Wright's Mtn. and Devil's Den

Destinations:  Wright's Mtn. (1822'), Devil's Den (1160')
Trails:  Wright's Mountain Trail, Chase Hollow Trail, Woods Road, Ernie's Trail
Region:  VT - Central East  
Location:  Bradford, VT
Rating:  Moderate  
Features:  Summit, views, caves, shelter, loop hike
Distance:  3.2 miles  
Elevation Gain:  750 feet (cumulative)  
Hiking Time:  Typical: 2:00  
Outing Duration:  Typical: 4:00  
Season:  Spring
Hike Date:  06/07/2008 (Saturday)  
Last Updated:  03/25/2009  
Author:  Roy Schweiker

Route Summary   

This was a two-part hike first climbing to the summit of Wright's Mountain which affords views of the Waits River Valley and surrounding mountains to the west; and then exploring Devil's Den - an area of shallow caves - on the lower flanks of Wright's Mountain.

For this outing, I first climbed Wright's Mountain, then returned to my car. Then I drove to the nearby trailhead for Devil's Den and explored there. However, if you have two vehicles, this could be done as a point-to-point hike. It can also be done as a single loop hike reaching both areas. Check out the route options below.

Wright's Mountain Hike: (1.6 miles, Moderate)
  • Start at Wright's Mountain Trailhead on Wright's Mountain Road.
  • Follow Wright's Mountain Trail for about 0.4 mile where you will see first Ernie's Trail veering left, then Sylvia's Trail bearing left. Keep right at both these junctions to stay on Wright's Mountain Trail.
  • Continue following Wright's Mountain Trail for another 0.4 mile, keeping straight where the other end of Sylvia's trail rejoins from the left after about 0.3 mile, to arrive at the summit where there are views and a shelter.
  • Return via the same route (or return via Sylvia's Trail for a gentler route that will add 0.2 mile to the hike).

Devil's Den Hike: (1.6 miles, Easy/Moderate)
  • Start at Chase Hollow Trailhead on Chase Hollow Road. You will be following this yellow-blazed trail all the way to Devil's Den.
  • After about 0.2 mile, first Commemorative Way and then Joel's Trail will leave to the left.
  • About 0.1 mile later, Chase Hollow Trail will split and then shortly rejoin. Follow the sign to the left to follow the "best way in".
  • After 0.1 mile on the left-hand branch, or 0.2 mile on the right-hand branch, the Chase Hollow Trail rejoins.
  • From here to Devil's Den is about 0.3 mile. Soon you will encounter Woods Road coming in from the left. Shortly after that J. Arthur's Trail and then Ernie's Trail will leave to the right.
  • At the end of Chase Hollow Trail, you will arrive at a boulder-strewn ravine with several shallow caves, the largest of which is known as Devil's Den.
  • Leaving Devil's Den, retrace your steps on Chase Hollow Trail for a bit more than 0.2 mile, then turn right onto Woods Road which you will follow all the way back to Chase Hollow Road.
  • During the first 0.1 mile on Woods Road, you will see Rube's Route and Nancy's Trace leaving to the right and Joel's Trail going to the left. Stay straight on Woods Road through all these junctions.
  • About 0.4 mile later you will see the other end of Nancy's Trace coming in from the right while Commemorative Way leaves to the left. Keep following Woods Road.
  • A final 0.1 mile on Woods Road will bring you to Chase Hollow Road.
  • Turn left and walk 0.1 mile on the road to rejoin the Chase Hollow Trailhead parking area.

