ANNUAL SOLSTICE HIKE

ANNUAL SOLSTICE HIKE

It is time once again for the annual Summer Solstice Hike. This year there will again be two options. The longer hike will be the same one done in many previous years, and will start at 9 a.m. From the AT parking lot on Forest Road 10, participants will carpool to the start of the hike at the AT parking lot on Vermont Rt 140, 2.6 miles east of Wallingford. The total distance covered is approximately 10 miles, should take about 6 hours with stopping for lunch and an afternoon swim, and the elevation gain is approximately 1,300 feet, all within the first 3-4 miles, downhill after that. The trail leaves the western side of the parking lot and in a short distance, the trail crosses Route 140. A short distance from there, the trail reaches the Roaring Brook Bridge. After crossing the bridge, the trail ascends beside a dramatic gulch and then enters the White Rocks Recreation Area. Shortly thereafter, the trail crosses Bully Brook. The trail then ascends at a moderate grade and passes the trail junction with the Keewaydin Trail. The trail continues to ascend at a moderate grade and passes the trail junction for the Greenwall Spur. In about half a mile, the trail reaches the junction with the White Rocks Cliff Trail which leads downhill .2 miles to a vista from the top of White Rock Cliffs, where we will stop for lunch. After lunch, we traverse the .2 miles back to the Long Trail where the trail ascends further and passes just to the west of White Rocks Mountain. The trail then begins a steady descent and intersects with the old South Wallingford-Wallingford Pond Road and the crosses the Homer Stone Brook Bridge and later intersects with the Green Mountain Trail. In a short distance, the trail reaches Long Pond and follows its eastern shore to the Little Rock Pond Shelter where we will stop for a swim. After the swim, we will continue down the trail which in a short distance intersects with the Little Rock Pond Loop Trail at the southern end of Little Rock Pond. The trail continues almost level and in 1.5 miles crosses Little Black Branch over large rocks and shortly after, crosses it again over an I-beam bridge. The trail then follows an old woods road and shortly reaches Forest Road 10, which we cross to the trailhead parking lot. We stop to rest in the parking lot after which we carpool back to Wallingford to pick up the cars parked there. A second option will be available for those who want something shorter than 10 miles. It will depart from the parking lot on Forest Rd 10 at 11 a.m. and will head north to Little Rock Pond. It will then proceed around the shore of Little Rock Pond, and will include a swim at the north end of the pond as well as at the usual spot on the southeast part of the lake. Eventually the group will meet up with the hikers from the longer option when they arrive at the pond, before returning to the starting point on Forest Rd 10. This option is about 5.25 miles long. After the hike, those interested can meet at Sam's Wood-fired Pizza, 4478 Main St, Manchester VT, for dinner.

When

Sat, June 21 2025 9:00 am -  5:00 pm

Location

Trail Head Parking Lot
Forest Road #10
Danby, Vermont 05739
United States

Important Details

From US Route #7 in Danby head east on Brooklyn Road (right if heading north, left if heading south). Pass through the town of Mt. Tabor after which the road turns into Forest Road 10. Continue on Forest Road 10 passing the Big Branch picnic area and in a short distance, there will be a large paved parking lot on the right (3.2 miles from the junction of US Route #7). Pull in and park. Latitude 43.3725862501 Longitude -72.9626840731

What to Bring

good shoes, water, lunch, snacks, bug spray, etc

Created By

OtisSpunkmeyerNH
on Mon, June 02 2025 11:27