Green Mountain Club
Brighton Trails Day
GMC & Brighton Recreation
Saturday June 25th
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.
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
Thank you to Kingdom Heritage Land Managers and the town of Brighton
Hike Leaders Needed!
We are in desperate need of volunteer hike leaders. The only GMC requirement to lead a hike is that you are an active member. If you are new to leading hikes we ask that you are familiar with the hike you are leading. Please consider leading us on your favorite hike.
Contact Outings Coordinator Susan Winsor for more information. NortheastKingdomSection@greenmountainclub.org
Monadnock Trailhead Closed
Please be advised:
The trail closure on Monadnock Mountain remains in effect. There's still a "NO TRESPASSING" sign on the gate at the gravel pit, although it is easily overlooked when the gate is open. The continued presence of an old trailhead parking sign at this location only adds to the confusion over its status, but a person working at the gravel pit confirmed to me that this trail is still closed.
As some of you may be aware, there is an alternative route that avoids the gravel pit, but I wouldn't recommend using it at this time. It follows a private right of way that encroaches on a nearby dwelling. While this property isn't posted, its owner has expressed no interest in encouraging public access to their land. Please respect this choice and find another mountain to hike for now. Thank you!
