Ascutney State Park - Windsor, VT
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NorStar
N 43° 26.239 W 072° 24.361
18T E 709929 N 4812648
Ascutney State Park features Mt. Ascutney, providing opportunities to hike as well as hang glide.
Waymark Code: WMRX0Y
Location: Vermont, United States
Date Posted: 08/15/2016
Views: 3
In Windsor, off Vermont Route 44A, is Ascutney State Park, which features hiking trails and a hang gliding launch on Mt. Ascutney.
Mt. Ascutney State Park is located a couple miles from the center of Windsor, and about a mile from the center of Weathersfield. From I-91, take the exit for VT Route 131/US Route 5, go east on VT 131 to the intersection with US 5, then travel north on US 5 to a split. Turn left on the split onto VT Route 44A and travel one mile to the entrance to the state park on the left. There are other entrances, as well. I visited the trailhead for Weathersfield Trail on the left. There is no ranger station there, and the parking is limited - definitely better to go via the main entrance.
The main feature of the park is the isolated mountain peak of Mt. Ascutney. The mountain is 3144 ft in elevation. You could hike up one of several trails to the summit. I hiked the Futures Trail, which is about 9 miles, round trip, and at time challenging. You can also drive up to a lot near the summit, then hike the remaining 300 ft to the summit.
The mountain is known for being a hang gliding location. There are two places where people hang glide, according to the map. There is a campground at the base, from the main entrance. About halfway up, there is a parking lot and a picnic area. Downhill skiing is available on the north slope at another entrance to the park.
The land for the park was purchased by Vermont in 1935 and a CCC unit prepared the auto road and built many of the facilities. The park opened in 1939.
Park Type: Multiple Use Types
Activities:
Camping, trails, hang glider launch, picnic, ski.
Park Fees:
$4 per adult, $2 per child older than 3 yrs, and free 3 yrs and younger.
Background:
Multiple: scenic, geologic, history.
Date Established?: 1/1/1935
Link to Park: [Web Link]
Additional Entrance Points: N 43° 25.608 W 072° 27.965
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