Lake Willoughby Region

sou th to the summit and north to vistas overlooking La k e W1lloughby..

separate proposal, drafted by the Appalachian Mou . ~C) was forWarded to the Department of Forest p tam Club ( t· n 'in 1979 proposing a trail from Wheeler Ponds,t aMr s and Rec- rea 10 d o ount H 22 he time, A.MC operate· 1 the· hWheeler Pond Camp s 10. Barton or.and developedAt t a num ber of tra1 s mt at area. S?earheaded by local AMC sec ion members, thed Wheelerh .c. Pond Trail was bui·lt over Moose ~Kountaint and crosse t e 1orest road at Big Valley be£ 1. . iv.1 . f M H h . . . ore c tmbmg the west side o ount or w ere 1t Jomed the existing Hawk T . · t ( h f h" h · es rntl s stem. This .rou . e •fimuc o w 1c ts now known as th e Moose MountainY Trail) s1gm 1cant 1y expanded the hiking trail system in Wil- loughby State Forest and made Mount Hor a central feature in this network. NOTE: Three other historic proposals for Mount Hor never came to fruition. One was the development of a loop trail around the summit 0 the second was the proposed improvement of a 'Haul Road' trail ~ the west side ofLake Willoughby connecting a number of local camps with the summit trail as well as with the South Shore Trail; the third was the construction of a log lean-to near the junction of the Herbert Hawkes and North Trails. Today, the Mount Hor trails system is accessed via the CCC Road in Westmore or Big Valley Lane, also in Westmore, situated on the northwest side of the mountain. HERBERT HAWKES TRAIL- Named for local trail pioneer and former Westmore Association Trails Committee Chair, the Hawkes Trail begins near the height of land on the CCC Road, approximately 1.8 miles from Route 5A in Westmore. A trailhead parking area offers space for 6-8 vehicles and the trail begins roughly I OO-feet south on the northwest side of the road.

From the trailhead (0.0 mi.), the trail climbs a small stone staircas.e11 and immediately joins an old logging road which, turning nght, nd fo llows for some time. Bearing left, the trail passes through openn a mature hardwoods with spacious views (0.1 mi.). It clnnbs ge tly at fi rst then, bending to the right, it crests a low rise and le~els before descending briefly. Resuming its sidehill course, the trail chmbs agatn wi the mountain slope on the left and passes through a dense growth th 75 ';w- 11• I Mountain Trail Guide

. . nettles (') From here, the trail crosses a few small d of stmgmg · · h I ft rai briefly and then makes as arp e turn (0.4 mi) . n- ages, 1eve Is , . . . · , 1eav oods road and begmnmg a more persistent climb 10g ~oId W mountain slope.

The trail soon veers right on a newly constructed sidehill and then a switchback turn to the left near a large rock (0.5 mi.). C ma kes . . . th d' on- tinuing on, the trail rejoins it~ ongma1 pah o~1 y to iverge again on a secon d newly constructed switchback. to t e nght (0.6 mi ·) · From here the trail continues a steady chmb through young forest, interrupt d ccasionally by seasonal springs and wet soils, until it crests the ride :nd reaches the junction with the Summit Spur (0.7 mi.). · ge

Summit Spur: From the main trail (0.0 mi.), the Summit Spur turns left at a signed junction and climbs moderately southward alternately pitching up and across the slope. The path soon enter~ the slightly stunted hardwood forest near the summit and passes a number of small outcrops where occasional and limited views are available through the trees. After a brief descent just east of the summit, the trail climbs over a rocky ledge and passes a faint, overgrown path leading towards the mountain's true summit. This subtle path soon fades into the forest, but the summit, marked with a wooden sign, is only a short distance away from the trail.

Descending briefly, the trail soon reaches the Summit Lookout (0.3 mi.) where fine views are available to the south and west. Below, a number of small ponds within and adjacent to Wil- loughby State Forest are visible, and the Sutton River valley stretches away to the southeast. The pastoral hill town of Sutton is visible across the valley, and the forested peaks of the Sutton Range- consisting of Norris Mountain; Libby Hill; Granby Mountain; Frost Mountain; Grout Mountain and Hardscrabble Mountain- arch to the southwest. The presence of lighted wind m~as~ement towers presages the installation of wind turbines on th is mid-elevation ridge. Beyond, is visible to th e east; Wheelock Mountain and the Kittredge Hills extend to th e south; and the Black Hills of Glover are visible to the we5t From the Summ·t s · . . · s to :6 1 pur Junction (0.7 mi.), the Hawkes Trail contmue 0 11 th ow e Mount Hor ridgeline north towards Lake Willoughby, 76 Lake Willoughby Region

