Paine Mountain - Northfield, VT

Quick Facts:
Easy to moderate incline, estimated 3.5 mi round trip, elevation 2411 ft. at highest point.

Highlights:
Wide paths, old apple orchard, hawk watching opportunities, shelter near summit.

Directions:
From Northfield, due south on VT 12, take a left onto VT 64. At the top of the hill on your left will be Barrows Road. Barrows Road starts as an intersection with another dirt road which veers to the left, that is primarily a private drive. It's tempting to continue to drive up Barrows road to the right, but after this intersection, there is no parking. Yes, you actually have to park on the side of the road here, but careful not to rest your vehicle too close to the road that veers to the left, as there are clearly "no parking/no trespassing" sing littering the surrounding grass. After leaving your vehicle, walk up Barrows road about a quarter mile, until you reach Kingston Road on the left.

Details:
This trail starts out as Kingston Road and turns into some ATV trails past the open meadow (an obviously grand drinking spot for the young people) which affords views of the Robinson Brook Valley. When you first reach the meadow, you'll cross over a snowmobile trail first (which you ignore!), and then notice the trail branching off into multiple directions. As long as you follow one of the left branches out of the meadow, you'll find yourself on the right trail towards an old apple orchard.

Keep in mind that there are only two real "junctions" past this meadow, although there are multiple offshoots of more ATV trails leading to who knows where. Just ignore the offshoots and note that at the first obvious junction you'll take a right up the trail, and at the second, a left to the summit.

The trail switches back a couple times to ease on the incline, which stays pretty moderate but consistent on your ascent. There is supposed to be a bronze marker at the summit, but I was more interested in seeing the shelter and alternate return path along the Hawk Watch Trail, and lost the patience to go looking for it. This alternate descent is found at the second junction on your ascent. Once at the summit, backtrack to this junction and follow the trail left to a shelter and open meadow. The Hawk Watch Trail continues past the shelter through some briers and acts as a shortcut back down to the old apple orchard. Once there, follow the original ascent trail to the left back down to your vehicle.