September is officially hiking month here at Stratton. It’s the perfect time to explore all Vermont has to offer as the temperatures begin to cool and the colors of the leaves start to change. To celebrating hiking month, we’ve launched the Summit Stratton Hiking Challenge as a way to get everyone out on the trail. Here’s a few of our favorite trails to rack up the vertical on southern Vermont’s highest peak.
Before you hit the trails, it’s important to remember that we’ve been busy this summer with the construction of our new Snow Bowl lift. Stratton crews and dozens of contractors with bulldozers, hammer drills, and the occasional helicopter are working seven days a week to ready the new Snow Bowl for the season. For your safety, we remind you to please abide the warning signs, respect the boundary tape and avoid the fenced off areas; we promise to post plenty of photos and videos so you won’t miss a thing. Thank you for helping us all stay safe.
Now grab those trail shoes, some water and summit snack and hit the trail.
Beginner Wanderer Summit Ascent
This trail takes you along a combination of wooded trails, mowed surfaces and gravel – great for those who need variety when on the trail. This route offers great wildflower viewing and perfectly framed shots of our neighbor Bromley.
Advanced Summit Standard Ascent
Want to break a sweat? This 1.4 hike (one way) pushes you straight up the Gondola line. The train is mowed and partially rocky with a series of steep pitches. The whole route offers breathtaking views of Stratton village and the gondola, any time of day. We recommend taking another route down, Upper and Lower Standard can be slippery and muddy after rain and it’s definitely trying on the knees. Keep your eyes open for Hubert Schriebl, Stratton’s iconic photographer, who’s been known to hike this trail three times a day, any season.
Beginner Fire Tower Trail
At the summit, head down Mike’s Way and look for s small trail on the left. Once you find the white sign and duck the marking rope (rope ducking is a-okay here!) you’re on your way to one of New England’s best fire towers. The trail is .75 miles each way and offers a rocky but leisurely stroll. When you hit the fire tower, you’ll be at the true summit of Stratton Mountain and find your self on the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail. The ideas for both trails were even conceived on the top of Stratton. Climb the stairs for 360 degree views that extend into the surrounding states.
Intermediate Lower Mountain Loop
This is a perfect 3 mile loop for those looking for a slight challenge while getting top notch views of Stratton. From base of the Cub Carpet, follow work road to a small pond, underneath over pass straight to “Home Run”. Stay straight to top of “Big Ben” then right to “Short Cut Big Ben” to the top of the Solstice chairlift. Follow the work road to the right, down towards Ursa lift, left on “Grizzly Access” towards mid-mountain lodge. Down under the Gondola, left on “Hemlock”, right on “Flukey’s Run”, right on “Old Log Road” and back to the base area.