aining slightly east of the height of land. The trail . t· retn . t· con mues gently wt'th little change m- e 1eva ton, passing a small outcrop b efore d ending gradually, 1t crosses a wetland seep on a timb b .d ' e- sc_) Climbing up a small ledge, the trail continues toer n lgle (0.9 tnt. . h h . . . para el the rt'dg e and soon reac) est e Junction with the North Trail (l -O nu. .) (See description below - ontinuing past the North Trail junction, the Hawkes Trail t· C · ·d r d con mues to follow th~ mhamR n g~ ~ne anl nearly continuous mountain seep now on the ng t. emammg re at1vely level for much of the f th' 'd h"ll d . ime, e trail takes a st e 1_ route, escends bnefly and then resumes its course before cross1~g t~e wetland_ and descending to the North and East Overlook Spur Junction ( 1.3 rm.). From here, it is a short distance farther to excellent views.

North Overlook Spur- From the main trail (0.0 mi.), the North Overlook Spur leads uphill a short distance, crossing over the mountain ridge, and then, bearing right, descends gradually and then steeply downward before turning right and approaching the cleared overlook (0.1 mi.). Here, clear views are open towards the north end of Lake Willoughby and, beyond, the southern tip of . Across the lake, the cliffs loom large over the dark water below and Goodwin Moun- tain, a forested local peak, is seen to the left in the background.

East Overlook Spur- From the main trail, the East Overlook Spur descends rapidly for approximately 150-feet to a somewhat precarious vantage point overlooking the south end of Lake Wil- loughby. Below, the secretive southwest cove of the lake is visi- ble and, nearby, the small community that surrounds the southern tip of the lake. Across the lake, the colored cliffs of Mount Pisgah tower over the water below. In the distance, Burke Mountain is visible to the southeast as well as Umpire, East Haven and East Mountain to the north. nd NORTH TRAIL- Built in 1979 in an effort to link the AMC huts ta trails at Wheeler Pond with the trails syS em, the North Trail accesses the Mount Hor ridgeline and Herbert Hawkes Trail from the northwest. This route was improved by the Vermont o~th Conservation Corps (VYCC) between 1992-94 when crew_s y nd mamtained several sections of the entire old Wheeler Po Trail 77 Lake Willoughby R . egion From the north end of Lake Willoughby d R low Peene Hill Road to Lakeview Road ctns . oute 16 (0.0 mi.) £ l- . . . . m1.) whe h ' o to dirt and, continuing straight, travels south. After re e road turns small farmyard, tum left onto Big Valley Road ( pa~s10g through a 2 9 straight past Wheeler Mountain Road on the right~ T:-) and con!inue Straight through a four comers (3 .4 mi.) and . way continues . hb , narrow g p and enters Willoug Y State Forest (3.9 mi) F 10 ' asses a gate passes over severa 1 1arge dra1nage • dips which· · marom bhere .' th e road low-clearance vehicles. The North Trail access . Y e difficult for (4.3 mi.) an d of 1ers~ roa d s1'd e parking. is 1ocated on th e 1e ft

The Mount Hor North Trail begins in the Big Valley d .c-. . . . area an 1ollows an old forest roa d b e1ore Jo1n1ng with the Brookside Tr ·1 d . . . ai an c 1mb- mg onward to the ndge of Mount Hor. From the trailhead (0 1 •) 0 the trail/woods road passes through pleasant hardwood fore~t m1. cl closely follows the sidehill slope, offering limited views to the sr~:t through the surroundi~g fon~st. The route passes a number of large waterbars before leveling briefly and reaching the junction with the Brookside Trail (0.6 mi.).

Brookside Trail- The Brookside Trail connects the North Trail on Mount Hor with the eastern terminus of the Moose Mountain Trail and, by extension, creates a trail link from Wheeler Pond to the CCC Road. Beginning approximately 0.4 miles south of the Mount Hor North Trailhead at an old log landing on the Big Val- ley Road, the Brookside Trail enters the woods on the left, di- rectly across from the Moose Mountain Trail. Parking is available in the vicinity of the trail crossing in the old clearing.

