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14123 Hits
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73.06% Score
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3 Votes
Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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42.04888°N / 73.4668°W |
Route Type:
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Hiking |
Season:
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Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
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Time Required:
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Less than two hours |
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Difficulty:
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Walk up w/short scrambling section |
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Parking
The parking area is located a couple hundred feet south of the Massachusetts border on Mount Washington Road. When approaching from Massachusetts the name of the road is often referred to as East Street. This is an especially important note in the winter and early spring as Connecticut closes this "unimproved" road then. During this time period the road is closed with large boulders from just north of Salisbury, CT to just south of parking. In the wet season the road can develop thick mud and deep ruts. If you question your automobile's ability to negotiate such obstacles, maybe it's best waiting until summer when you will encounter nothing beyond dirt and rocks.Route Description
You will find an obvious eastern path in the corner of the parking lot. Follow this path through the pines, where you will cross a stream before entering typical New England hardwoods. Continue on this relatively level trail for .75 of a mile until you encounter the Appalachian Trail. Make a right turn on the A.T. to begin your ascent of Connecticut's highest peak.
After a gradual increase in height the trail will bank steeply to the right. There you will encounter some fun scrambling sections on the trail until you reach the summit, approximately 470 vertical feet and .35 miles later.
After taking in the summit rock pile, continue south on the A.T. for .50 miles until you reach an obvious intersection. Make a right off of the A.T. on to a fire road headed northwest.
Continue on the fire road for .90 through the Laurels until you reach Mount Washington Road whereupon you will take another right toward your vehicle, .20 miles north.
Total Distance: 2.7 miles
Total Vertical: 500 feet
Essential Gear
The insects can ruin your day. Deet will hopefully scare off the numerous mosquitos, ticks, and black fies that frequent the area.Also, being that this is a peak, even in Connecticut, insulating wind and wet weather gear may be useful when you emerge onto the less-protected summit.