The Middlesex Trail climbs to the rocky summit of Mount Hunger. Hikers can choose to make a loop to include the slightly lower White Rocks Mountain on either their ascent or descent. At the summit, the trail also connects to the Skyline Trail (to explore the Worcester Range's northern peaks) and the Waterbury Trail (which leads down the other side of Mount Hunger into Waterbury).
The ascent to Mount Hunger is a steady slope and near the top scrambling is required over rocky terrain. From the summit, almost every peak in the Green Mountain Range is visible including Camel’s Hump, Killington and Mt. Mansfield on its northern end. Beyond this range one may catch a glimpse of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. Many peaks of the White Mountains are visible on the horizon to the east.
Primitive camping is allowed at designated areas within CC Putnam State Forest. For more information see the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation primitive camping webpage.
For more information on the trail or C.C. Putnam State Forest, visit the Vermont State Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation online, or contact:
From Montpelier, head north on VT-12/Elm Street/Worcester Branch Road and continue for 4.9 miles. Turn left onto Shady Rill Road and continue for 2.2 miles. Turn right onto Story Road and continue for 0.7 miles. Turn left onto North Bear Swamp Road and continue for 1.9 miles to the parking area on the right.
In the winter, there is a plowed parking area 1,500 feet from the trailhead on North Bear Swamp Road. The road between the winter parking area and the summer-season trailhead will be seasonally closed to vehicular traffic from the beginning of winter to the end of mud season.
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We didn't need snowshoes because the snow was fairly packed and frozen already, but they would have been helpful towards the top as the sun started to warm up the snow, we broke through much easier. We did use the ice picks that secure to the bottom of our hiking shoes and those were necessary for sure. The trail becomes more challenging after you veer left from the White Rock/Mt. Hunger "intersection" and there are some places with wooden stairs where the terrain becomes more vertical.