From the clearing (0.0 mi.), the Brookside Trail enters ~he woods and chmbs• several stone steps be1ore 1eve 1·mg and windmg gently. b through mature forest where it crosses a small stream 0 n a ttimaem·r foot bridge (0.1 mi.). Once across, the trai·1 wm· ds over 1owt erosion err . . h b built up to preven . on sections of trail that ave een . of Big Valley Brook With h~rdwoods on the left and a tnbuta1:Y hill route that, cross- on the nght, the trail takes a comfortable sidle t the brook and O m· g a second timber· bn'd ge, soon passes c ldose rest road and th e makes a more determined climb up to an ° 0 junction with the North Trail (0.5 mi.). Northeast Kingdom Mountain Trail Guide

After joining with the Brookside Trail, the North Trail continues to .J.'. 11 the old road grade, and soon crosses a seasonal stream near oldio owlogging junction. A short d'1stance ah ea d , th e tra1·1 crosses a sec.an ond, larger stream and climbs q~ickly u~ t~e far bank where the road • om to bare bedrock (0.7 m1.). Contmumg upward, the trail levels IS w . b b 'd briefly and crosses a we! area ?n a ~1m er n_ ge and then climbs through mixed forest as 1t steaddy ?ams elevation. Scrambling over exposed rock in a few ~laces? t~e trad soon cros~es _another small foot bridge before, turning nght, 1t nses to the summit ndge and, descend. ing briefly, intersects the Herbert Hawkes Trail (1.1 mi.)

Total distance: approximately 1.1 mi., elevation gain: 500 ft.

SOUTH SHORE TRAIL- The South Shore Trail in Westmore offers a refreshing alternative to mountain hikes in Willoughby State Forest and, with its gentle sidehill grades, provides something of a western experience as it parallels the shores of Lake Willoughby. Constructed in the 1978 by the federal Youth Conservation Program, 24 the trail is part of a larger network located at the south end of Lake Willoughby, including the former State-run Cheney House facility, and leads to the base of the Mount Hor cliffs

Trailhead parking for the South Shore Trail is located off of Vermont Route SA in Westmore a short distance south of the Lake Willoughby South End beach and boat access. This multi-use access and parking area provides general and handicapped parking, toilet facilities, and public land use information at a trailhead kiosk.

From the north side of the parking area (0.0 mi.), the blue-blazed trail ~nter~ the woods near the kiosk and follows a wide lane to a signed ~~ction near the south end of the lake (0.1 mi.). Here, the ~ail turns nd e . a drops down the slope to a second signed junction (with an old tratl to the Cheney House) and turns right into the woods.

Climbing gradually through pleasant hardwoods the trail winds u~hill to the top of I0 'd ' · ght (0 2 . a ~ ge and then rises once more before turning r1 · IDI.) and beginnmg a long side hill course.

After climbing g ti ·1 ducks · en Y past boulders and mature trees the trat mto a dry gully and then, rounding a bend, it enters 'the firSt of two 80 M Lake Willoughby Region

ol ra ·nes dominated. by hemlocks where it c rosses se 1 co Vonl small footbridges. Soon the trail levels o t d asona stre•:' Jakesbore some I 50-feet below, passes throug~ ant , parallel- ing t de with boulders and glacial debris. a oreSl slope littere The trail contin~es on for some time, follo:wing even grades with little e in elevation before eventually passmg a large outcrop (O 9 . ) candh an then, g a short d'~stance furth er, a w1' d e gully ~roded deeply by· rock-m1. slides, violent spnng run-off, or both. Crossmg the gully, the trail soon scrambles over r?ck slabs and around fern-covered rocks as the way becomes inc:easmgly uneven and roug?. Soon, however, the trail emerges beside a second large rock shde (1.0 mi.) where the cliffs of Mount Hor loom overhead and the waters of Lake Wil- loughby lie darkly below. NOTE: The Mount Hor cliff and gully area is considered the terminus of the South Shore Trail. Scrambling across the gully, it is possible to proceed further, however the rewards are nominal and the way diffi- cult. A herd path continues beyond the gully for a short distance over increasingly rough and unstable footing, however the best views are found at the base of the cliffs where the maintained trail ends.

Total distance: approximately 1.0 mi., elevation gain: 250 ft.

oc po/ypody on granite boulders 81