A Steep, Scenic 45 Minute Hike Up Haystack Mountain

Westmore, VT (.9 mile climb to the summit)

Think the smallest mountain you can see and someone telling you it’s only 45 minutes to the summit. How bad can it be? Well it sure felt like all of those 45 minutes were straight up! Although I’ve been hiking this trail since I was a child, each time it takes me by surprise. When asking the kids what trail they want to hike, I usually say the 3 mile one or the 45 minute one. They always pick the 45 minute one – not knowing it is indeed a heavy climb.

We accessed the trailhead by driving up Long Pond Road in Westmore. If you haven’t kayaked around Long Pond – do it! It’s so beautiful, calm and in the middle of nowhere – exactly what you want Vermont to be. Drive past the pond about 2 miles and the Haystack Mountain trailhead is on the left.

We have always departed on the North Trail for two reasons. One, the kids think it’s shorter since it doesn’t have the actual mileage written on the sign. And two, the South Trail begins by walking up a road – not the kids forte. It seems shorter if you get to start on a trail right out of the gate. We did end up walking down on the south trail, but it does seem to be much longer and we’d rather stick to the North side. The South side is not as steep, so if you do have bad knees or ankles, you may want to take that route.

Much like many other VT hiking trails, Haystack is well maintained. There are cute man made bridges to get over wet areas. Some have been in place quite a while, so always watch your foot placement to avoid slippery surfaces or rotten boards. This bridge covered a mud pit that would have covered our shoes in mud had it not been there. It was a rather dry time so no water was flowing beneath it, just the mud.

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