond. It is about a 15 minute ride from the pavilion to the trailhead. Total time 5.5 hours.

For more details: Trailfinder: Unkown Pond / Middle Mountain Trail

Bluff Ridge Trail to Town (KHT), Warren’s Gore, VT – 11 Miles One Way

Because of the distance this is considered a difficult hike. This hike takes approximately 7 hours with 2212 feet elevation gain. The hike begins on the Unknown Pond Trail with a steady climb, crossing several small streams until the junction of the KHT (1.3 miles). From there the trail heads south over 3 summits of Bluff Mountain; Low, Bluff, South. There are several viewpoints along the way as the path winds it’s way through several fern fields. The final viewpoint is a side trail off Bluff South (Lookout Trail 1/10th mile) before returning to descend to the trailhead on the Bluff Community Trail. Total time: 7.5 hours

For more details: Trailfinder: Kingdom Heritage Trail

Bluff Community Trail (KHT), Brighton, VT – 3.5 Miles Round Trip

A moderate steady climb to the Basin Link Trail Junction (1.1 miles), then the trail climbs more steeply to the summit of Bluff South Summit (1.6 miles). From there, follow the Lookout Trail for a 1/10th of a mile to the viewpoint. This hike takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes round trip with 1217 feet of elevation gain. It is about a 5 minute ride from the pavilion to the trailhead. Total time: 2.5 hours

For more details: Trailfinder: Bluff Community Trail

North Branch Trail, Lewis, VT – 4 Mile Round Trip

An easy loop hike in the Silvio O Conte National Wildlife Refuge. This hike takes approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes with 106 feet of elevation gain. The trail follows the North Branch of the Nulhegan River for about 1.5 miles before heading into the woods, eventually reaching a fire road that returns to the starting point. It’s about a 15 minute ride from the pavilion to the trailhead. Total time: 3.5 hours

For more details: Trailfinder: North Branch Trail

Moose Bog Trail, Brunswick, VT – 1 Mile Round Trip

This is an easy hike and will be hiked after the North Branch Hike if everyone is in agreement. Hike time is approximately 45 minutes with little elevation gain. Great  place to spot Canada Jay, Spruce Grouse, and Black-backed Woodpecker. Travel time from pavilion to trailhead is about 15 minutes. Total time: 1.25 hours

For  more details: Trail finder: Moose Bog Trail

Shoreline Trail, Brighton State Park, Brighton, VT – 2.1 Mile Round Trip

The park trails are a network of easy to moderate trails. The Shoreline Trail follows along the shore of Spectacle Pond to Pine Point. There is a nature center at the entrance of the park with information about the wildlife and vegetation on the trails.

For more details: Trailfinder: Brighton State Park

Places to stay:
Visit Island Pond
Lakefront Inn
The Essex House
Brighton State Park
Nulhegan Hut

Thank you to Kingdom Heritage Land Managers and the town of Brighton