Woodstock and Mt Tom

Woodstock, VT

In My copy of Moon Handbook to New England there are a few hikes listed near Woodstock, VT.  With the change to Daylight Savings, I decided to do a couple short hikes after work.

This would turn out to be one of the best days out in a long time.  Mt Tom rises about 500 to 700 feet above the village of Woodstock.  There is a trail that leaves the village that leads to the summit.  It gives the hiker an amazing reward for his/her effort.

Congregational Church

From the center of the village, I crossed a covered bridge which leads to the trail.  I really love covered bridges.  Vermont has many.  Though walk up is quite easy, but there are numerous switchbacks.  Many have created their own paths to avoid all these switchbacks.  The climb up is not steep at all and quite easy.  When the snow and ice are gone, it would make for a nice bike ride.

Windsor County Courthouse

I loved these sculptures. Is that the Goodyear Marshmallow Man?

Center of village

Covered Bridge

Mt Tom from the village

Although I brought my Microspikes, I did not wear them.  I kind of regretted this, though they weren't really necessary.  The trail did get a bit steep near the top and there were some railings here.  It also was a bit exposed.  On the way down I had to be quite careful.

Nice broken in trail, hardly any postholing

Though not much of a climb, there are cliffs to fall hard from

The views from the top are some of the best I've seen.  Not many picturesque villages afford people with a bird's eye view, but Woodstock does.  The views from here really are postcard picture perfect!

Center of the village

Looking down Pleasant Street

A shot of the whole village

Congregational Church and Pleasant Street

A closer look

Windsor County Courthouse

Woodstock Inn

Mt Ascutney

Congregational Church with Tom in background