I was looking at my Trails Illustrated map and thinking of doing something south of 25A when I read a report that the Rivendell Trail to Mount Cube was snow-free. After confirming that the Kodak Trail was also snow-free I planned a loop, going up the Kodak and down the Rivendell Trail, with a road walk connecting the two trailheads. For a map of the trip (done yesterday, 4/15) click here.
I like to do the road walk at the start of the trip, when I am full of energy and eager to get to the trailhead. An interesting feature of the MapSource National Parks East map is that it is routable, though it is definitely primitive. Still, it got me to the trailhead with no need for me to scan road names as I drove along Rt 25A. Baker Road is narrow, but at the trailhead there were several very basic parking spaces.
I walked south along the road, which was in good (driveable) condition for about a mile. At that point there was a fork, with the "good" road going left to a large clearing, and a very "bad" road going right. Looking at my map it was clear that the road to follow was the "bad" one, going SW to the point where Mousley Brook Road branches off Quinttown Road. That part of the road was wet a deeply rutted; I was happy to be walking rather than attempting to drive down it. After about half a mile I reached Quinttown Road.
A mile or so on Quinttown Road got me to the start of the Kodak Trail. It is probably the most scenic of the three trails up Mount Cube, Steve Smith has posted lots of pictures that he took on Wednesday (one day before my hike) in this post. Early in the season the trail is still covered with leaves, and the tread is not obvious, so some attention needs to be given to following it (no real difficulties; just that day-dreaming or a really interesting conversation would not be a good idea!).
There are three good viewpoints (to the south and west) as you go up, as well as the summit itself. Views were good though hazy; I saw snow on one of the Vermont ski areas (no idea which).
The Rivendell Trail goes down a short but (for me) nasty ledgy section; at one point I decided to bushwhack in the trees, and found that there was a faint, but distinct, herd path. Apparently I was not the only one uncomfortable on those ledges!
Below there were a couple of ledges with good views to the west, then an easy descent to the road and my car.
An interesting way of doing Cube. With one car there are about 2½ miles of road walking, 3½ miles on the Kodak Trail and just over two miles on the Rivendell Trail. There are about 1,800 feet of elevation gain on the Kodak Trail, and say another 200 or so on the road walk.
I like to do the road walk at the start of the trip, when I am full of energy and eager to get to the trailhead. An interesting feature of the MapSource National Parks East map is that it is routable, though it is definitely primitive. Still, it got me to the trailhead with no need for me to scan road names as I drove along Rt 25A. Baker Road is narrow, but at the trailhead there were several very basic parking spaces.
I walked south along the road, which was in good (driveable) condition for about a mile. At that point there was a fork, with the "good" road going left to a large clearing, and a very "bad" road going right. Looking at my map it was clear that the road to follow was the "bad" one, going SW to the point where Mousley Brook Road branches off Quinttown Road. That part of the road was wet a deeply rutted; I was happy to be walking rather than attempting to drive down it. After about half a mile I reached Quinttown Road.
A mile or so on Quinttown Road got me to the start of the Kodak Trail. It is probably the most scenic of the three trails up Mount Cube, Steve Smith has posted lots of pictures that he took on Wednesday (one day before my hike) in this post. Early in the season the trail is still covered with leaves, and the tread is not obvious, so some attention needs to be given to following it (no real difficulties; just that day-dreaming or a really interesting conversation would not be a good idea!).
There are three good viewpoints (to the south and west) as you go up, as well as the summit itself. Views were good though hazy; I saw snow on one of the Vermont ski areas (no idea which).
The Rivendell Trail goes down a short but (for me) nasty ledgy section; at one point I decided to bushwhack in the trees, and found that there was a faint, but distinct, herd path. Apparently I was not the only one uncomfortable on those ledges!
Below there were a couple of ledges with good views to the west, then an easy descent to the road and my car.
An interesting way of doing Cube. With one car there are about 2½ miles of road walking, 3½ miles on the Kodak Trail and just over two miles on the Rivendell Trail. There are about 1,800 feet of elevation gain on the Kodak Trail, and say another 200 or so on the road walk.
Last edited:
