Mount Ascutney via Futures Trail

This route starts and ends within Mt. Ascutney State Park's campground, near campsite 22 on the park's interior access road and climbs steadily through dense northeastern hardwood forest toward the summit of Mount Ascutney. From the campground, climb a steep bank past an old stone chimney, then follow an old logging road up a switchbacking ridge to Bare Rock Vista at 1.0 mile. Continue upwards, and cross the paved Mt. Ascutney Parkway at 2.2 miles and again at 2.8 miles, then pass the Steam Donkey logging relic at about 3.4 miles. At 3.7 miles, turn left onto the Futures Link trail, which climbs steeply to join Brownsville Trail on the ridgeline. From here, bear left and continue 0.4 miles to the summit and lookout tower. The summit offers panoramic views of the Green Mountains, White Mountains, and beyond, making the challenging climb worthwhile. Retrace the same route back down the the upper ridge, Futures Link Trail, and the logging road to the campground for a round trip of about 8.1 miles, gaining roughly 3,006 vertical feet.