October 4, 2023

MT. EQUINOX SKYLINE DRIVE

42 Skyline Dr, Arlington, VT 05250

“Drive this scenic mountain which is also used as a outdoor classroom for the study of various species of plants and animals. At 5.2 miles, the Mount Equinox Skyline Drive is the longest privately owned paved toll road in the U.S. Those who prefer to hike can pick up a trail map at the Toll House. At the top of the mountain is our new Saint Bruno Scenic Viewing Center packed with info about Equinox Mountain and the Carthusian Monks. The private property which is 7,000 acres is owned by the Carthusian monks, a cloistered order of Catholic monks. – Tripadvisor

Visiting Vermont in the fall I really wanted to check out any scenic view of the fall colors I could find. I took advantage of a beautiful afternoon to drive to the top of Mt. Equinox. While the colors weren’t at their peak, the views were wonderful. There were three or fur stops along the way, mainly to be used for resting your brakes when coming down from the top. I stopped a couple of times on the way up just to take in the beauty. At the summit there is a visitors center with story boards telling the story of the property. There were also balconies on each end of the bulding which provided even better vantage points to check out the scenery.

The only negative I have with the trip is the cost. I think $30 ($25 in summer) is a little steep for the drive (pun intended).