Killington Mountain

What to bring

Day-hike essentials for this trail. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Killington is the second-highest peak in Vermont, and the Bucklin Trail is the classic hiker’s route to its summit, away from the ski lifts on the far side of the mountain. The out-and-back climbs steadily through the forest before saving its hardest work for the final push to the top. Hikers rate it highly for the summit views and the satisfying grade, with a consistent warning that the last mile is far steeper than the mellow start would lead you to expect.

What to Expect on the Trail

The Bucklin Trail starts off Wheelerville Road in Mendon and follows Brewers Brook through pleasant hardwood forest for its first few miles. This lower section is the easy part: a gentle to moderate grade, close to the water, with good footing and a relaxed rhythm that lulls hikers into thinking the whole climb will feel this way. Several hikers describe the first half as flat enough to make good time.

That changes decisively in the last mile. The trail tilts sharply upward, gaining the ridge in a sustained, rocky climb that is the crux of the day. Near the top the Bucklin Trail meets the Long Trail close to Cooper Lodge, a stone trailside shelter that sits as the highest lodging on Vermont’s Long Trail, and from there a short, steep, rocky scramble leads to the actual summit. This final stretch is hands-on in spots and is where the challenging rating is earned.

The summit itself opens up a broad view across the Green Mountains, with the ski trails and gondola of Killington Resort visible on the mountain’s other flank and long sightlines to distant ranges on a clear day. The contrast between the quiet, wild Bucklin approach and the developed ski side is part of what gives the peak its character.

How Hard Is This Trail, Really?

Challenging is the right call, but the difficulty is unevenly distributed. For most of its length the Bucklin Trail is a moderate walk that a reasonably fit hiker handles comfortably, which is exactly why the final climb catches people off guard. The last mile is steep and rocky enough to slow everyone down, and the summit scramble asks for careful footing and the use of your hands in a few places.

Conditions raise the stakes in the shoulder seasons. Snow and ice linger high on the mountain well into spring and early summer, and hikers repeatedly mention needing traction devices or even snowshoes on the upper trail long after the trailhead is clear. Mud is common lower down after rain and snowmelt. Most hikers take somewhere around four to six hours round trip, and the honest summary is that this is a genuine mountain day whose difficulty is concentrated at the top.

Best Time to Go

The prime hiking window runs from late spring through October, once the upper snow has melted out. Summer offers the most reliable footing and the warmest summit conditions, though the high elevation can still be cool and breezy at the top. Fall is a favorite for crisp air and Green Mountain foliage spread out below the summit, and it delivers the clearest long-range views of the year.

Early spring is the tricky season. The trailhead can look ready while the last mile is still buried in snow and ice, so hikers heading up before summer should carry traction and be prepared to turn around. Winter ascents are a serious undertaking best left to well-equipped hikers, given the exposure and lingering snowpack near the summit. Whatever the season, checking recent trail reports for snow conditions on the upper mountain is smart planning.

Before You Go

The Bucklin trailhead has a parking area off Wheelerville Road in Mendon, and hikers generally report that finding a spot is easy compared with busier peaks. There are no services at the trailhead, so fuel up and bring what you need before you start. Cooper Lodge near the summit offers emergency shelter but should not be counted on for anything beyond a place to get out of the wind.

Carry plenty of water and pack a warm layer even in summer, since the summit is markedly cooler and windier than the valley. Dogs are welcome on leash, which makes this a popular hike for people bringing their four-legged companions. In the shoulder seasons, traction devices are the single most important thing to have with you, given how long snow and ice hold on the final climb.

Killington sits in central Vermont near Rutland and is easy to reach, which makes it a natural target for a day hike. Hikers looking to bag Vermont’s high peaks often pair it with nearby summits, but on its own the Bucklin route is a rewarding, self-contained climb to one of the state’s most prominent mountaintops.

Word from the Trail

Killington via Bucklin earns strong marks from the people who hike it, with the large majority rating it a rewarding climb and pointing to the summit views as the reward for the steep final push. The recurring theme in their accounts is the split personality of the trail: an easy, enjoyable start followed by a genuinely tough last mile, with traction essential whenever snow lingers up high.

That is the fair read on Vermont’s second-highest peak. The Bucklin Trail is a moderate walk that ends in a real mountain climb, and the summit delivers a view worthy of the effort. Save it for melted-out conditions, carry traction in the shoulder seasons, and Killington rewards the climb with a wide-open summit over the heart of the Green Mountains.

Gear for this hike

Our day-hike checklist — the picks that show up again and again from tested gear roundups. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

LOWA Renegade EVO GTX MidGORE-TEX, 3 widths, resolableCheck price on Amazon →Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 32ozinsulated, durableCheck price on Amazon →Osprey Talon 22ventilated back, pole carryCheck price on Amazon →Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight Watertight .7day-hike specific, waterproofCheck price on Amazon →Black Diamond Spot 400-Rrechargeable, comfortableCheck price on Amazon →Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacketdurable, trail + everydayCheck price on Amazon →Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Midweightlifetime warrantyCheck price on Amazon →Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Polescork grip, lightweightCheck price on Amazon →Sawyer Squeeze Water Filterultralight, standard threadsCheck price on Amazon →Sawyer Premium Permethrin Insect Repellent Spraytreat clothing; kills ticksCheck price on Amazon →Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long Sleeve HoodyUPF 50, hood + thumb holesCheck price on Amazon →