Great Crested Flycatcher, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Ovenbird

Flanking 3,144-foot high Mount Ascutney to the north, south, and east, the park is a favorite of many outdoor enthusiasts and sightseers.

Mount Ascutney State Park was one of the first Vermont State Parks. It was built between 1935 and 1938 through the efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps, a Depression-era program aimed at putting young men to work.

Mount Ascutney, which is named from the derivative of several Abenaki words meaning “mountain of the rocky summit,” has long been a popular hiking destination. Vermont’s, and possibly America’s, first organized mountain-hiking trail was cut through its forests in 1825.

Today, the park has four trailheads and more than 12 miles of hiking trails. The trails lead hikers to the sites of former quarries and homesteads, relics of past logging operations, and other remains of a bygone era. Each trail boasts vistas with spectacular viewpoints of the Connecticut River Valley era en route to the observation tower at the summit. Visitors seeking a less-strenuous trek may drive up the 3.7-mile Mount Ascutney Parkway to a parking lot at an elevation of 2,800 feet. A hike of nearly one mile leads to the summit.

The TrailFinder website has a description and map of hikes at Mount Ascutney State Park.