Mount Ascutney

A standalone monadnock peak in southeastern Vermont, Mount Ascutney's summit road is one of the cleanest climbing challenges in New England — a 5.6km assault with 490m of elevation gain at a sustained 8.8% average. The climb begins from the lower State Park entrance and follows the Summit Road through hardwood forest on a surface that is well-maintained by Vermont state standards. The gradient is consistent from the gate, with the steepest ramps (12-15%) concentrated in the middle third where the road cuts through exposed granite bedrock. The summit at 975m provides sweeping views across the Connecticut River Valley into New Hampshire on clear days. Ascutney was a ski resort until 2010; the former lift infrastructure at the summit gives the climb an unusual abandoned-mountain atmosphere that sets it apart from the Gap climbs. The road sees minimal vehicle traffic and is used extensively by the Ascutney Basin cycling community.