ascutney state park

Took the drive up Mt. Ascutney and then the short hike (0.7) miles to the lookout tower on the top. Was amazing views, especially during the foliage.

The main entrance was closed, but we walked up the Weatherfield trail (a stiffish climb) to a couple of waterfalls. The leaves were just over the turn, but the ground was a carpet of orange, the wood was quiet, the water babbled away over the granite: lovely escape.

Hiked the Hang glider trail to West Peak....then on to Summit and Observation Tower. Words cannot describe the breathtaking beauty you take in at this elevation. (3, 144ft). A must see...

I have been going here for years and it is great! We camp here twice a year and every time we have a great time. Views from the top are beautiful. The camp grounds are always clean, same with the bathrooms and showers. The park workers are friendly and knowledgeable about the area.

We chose a Mt. Ascutney hike based on this site: http://www.hikenewengland.com (gem of a site). Google Maps found it easily, and we paid the $3/adult and $2/kid to take the road to the near top and then hiked the final mile to the observation tower. My spry 68 year old mom thought it was a little more work than she'd thought it would be but was glad she'd done it when finished. The Slot trail was not quite as steep as the shorter Summit trail. We took Summit trail up and Slot trail back down. The 360 degree views from the 2 story observation tower were gorgeous, especially if you kept your back to the cell towers. The 12 and 10 year old kids really enjoyed the hike as well.

We hiked to the summit of Mt. Ascutney on the Weathersfield Trail and really enjoyed it. The trail is very well marked and maintained. The guide provided at the trail head listed landmarks, which were also indicated by signs along the trail. This helped you keep track of how far along you were on the hike. The cascade falls are beautiful and the observation tower atop the mountain provides excellent views in all directions. The summit itself is a bit anticlimactic as there are cell towers and radio repeaters there that kind of ruin the view (but the cell service is great!) Still, the climb is definitely worth making and the trail is in general quite scenic. It is a pretty steep climb though, so be sure to bring plenty of snacks and water to fuel your ascent! Also plan to hike for 4 hours, assuming you are in okay shape. I wouldn't necessarily recommend the trail to the summit for beginners, but the hike up to the cascade falls is not too bad and it is also a beautiful destination for a hike.

It was a quick drive to the top and very worth the $3/each. Take the .7 mile hike to the top from the partking lot too. You can also watch the hang gliders if the weather is right.

What a grand place to hike, and camp. A realy great place to visit,also the the areas around ascutny are interesting to see, there are a lot of things to do here, and we will come back.

The state park was constructed by the CCC and the quality of their craftsmanship still shows. The park is quiet by nature and the view to the top is worth the drive, bike or hike.

Camped here for a week. We had a site next to a large open field that our dogs romped in every day that we were there. Very few other campers made for a very relaxing stay. Hiking Mt Ascutney is a must. There are numerous trails to enjoy. Even if you drive up and only hike the top the views are gorgeous. We sat on the launch platform that the hang-gliders use and enjoyed the scenery while having lunch.

Great campgrounds and a great mountain. only downfall is the sound from the interstate at the campground, but the grounds are well kept.

Great Hiking trail. Loved the mid way pavillion, fun to watch the hang gliders. Can picnic in several areas.