View Full Version : Best 3-5 day Hike CT to Vermont
goody5534
01-26-2011, 17:14
Looking for suggestions???
Cookerhiker
01-26-2011, 17:32
Start at River Road outside Kent, CT, hike north to Great Barrington, Rt. 7. About 50 AT miles plus a few miles walking from Kent to the River Road trailhead. Highlights include beginning with a nice easy walk along the Housatonic River followed by some up & downs in CT in a nice forest. After ascending Bear Mountain, you have a steep rocky descent into Sages Ravine, a beautiful place to camp. You then ascend the ridgeline; the best is first: Race Mountain. Proceed along the ridge, passing over Mt. Everett the 2nd highest AT point in MA and eventually down the ridge to finish with an easy 5 miles to Rt. 7. Have a good lunch in Great Barrington.
If you can, hike in mid-spring (May) or Fall.
takethisbread
01-26-2011, 18:07
In season
Falls Village Ct to Great Barrington is a great hike with the Falls and Sages Ravine huge highlights.
Dalton Ma to Manchester VT would be a full 5 days likely but it is great as well, with Greylock, Stratton Pond and Stratton mtn.
Those two would be my picks.
Start at River Road outside Kent, CT, hike north to Great Barrington, Rt. 7. About 50 AT miles plus a few miles walking from Kent to the River Road trailhead. Highlights include beginning with a nice easy walk along the Housatonic River followed by some up & downs in CT in a nice forest. After ascending Bear Mountain, you have a steep rocky descent into Sages Ravine, a beautiful place to camp. You then ascend the ridgeline; the best is first: Race Mountain. Proceed along the ridge, passing over Mt. Everett the 2nd highest AT point in MA and eventually down the ridge to finish with an easy 5 miles to Rt. 7. Have a good lunch in Great Barrington.
If you can, hike in mid-spring (May) or Fall.
I agree with Cooker and Bread. Either of those hikes would be excellent. If you want to mix and match, Salisbury to Jug End, Rt 41 to Rt 41, would be a good day or two, depending on your pace, then Cheshire to North Adams would, likewise, be a good day or two. Then a Stratton loop to top it off, skipping around with the automobile/s.
One nitpicking bit, Cooker: Mt. Everett is exceeded in height by several Mass peaks, even outside the Greylock Range. It's about the 10th highest peak in the state.
Cookerhiker
01-26-2011, 22:03
Start at River Road outside Kent, CT, hike north to Great Barrington, Rt. 7. About 50 AT miles plus a few miles walking from Kent to the River Road trailhead. Highlights include beginning with a nice easy walk along the Housatonic River followed by some up & downs in CT in a nice forest. After ascending Bear Mountain, you have a steep rocky descent into Sages Ravine, a beautiful place to camp. You then ascend the ridgeline; the best is first: Race Mountain. Proceed along the ridge, passing over Mt. Everett the 2nd highest AT point in MA and eventually down the ridge to finish with an easy 5 miles to Rt. 7. Have a good lunch in Great Barrington.
If you can, hike in mid-spring (May) or Fall.
I agree with Cooker and Bread. Either of those hikes would be excellent. If you want to mix and match, Salisbury to Jug End, Rt 41 to Rt 41, would be a good day or two, depending on your pace, then Cheshire to North Adams would, likewise, be a good day or two. Then a Stratton loop to top it off, skipping around with the automobile/s.
One nitpicking bit, Cooker: Mt. Everett is exceeded in height by several Mass peaks, even outside the Greylock Range. It's about the 10th highest peak in the state.
I wasn't purporting to speak for the rest of the state, i.e. the non-AT corridor. That's why I said "2nd highest AT point in MA."
OK - I missed the "AT", C/h - but Saddle Ball, Fitch and Williams are higher than Everett, among which only Saddle Ball meets the common definition of a proper independent peak, so I gather.
Anyhoo, it's all very pretty and worthwhile. I think Greylock and neighbors are a must. The views from up top G/l are awesome on a clear day - I saw Mt. Washington both times I was up there last September - and the boreal forest on Saddleball is one of the most beautiful forests I've ever seen.
How many miles to you plan on covering? My first section was from VT route 30 to route 9 which is about 40 miles. This takes you past Stratton Pond, a very pretty spot, and over Stratton and Glastenbury Mountains. From route 9 south to route 2 in North Adams, MA is about another 18 miles and passes a couple of beaver dams. There's a pretty steep climb on both sides of route 9 but some great views from the top of Harmon Hill south of 9.
Cookerhiker
01-27-2011, 11:06
....My first section was from VT route 30 to route 9 which is about 40 miles. This takes you past Stratton Pond, a very pretty spot, and over Stratton and Glastenbury Mountains......
Wow, what a coincidence! That was my first AT section hike also - my first backpacking trip over 30 years ago.