By:
Submission
From Brattleboro: Take Exit #2 off I-91, then continue 15 miles west on VT Route 9.
As Someone who loves exploring abandoned ski areas, and hiking in general, I loved visiting Molly Stark State Park. The trails here weave around Hogback Mountain, a former ski area which operated here into the mid 80s. These a fire tower at the top of the mountain which provides nice views of the area, and its cool to see the remains of the ski area.
I tent camped here for three nights last month and was very impressed! First, the staff was as friendly and helpful as they come, offering tips on things to do, and appearing to be genuinely interested in making sure I had a good and safe time. The campsite itself was very clean, flat and tidy, and the restroom and shower facilities were the cleanest I've ever encountered, including at some private campgrounds where I spent considerably more money to stay. If you're looking for total peace and quiet, the road noise from nearby Route 9 can be a bit intrusive, but other than that, this place is great!
Nice, easy, not muddy walk on Olga trail to fire tower with a view. The parking is convenient. There are also grills. The fire tower bottom stairs are shaky but it is stable as you walk up and the views are great. We did it in and back, but you could make it a loop trail.
Quick, easy hike, great view. The trail is marked really well, you'd have to try really hard to get lost. Most kids will do fine but some of the railing on the tower can be dangerous because of open spaces but as long as your kids are old to understand that, it's a treat.