Wright's Mountain to Devil's Den Point-to-Point Hike: (2.7 miles, Moderate)
  • After spotting a car at the Chase Hollow Trailhead, start this hike at Wright's Mountain Trailhead on Wright's Mountain Road.
  • Follow Wright's Mountain Trail for about 0.4 mile where you will see first Ernie's Trail veering left, then Sylvia's Trail bearing left. Keep right at both these junctions to stay on Wright's Mountain Trail.
  • Continue following Wright's Mountain Trail for another 0.4 mile, keeping straight where the other end of Sylvia's trail rejoins from the left after about 0.3 mile, to arrive at the summit where there are views and a shelter.
  • From the summit, continue along Wright's Mountain Trail in a southerly direction and follow it for 0.7 mile as it descends (and then climbs a bit near the end) to a junction with Ernie's Trail and J. Arthur's Trail.
  • Turn right to follow Ernie's Trail southerly for 0.3 mile as it descends to end at Chase Hollow Trail.
  • Turn right on Chase Hollow Trail and follow it for 0.1 mile where it ends. Here you will be at a boulder-strewn ravine with several shallow caves, the largest of which is known as Devil's Den.
  • Leaving Devil's Den, you will be following Chase Hollow Trail for 0.8 mile to reach Chase Hollow Road where you have previously spotted your spare vehicle.
    • After 0.1 mile you will see Ernie's Trail (the route you arrived by) leaving to the left, and then J. Arthur's Trail also leaves to the left.
    • About 0.1 mile later, Woods Road will bear right; stay left to keep on Chase Hollow Trail.
    • A short ways later, Chase Hollow Trail will split and then rejoin.
    • Follow the left-hand branch (signed "best way out") for 0.2 mile (or 0.1 mile on the right-hand branch) to resume hiking on the merged Chase Hollow Trail.
    • After about 0.1 mile, Joel's Trail and then Commemorative Way will leave to the right; keep straight on Chase Hollow Trail.
    • About 0.2 mile later, you will arrive at the parking area on Chase Hollow Road.

Wright's Mountain to Devil's Den Loop Hike: (3.3 miles, Moderate)
  • This option starts at and returns to Wright's Mountain Trailhead on Wright's Mountain Road.
  • Follow Wright's Mountain Trail for about 0.4 mile where you will see first Ernie's Trail veering left, then Sylvia's Trail bearing left. Keep right at both these junctions to stay on Wright's Mountain Trail.
  • Continue following Wright's Mountain Trail for another 0.4 mile, keeping straight where the other end of Sylvia's trail rejoins from the left after about 0.3 mile, to arrive at the summit where there are views and a shelter.
  • From the summit, continue along Wright's Mountain Trail in a southerly direction and follow it for 0.7 mile as it descends (and then climbs a bit near the end) to a junction with Ernie's Trail and J. Arthur's Trail.
  • Turn right to follow Ernie's Trail southerly for 0.3 mile as it descends to end at Chase Hollow Trail.
  • Turn right on Chase Hollow Trail and follow it for 0.1 mile where it ends. Here you will be at a boulder-strewn ravine with several shallow caves, the largest of which is known as Devil's Den.
  • Leaving Devil's Den, retrace your steps on Chase Hollow Trail for about 0.1 mile and then turn left onto Ernie's Trail.
  • Follow Ernie's Trail for about 0.3 mile which will return you to the junction with Wright's Mountain Trail on the left and J. Arthur's Trail on the right.
  • Instead of retracing your route on Wright's Mountain Trail, keep straight on Ernie's Trail following it for another 0.6 mile where it will end at a lower part of Wright's Mountain Trail.
  • Go straight/right onto Wright's Mountain Trail and walk for 0.4 mile to return to Wright's Mountain Road.

Wright's Mountain Hike:
Place         Split
Miles
     Total
Miles
    
Wright's Mountain Trailhead (1400') 0.0 0.0
Wright's Mountain summit (1822') 0.8 0.8
Wright's Mountain Trailhead (1400') 1.6 1.6

Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 425 feet (cumulative)
Typical Hiking Time: 1:00
Typical Outing Duration: 2:00

Devil's Den Hike:
Place         Split
Miles
     Total
Miles
    
Chase Hollow Trailhead (940') 0.0 0.0
Devil's Den (1160') 0.7 0.7
Chase Hollow Trailhead (940') 0.9 1.6

Rating: Easy/Moderate
Elevation Gain: 320 feet (cumulative)
Typical Hiking Time: 1:00
Typical Outing Duration: 2:00

Wright's Mountain to Devil's Den Point-to-Point Hike:
Place         Split
Miles
     Total
Miles
    
Wright's Mountain Trailhead (1400') 0.0 0.0
Wright's Mountain summit (1822') 0.8 0.8
Devil's Den (1160') 1.1 1.9
Chase Hollow Trailhead (940') 0.8 2.7

Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 610 feet (cumulative)
Typical Hiking Time: 1:40
Typical Outing Duration: 3:45

Wright's Mountain to Devil's Den Loop Hike:
Place         Split
Miles
     Total
Miles
    
Wright's Mountain Trailhead (1400') 0.0 0.0
Wright's Mountain summit (1822') 0.8 0.8
Devil's Den (1160') 1.1 1.9
Wright's Mountain Trailhead (1400') 1.4 3.3

Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 1060 feet (cumulative)
Typical Hiking Time: 2:10
Typical Outing Duration: 4:15




 

Click for the full trail map (it will open in a new window).   

