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There are many day hikes around the Okemo Valley. For more details and trail conditions contact the Chamber Office, or purchase a copy of "50 Hikes in Vermont."

Please carry out all trash. Leave nothing but your foot prints. Take nothing but memories...

The Healdville Trail
The blue-blazed Healdville Trail climbs from the Parking area to Okemo Mountain's 3,340 foot summit. The trail is 5.9 miles round trip offering a hefty half-day hike. Features along the trail include a fire tower and several lookouts which offer sweeping views of the local ski area. Crews from the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps constructed the Healdville Trail during the summers of 1991-1993.

Finding the Trail Head: From Ludlow Vermont, take VT Route #103 west towards Rutland. Approximately five miles from Ludlow on Route #103 turn left on Station Road (this turn is beside the Wright Construction Company building). Follow Station Road until you cross the railroad tracks. Turn left and there is a large parking area immediately at the end of a short drive.

The trail, blazed with blue paint, leaves the parking area and crosses two small brooks before ascending gradually along the second brook through a scenic hardwood forest. It runs gradually uphill and passes a vista point at 2.5 miles where a fine view of Mt Holly and the main Green Mountain chain can be seen on good viewing days. At 2.8 miles, the trail ascends steeply to a small clearing which was the site of the fire tower watchman's cabin. The only remaining structure on the site is the chimney. Just after the cabin site the trail merges with a work road which runs from the end of the Okemo Mountain Road to the fire tower. The fire tower has been reconditioned by the State of Vermont and is open to hikers. The tower affords excellent views of the White Mountains to the northeast including Mt Washington, the Green Mountains North and South. To the east is Ascutney, and beyond is Manadnock in New Hampshire.

Total Distance: 6.0 Miles
Hiking Time: 4.5 Hours
Vertical Rise: 2250 ft.
Rating: Strenuous

From the east: exit 8 off I-91: drive 3.3 miles to a right turn (North) onto Cascade Falls Road.

From the west (Ludlow): Take Route 131. Two miles east of the intersection of RT 106 you will climb a steep hill. As soon as the road begins to descend, watch for the black "Weathersfield Trail" sign. Turn left onto Cascade Falls Road.

Once on Cascade Falls Road, Bear left at the fork to a right turn at 3.6 miles. Follow up a short steep hill to the Ascutney State Park parking area.

From the information board, take the blue-blazed Weathersfield Trail which ascends log stairs as it enters the woods.

The trail winds, rises, and falls over varied terrain to the 1.3 mile mark where it levels slightly to cross the valley and meets an old roadway.

This is the white-blazed Old Weathersfield Trail, which you follow past Gus's Lookout and a trail to the left that leads to the West Peak. Continue straight from this junction to the antennae-covered summit at 2.9 miles. Return to the junction and follow the same trail back to the parking area.