Brighton Trails Day

GMC & Brighton Recreation

Saturday June 22, 2024

Brighton Town Pavilion – 8:30am

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.

We all love our pets and most of our pets love hiking. Due to the number of participants expected and the presence of obstacles such as cliffs and wildlife, our furry friends may be happier to hike another day. We are not recommending pets on these group hikes. Service animals are welcome.  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. It’s about a 45 minute drive to the trail head. Total time: 5 hours.

The trail begins at the Lewis Pond Overlook on the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge and travels northwest to the historic Gore Mountain fire wardens cabin. From the Lewis Pond Overlook parking area, the path follows a section of woods road that is used in winter by snowmobiles for a short distance before entering the woods on the right. In the woods, the trail approaches a boundary marker and then, taking a side-hill approach, passes through mature open forest. Climbing steeply in sections, the trail enters the upper elevation softwood forest and crosses areas of wet, open bedrock where occasional views are available to the south and east. Passing over a low knoll, the trail enters a blowdown area and soon emerges at the summit.

For more details: Trailfinder: Gore Mountain

 Middle Mountain/ Unknown Pond Trail (KHT), Norton, VT – 7.2 Miles Up and Over

A moderate hike to the summit of Middle Mountain (total distance 7.2 miles, 1805 feet elevation gain).

We will do a car drop at Unknown Pond Trailhead, then continue to Gore Mountain Trailhead and do and up and over of Middle Mountain.This hike takes approximately 5 hours. The hike begins on the Gore Mountain Trail with a gradual climb, crossing a couple small streams until the junction of the Kingdom Heritage Trail (KHT, 1.2 miles). Once on the KHT we will ascend to the summit of Middle Mountain (3.4 miles). After a break at the summit we will descend the other side. We will stop at Bear Ledge viewpoint about 1/10th of a mile before the junction with the Unknown Pond Trail. 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. It’s about a 15 minute ride to the trailhead. Total time: 7.5 hours. A car drop will be done at the Bluff Community Trailhead before the start of the hike.

This hike starts at the Unknown Pond Trailhead following the Unknown Pond Trail to the junction of the KHT. From there it heads south eventually connecting to the Bluff Community Trail. There are several viewpoints along the way. The Bluff Ridge Trail is a portion of the Kingdom Heritage Trail. The trail was first conceived in 1998 but didn’t become reality until 2001, when the Green Mountain Club became corridor manager for hiking trails on the former Champion Lands and then 2010 when NorthWoods Stewardship Center crews constructed the first sections of trail on the north side of Middle Mountain. With support of the partners (Weyerhaeuser, Sweet Tree, the Town of Brighton, VT Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Nature Conservancy, and Vermont Land Trust)  the Kingdom Heritage Trail system now rambles over 20-miles of Northern Forest terrain.

For more details: Trailfinder: Kingdom Heritage Trail

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

This is considered a moderate hike, though there is one steep climb. 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: 2.75 hours

From the trailhead, the path climbs through a red pine plantation and then increases its slope as it climbs through a mixed hardwood forest. The trail winds along several small ridges and outcrops before turning northward and intersecting with the historic Lookout Trail at Lookout Junction. The main trail continues north, passing through a younger forest and soon reaches the Ridge Junction. Continuing beyond the Ridge Junction, the main trail begins to climb more steeply up stone steps and switchbacks where it eventually reaches the mountain heights. Winding along a ridge, the trail offers limited views of the Nulhegan Basin and surrounding areas and soon reaches a junction with the Lookout Trail directly ahead and a short spur to the summit on the right. Following the Lookout Trail 0.1 miles to a lookout of Island Pond.

For more details: Trailfinder: Bluff Community Trail

North Branch Trail, Lewis, VT – 4 Mile Loop Hike

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. It’s about a 15 minute ride from the pavilion to the trailhead. Total time: 3.5 hours

The North Branch Trail borders the North Branch of the Nulhegan River. It is a rustic trail and is accessible year-round from a parking area on VT-105. In addition to snowshoeing, certain segments are also suitable for cross-country skiing. The trail is composed of native materials and gravel and is relatively level and flat. The trail offers wildlife viewers the opportunity to see boreal species like spruce grouse, black-backed woodpeckers and gray jays.

For more details: Trailfinder: North Branch Trail

Moose Bog Trail – Nulhegan River Trail , Brunswick, VT – 1 Mile Out and Back, 1 mile Loop Hike

Travel time from pavilion to trailhead is about 15 minutes. This will be two 1 mile hikes. Total time: 2.5 hours

The Moose Bog Trail is an easy 1 mile out and back hike, elevation gain 36 feet. The trail heads into the woods along a mainly flat ridge. The compacted-rock dust trail is 3+ feet wide and has resting areas along the way. Above Moose Bog, the trail turns left to descend two switchbacks down to the bog. The trail then follows a boardwalk to an accessible wildlife viewing platform with views over the bog. The trail travels through boreal spruce-fir forest with opportunities to see and hear many northern species of birds and other wildlife.

The Nulhegan River Trail is an easy 1 mile loop hike, elevation gain 121 feet. The trail starts at the scenic granite overlook and descends to the Nulhegan River. The trail parallels the Nulhegan River for roughly 0.5 mile before gradually ascending back to the Nulhegan Basin Office. The trail is composed of gravel and native materials. The grade varies from moderate to gradual.

For  more details: Trail finder: Moose Bog Trail

For more details: Nulhegan River 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 Council Point. The state park is about a 10 minute drive from the pavilion. Total time: 2.5 hours

The park trails are a network that offers a variety of routing options by piecing together Main Trail, Logger’s Loop, Shore Trail, Red Pine Trail, and other trails. There is a nature center at the entrance of the park with information about the wildlife and vegetation on the trails. There are also nature brochures available for Main Trail and Logger’s Loop that provide self-guided tours of the trails. Red Pine trail winds through the forest while Shoreline Trail skirts the water and passes Loon Point, Eagle Point, and Council Point.

For more details: Trailfinder: Brighton State Park

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