Trail map of hike route to Wright's Mtn. and Devil's Den (map courtesy of Upper Valley Land Trust)

 


  Trail Guide   

First I parked at the height- of-land on Wright's Mountain Road to do the Wright's Mountain hike. There is a new outhouse just into woods. The trail is a nice old woods road leading to a view ledge west where there is an old cabin. I climbed to the nearby true summit in the woods before returning the same way.

Next I drove to the trailhead on Chase Hollow Road to do the Devil's Den hike. I had missed Devil's Den parking lot on the way in but found it on my way back. The outhouse here has a sign indicating it was built by voc-ed students.

I hiked up Chase Hollow Trail past the kiosk taking the "Best Way In". Finally I joined a woods road and then turned at the Devil's Den sign. This trail went up and down over ridges and got rougher with lots of boulders, finally becoming too faint to follow. There was one large chamber below this point that could have been Devil's Den.

For the return trip, I went down Woods Road, reaching a junction with taped-over signs where presumably the trail dedication would take place the next day. After a cutoff trail leaves left the path was more overgrown and muddy. I turned left at another junction and came out slightly downhill from the parking lot.
 
 


VT - Central East

  Driving Directions   

Wright's Mountain Trailhead and Chase Hollow Trailhead are both located in Bradford, Vermont only 2.9 miles apart. Since this trail report accesses both trailheads by car, directions from I-91 directly to each trailhead, as well as directions between the two trailheads are included.

Note that during the winter the Chase Hollow Trailhead is not accessible at all; and the Wright's Mountain Trailhead is only accessible by following Route 5 instead of Route 25. See the bottom set of directions for accessing Wright's Mountain Trailhead in the winter.

Wright's Mountain Trailhead from I-91 (summer only):
  • From I-91, take Exit 16 (Bradford).
  • Follow Rt. 25 West for 4.7 miles.
  • Turn right onto Wright's Mountain Road and travel 2.3 miles, staying to the right at the Fulton Road intersection.
  • Wright's Mountain Trailhead parking is on the right.

Chase Hollow Trailhead from Wright's Mountain Trailhead (summer only):
  • From Wright's Mountain Trailhead, continue on Wright's Mountain Road for 1.1 miles, then turn right onto Goshen Road.
  • Follow Goshen Road for 0.7 mile then turn right onto Chase Hollow Road.
  • Travel on Chase Hollow Road for 1.1 miles, being sure to turn right at its intersection with Tarbox Road after 0.2 mile.
  • Chase Hollow Trailhead parking is on the right, and the yellow-blazed trail starts at the north side of the parking lot.

Chase Hollow Trailhead from I-91 (summer only):
  • From I-91, take Exit 16 (Bradford).
  • Follow Rt. 25 West for 3.3 miles.
  • Turn right onto Chase Hollow Road and go 1.3 miles.
  • Chase Hollow Trailhead parking is on the left, and the yellow-blazed trail starts at the north side of the parking lot.

Wright's Mountain Trailhead from Chase Hollow Trailhead (summer only):
  • From Chase Hollow Trailhead, continue on Chase Hollow Road for another 1.1 miles, making sure to turn left at the intersection of Chase Hollow and Tarbox Roads after 0.9 mile.
  • At the end of Chase Hollow Road turn left again and follow Goshen Road for 0.7 mile where it will end at an intersection.
  • Turn left onto Wright's Mountain Road and follow it 1.1 miles to Wright's Mountain Trailhead parking on the left.

Wright's Mountain Trailhead from I-91 (winter):
  • From I-91, take Exit 16 (Bradford).
  • Turn East onto Rt. 25 and follow that for about 0.5 mile.
  • Turn left onto Rt. 5 North, following it for 1.6 miles.
  • Turn left on Fairground Road and continue 2.1 miles.
  • Turn left again onto Goshen Road East and follow this road for 2.3 miles until bumping into Wright’s Mountain Road (after 1.6 miles, bear right to stay on Goshen Road).
  • Turn left onto Wright's Mountain Road and follow it 1.1 miles to Wright's Mountain Trailhead parking on the left.
  • This trailhead may not get plowed immediately after a snowfall. If the parking area is not yet plowed, please do not park along the road, as that space is needed for the snowplow to turn around, and a vehicle left there will block the plow.

Facilities   

Outhouses at Wright's Mountain Trailhead and Chase Hollow Trailhead.
 
 

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