Hike Mount Ascutney via Windsor and Brownsville Trails Mount Ascutney State Park, VT

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Mount Ascutney via Windsor and Brownsville Trails GPX Track

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Mount Ascutney is a high prominence peak located just off I-91 in Vermont. It lives on Mount Ascutney State Park, and there are three main trails used to reach the summit, the Weathersfield, Windsor, and Brownsville Trails. You can also drive up the park road to just below the summit. The Weathersfield Trail comes from the south, but I chose to approach from the north. Doing this allowed me to ascend via the Windsor Trail from and descend the Brownsville Trail to create a longer loop rather than only an out-and-back hike. The Brownsville Trail has its own trailhead, and you could instead descend to this trailhead and hike the road back to cut off some mileage, but I took a cutoff trail known as the Norcross Trail to stay in the woods a bit longer rather than hike on pavement. If you hike just the Windsor Trail as an out-and-back, the distance of this hike would be reduced by about 2 miles. All junctions are well-marked.

I started from the Windsor Trailhead and hiked through a pretty meadow before entering the forest, which ascended along the right side of a drainage using an old roadbed. I passed by the small Gerry Falls and shortly after the roadbed narrowed into singletrack trail. I took a short spur trail to visit a nice lookout at Blood Rock and then continued on my way to the summit. Aside from the pretty forest and another small lookout point labeled Brownsville Rock, there wasn't much of note. Mount Ascutney's summit is covered in radio towers, and just before reaching it there is a small observation tower that gives better views.

I backtracked from the summit and started down along the Brownsville Trail, which included more forested trail hiking and was not dissimilar to the Windsor Trail. The Quarry Overlook lower down had some nice views, and I passed by some rusty old mining equipment. The Brownsville Trail followed an old roadbed for a time, and this would lead to the Brownsville Trailhead. However, I kept right at a junction when I reached the Norcross Trail, which would take me back to the Windsor Trail. The Norcross Trail is mostly used for mountain bikes and therefore had a bunch of unnecessary switchbacks, but I thought it was better than road walking.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Mount Ascutney

3130 ft

2270 rise

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Starting along the Windsor Trail.

A nice meadow just after starting.

A junction with the Norcross Trail shortly after entering the forest. I'll be returning from that trail later.

Ascending the Windsor Trail via an roadbed turned trail.

A sign for Gerry Falls.

Gerry Falls.

Along the Windsor Trail. I guess the rock can get slippery, so someone put some ropes.

Sign for a quick spur trail to visit Blood Rock.

Heading to Blood Rock.

Blood Rock overlook.

Back on the Windsor Trail, ascending to Mount Ascutney.

Passing a shelter.

Another well-signed junction.

Junction with the Brownsville Trail. I'll be returning here on my way back.

Brownsville Rock overlook.

A nice mossy hike along the ridgeline to reach the summit.

A little observation tower just before reaching the summit of Mount Ascutney.

View toward Mount Ascutney's summit from the observation tower.

On the observation tower.

Mount Ascutney summit.

Heading down along the Brownsville Trail to make a loop.

Pretty ferns on the descent.

A nice switchback feature along the Brownsville Trail.

North Peak vista, just another minor lookout along the way down.

A somewhat rocky section along the Brownsville Trail.

Quarry Overlook.

View back at another lightly rocky section.

Some old mining stuff.

Along the Brownsville Trail as it follows a roadbed for a bit.

Junction with the Norcross Trail. I kept right.

Along the Norcross Trail, which contours east for a bit.

A nice bridge along the Norcross Trail.

Descending some switchbacks to get back down to the Windsor Trail.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!