Glastenbury fire tower...

[Yukon]

Hello everyone, new to the forum and looking for some info. My girlfriend and I want to hike up to the Glastenbury fire tower and are looking for the best route and trail head. I have heard the best trail head is off of route 9 just outside of Bennington VT. Any info that could be given as far as what I've asked and approximate distances to the tower would be greatly appreciated

Thank you in advance!!

-Walt-

[oruoja]

The Route 9 trailhead is probably the best starting point to get to the tower. It's about five miles east of Bennington, Vt. You can make a loop hike of it if you take the West Ridge trail either in or outbound. The Long Trail guidebook from the Green Mountain Club has descriptions of the main trail (AT/LT) as well as the side trails. The US Forest Service also information sheets on these trails. Check them out online or if you are in the area their office on Vt Rte 11 just east of Manchester Center. This trip makes a good overnight trip with the choice of either staying at Goddard Shelter .3 mi south of the tower or camping out near the wooded summit as there are some flat spots there. The spring at the shelter is reliable in terms of not running dry. You can also reach the tower by going southbound on the AT/LT from Arlington-Wardsboro Rd which is only slightly longer in distance.

[oruoja]

Forgot to answer the distance part of the question. It's 10.4 miles to the Glastenbury tower (el 3748) from Vt Rte 9 (el 1360) and as mentioned before Goddard shelter is .3 mile south of the tower.

[Yukon]

Thank you for the information, that's exactly what I was looking for. We are trying to plan a little loop hike with an overnight stay in the goddard shelter. Our eventual goal is to hike to all the fire towers that are still standing in Vermont. We hiked to the Okemo fire tower off the Healdville trail last weekend. We have both always liked to hike but are finding we like it alot more now

[oruoja]

In addition to the Glastenbury tower there are two others on the Long Trail, Stratton and Belvidere. The Green Mountain Club has a book out on all of the remaining towers in Vermont if you did not already know.

[Blissful]

Don't stay at Goddard. Stay in the firetower area. Nice camping spots in the pines. Paul B stayed at the tower and got a great sunrise and sunset. I regret not camping there.

[Tin Man]

We tented near Godard to be near the fire pit and water source. Tenting in the pines there is almost as nice as near the fire tower. The challenge near the shelter is finding a level spot, so we settled for level-enough.

[rafe]

If this wasn't Whiteblaze, I'd ask, "What's wrong with the shelter?" Whatever. I had a nice stay there. And yes, I got a nice view of the sunset from the fire tower, as well.

[Lone Wolf]

If this wasn't Whiteblaze, I'd ask, "What's wrong with the shelter?" Whatever. I had a nice stay there. And yes, I got a nice view of the sunset from the fire tower, as well.

c'mon you know shelters suck. they're hard, dirty, cramped, mouse infested, etc. laying out on momma earth is where it's at.

[Cookerhiker]

In addition to the Glastenbury tower there are two others on the Long Trail, Stratton and Belvidere. The Green Mountain Club has a book out on all of the remaining towers in Vermont if you did not already know.

Belvidere was the only clear view on my recent LT hike. Glastonbury was thick mist & fog; I didn't even waste the time to climb it. Stratton featured early morning haze through which I could barely see the pond below.

[LIhikers]

c'mon you know shelters suck. they're hard, dirty, cramped, mouse infested, etc. laying out on momma earth is where it's at.

Actually the Goddard shelter was pretty nice this past August. Hard, for sure but it was clean, well kept, open and airy and not a mouse (or their droppings) in sight when my wife and I stopped in for a lunch break the in middle of August.

[MOWGLI]

c'mon you know shelters suck. they're hard, dirty, cramped, mouse infested, etc. laying out on momma earth is where it's at.

Gotta agree. Especially for this spot. The earth is soft.

Enjoy!

[jaiden]

I read somewhere the glastonbury fire tower was "off limits"... I have the option of day hiking either to there or to Harmon Hill, south of rt 9 this weekend. Which would you folks recommend?

[TheTank]

Glastenbury fire tower has been open everytime I have been there, including about 3 weeks ago, when I was last up there. As for a day hike, Harmon Hill would be much shorter and probably easier. Glastenbury is about 10 miles from Rt. 9, so that would be about 20 round trip, but it is a very nice hike which I enjoy more then Harmon Hill.

[jaiden]

Glastenbury fire tower has been open everytime I have been there, including about 3 weeks ago, when I was last up there. As for a day hike, Harmon Hill would be much shorter and probably easier. Glastenbury is about 10 miles from Rt. 9, so that would be about 20 round trip, but it is a very nice hike which I enjoy more then Harmon Hill.

Yes, I was looking for a side trail to the tower, but I couldn't find one. We can't do 20 miles and not all of us can overnight, so it will have to be Harmon hill or just hike up to melville nauheim and back. I don't see any notes about views on that section, which is why I think harmon hill may be our best bet for now. A couple of us plan to do the two 10 mile (or so) sections with an overnight near the tower later in the season.

thanks

[max patch]

Actually the Goddard shelter was pretty nice this past August. Hard, for sure but it was clean, well kept, open and airy and not a mouse (or their droppings) in sight when my wife and I stopped in for a lunch break the in middle of August.

I don't like shelters but Goddard is one of the best. Great view. I'd actually stay in it if I was ever fortunate enough to have it to myself.

[rafe]

I don't like shelters but Goddard is one of the best. Great view. I'd actually stay in it if I was ever fortunate enough to have it to myself.

Hehe. I did exactly that. The sky was filled with heat lightning, but the storm never came. It was the last night of my Hanover-to-Bennington section, about five or six years ago. Great memories still. Not sure if I'd lump Goddard in "best" category, but it was a very pleasant stay.

[Jeff]

I believe Goddard Shelter was completely rebuilt last year. Same location, same view as the old one.

[LIhikers]

It sure looked new this summer

[Quoddy]

Unless you're limited to a day hike the trek to Glastenbury is, by far, the better of the two. Either way, if you're starting from the AT/LT at Rt 9 you're in for an immediate climb.

I've done the Glastenbury loop from Rt 9 (AT/LT) and returned to Bennington via the West Ridge Trail in both the winter and the summer and found it a great hike. Also hiked there while doing a thru of the LT. There is a shorter and less strenuous way to get to Glastenbury via the woods road to Little Pond, several miles east on Rt 9. This knocks off almost 1000' of climb and almost 2 miles, but involves a semi bushwhack from near Little Pond west to the AT/LT. There is a hint of a trail between those two points if you look closely.

Harmon Hill offers the one view point toward Bennington as it's main attraction. Those 850' of steep stone stairs to get up the hill from Rt 9 can be a deterrent.