A.T. - Stratton Mountain to Bennington (VT 9) - Member Hike

Hike Name:	A.T. - Stratton Mountain to Bennington (VT 9)
Country:	United States
State:	Vermont
Nearby Town:	Bennington
Rating:
Directions:	The trail starts at the top of Stratton Mountain which you can access via the gondola. Here are directions to the base of the mountain: From Hartford and New York City Take I-95 North to New Haven, CT (about 80 miles) Take I-91 North to Brattleboro, VT (Exit 2) (about 120 miles) Take Routes 30 North to Bondville (about 38 miles) In Bondville take the Stratton Mountain Road 4 miles to the Resort
Total Hike Distance:	25.70 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Moderate
Permit Required:	No
Hike Type:	One-Way, Shuttle Hike
Hike Starts:	Stratton Mountain
Hike Ends:	Bennington (VT 9)
Trails Used:	Appalachian Trail
Backcountry Campsites:	Yes
Backcountry Water Sources:	Springs
Management:	U.S. Forest Service
Contact Information:	Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests 231 North Main Street Rutland, VT 05701 Phone: (802) 747 – 6700 FAX: (802) 747 - 6766 TTY: (802) 747 - 6765
Best Season:	Summer, Fall
Users:	Hikers, Dogs
Road Conditions:	Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads
Hike Summary:	From VT 9 near the town of Bennington, The Appalachian Trail climbs past the Goddard, Caughnawaga, Kid Gore, and Story Spring Shelters and reaches a fire tower at Stratton Mountain. Benton MacKaye, who first published a proposal for the creation of the Appalachian Trail, is thought to have come up with the idea during a hike on this mountain. A cabin with a summer caretaker is near the summit for overnight use, and a side trail leads a short distance to the Stratton Ski Area where a gondola provides access to the base of the mountain.