Date(s) Hiked: August 6, 2006
Trails(s) Hiked: Deer Leap Outlook Trail, AT.
Total Distance: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy.
Conditions: WELL beaten trail with some rough patches at the beginning. Nice loop. Weather: Warm, dry conditions. EXCELLENT visibility.
Special Required Equipment: Up-to-date map and trip description from the USFS/GMNF.
Trip Report: It was too nice to sit inside and I was not feeling up for a long hike, plus I was in search of something specific from the Access Road, so I struck out.
Well, I was not successful in getting the book, but I did have a nice hike. There is not much written on the Dear Leap Overlook nor the trail here, except in the older editions that I have, so I relied on the GMNF's page (see above) for a good map and overview of the loop....which is interesting.
The trailhead is literally in the parking lot of the Inn at the Long Trail on the Southern side. Be careful crossing Route 4...people drive fast! The overlook and cliffs are visible from Route 4 and the parking lot...they are very similar to Crawford Notch's Elephant Head in that it is a rock cliff above a busy highway.
The trail starts out with two or three signs advising you to stay OFF the old trail, which some apparently missed...
I signed in and continued on. The first half-mile the trail slabs alongside the hillside with Route 4 below you. The footing is rough in places and the trail is WELL beaten and very wide in places. After the .5 miles, you come to the intersection with the AT...bear right to go to Gifford State Park or to head on the AT North. For this hike, stay to the left and head about 30 seconds to the Dear Leap Overlook Trail, which bears left. It gradually climbs the side of the first peak before coming to another intersection. Bear left for the .25 spur to the views....which involve some stairs and ladders, but nothing bad. I burst out into the sun and cool breeze about a half-hour into my trek. The view included Pico (full vista), the Southern 'Dacks, Coolidge Mountains, Birdseye and other peaks outside Rutland, and Skye Peak on Killington. The top is a large rock slab and other places to sit...I enjoyed the views for about 30 minutes. One gripe, which is similar to that of Fairlee's Palisades Trail is that the beautiful view is marred by loud traffic underneath you. So don't expect a silent vista...
From here I backtracked to the summit and continued the loop. Do NOT attempt this section unless it is dry and you have some hiking experience. The trail drops quite a ways down via some steep stairs and a ladder before coming to a col. Looking ahead, I saw that I had a climb ahead of me...to the summit of the next peak. The trail ascends a streambed before bearing left and taking the ridge, which is moderately steep at times. After a bit, you crest the second summit with limited views back to the Overlook and Pico. There was NOBODY on this stretch and the quietness was welcome...though the views were not as great. Peering through the trees, one can see the peaks north of the area (Horrid, etc). It might be better to come here in the fall or spring when leaves are off the trees, but most of the trees were softwoods.
Views from here were intermittent before the trail dropped down to the intersection with the AT. I turned right and made great time on the narrow but flat section of trail, which skirts the mountain and comes back to the Sherburne Trail, where I had turned off originally to ascend to the overlook. From here it was a quick 10 or so minutes back to the trailhead. Many folks only did the short jaunt to the overlook and it was busy.
In all, a short, relatively easy (with some tricky sections) trip that can be done when visiting the Killington area.
Trails(s) Hiked: Deer Leap Outlook Trail, AT.
Total Distance: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy.
Conditions: WELL beaten trail with some rough patches at the beginning. Nice loop. Weather: Warm, dry conditions. EXCELLENT visibility.
Special Required Equipment: Up-to-date map and trip description from the USFS/GMNF.
Trip Report: It was too nice to sit inside and I was not feeling up for a long hike, plus I was in search of something specific from the Access Road, so I struck out.
Well, I was not successful in getting the book, but I did have a nice hike. There is not much written on the Dear Leap Overlook nor the trail here, except in the older editions that I have, so I relied on the GMNF's page (see above) for a good map and overview of the loop....which is interesting.
The trailhead is literally in the parking lot of the Inn at the Long Trail on the Southern side. Be careful crossing Route 4...people drive fast! The overlook and cliffs are visible from Route 4 and the parking lot...they are very similar to Crawford Notch's Elephant Head in that it is a rock cliff above a busy highway.
The trail starts out with two or three signs advising you to stay OFF the old trail, which some apparently missed...
I signed in and continued on. The first half-mile the trail slabs alongside the hillside with Route 4 below you. The footing is rough in places and the trail is WELL beaten and very wide in places. After the .5 miles, you come to the intersection with the AT...bear right to go to Gifford State Park or to head on the AT North. For this hike, stay to the left and head about 30 seconds to the Dear Leap Overlook Trail, which bears left. It gradually climbs the side of the first peak before coming to another intersection. Bear left for the .25 spur to the views....which involve some stairs and ladders, but nothing bad. I burst out into the sun and cool breeze about a half-hour into my trek. The view included Pico (full vista), the Southern 'Dacks, Coolidge Mountains, Birdseye and other peaks outside Rutland, and Skye Peak on Killington. The top is a large rock slab and other places to sit...I enjoyed the views for about 30 minutes. One gripe, which is similar to that of Fairlee's Palisades Trail is that the beautiful view is marred by loud traffic underneath you. So don't expect a silent vista...
From here I backtracked to the summit and continued the loop. Do NOT attempt this section unless it is dry and you have some hiking experience. The trail drops quite a ways down via some steep stairs and a ladder before coming to a col. Looking ahead, I saw that I had a climb ahead of me...to the summit of the next peak. The trail ascends a streambed before bearing left and taking the ridge, which is moderately steep at times. After a bit, you crest the second summit with limited views back to the Overlook and Pico. There was NOBODY on this stretch and the quietness was welcome...though the views were not as great. Peering through the trees, one can see the peaks north of the area (Horrid, etc). It might be better to come here in the fall or spring when leaves are off the trees, but most of the trees were softwoods.
Views from here were intermittent before the trail dropped down to the intersection with the AT. I turned right and made great time on the narrow but flat section of trail, which skirts the mountain and comes back to the Sherburne Trail, where I had turned off originally to ascend to the overlook. From here it was a quick 10 or so minutes back to the trailhead. Many folks only did the short jaunt to the overlook and it was busy.
In all, a short, relatively easy (with some tricky sections) trip that can be done when visiting the Killington area.
