Bennington County Highpoint Trip Report
Equinox Mtn (3,840+ ft)
Date: August 29, 2004
Author: Brennan Connelly
Directions
From VT 7A in Manchester Center, drive south for 1 mile to Seminary Avenue and head west for about 0.5
mile to the Burr and Burton School on the right. Just above the school Seminary becomes Prospect.
Either continue straight on Prospect and park at the Equinox Hotel or bear right just beyond the school at the first
street and take the first right again into the dirt parking lot for the upper athletic fields,
which are currently under construction.
The Route
From the end of the lot head towards the athletic fields and keep to the left through the construction looking
for the "Blue Summit" sign. The trail begins as a woods road and climbs gently for the intersection for the
Equinox Hotel cutoff trail. A sign there states that all hikers must park at the hotel but there were no posted
prohibitions against parking in the athletic field lot.
The road becomes increasingly steeper and, at about the 2 mile mark, the trail bears off to the right and
climbs steeply towards the shoulder of the mountain. At 3400 feet, there is an unposted junction with the
Yellow Trail, and the Blue continues straight ahead, although it is not blazed. Shortly after the junction,
there is an antenna array on the right. Turn right at this junction and then left at the next junction.
The hideous summit building appears just ahead.
I did not locate a benchmark, but I believe that the summit building lies on the highest ground.
I hand-leveled briefly but had to cut this adventure short due to a fast-approaching electrical storm.
While this is an easy hike, be forewarned that 1000 feet of gain per mile might be taxing to those in less than
optimal condition. As I've said before, you could drive it but that's for folks from Jersey.
Vermonters like to earn their CoHPs.
Hike statistics: 6.0 miles round trip, elevation gain 2,900 feet via Burr and Burton and Blue Trails.