A private rustic cabin north of Woodstock that is open to hikers, Luce’s Lookout is known for its rooftop platform with commanding views of the White Mountains.
Private landowners maintain a viewing platform on the roof of their cabin.
The site has historical origins predating the current structure. A wooden observation deck was first constructed at this site by the Luce family in 1894, and replaced in 1956 with a steel structure. The cabin itself is accessed via a spur trail from the Appalachian Trail as it passes through the Bridgewater area, situated on high ground that provides exceptional panoramic views of the surrounding peaks.
The Lookout has been referenced in hiking records since at least 2000, when hikers noted the excellent vista from the site extending northward toward Mansfield, down to Lake Lakota, and across to peaks including Lafayette in the White Mountains, Ascutney to the southeast, and the Coolidge Range to the west. The structure continues to serve as a welcoming waypoint for hikers traveling the Appalachian Trail in this section of central Vermont, representing a rare instance of private property placed voluntarily at the disposal of the hiking public.
Sources
- Smoke and Blazes (Killington) 43 (1990). Killington Section, Green Mountain Club. 5.
- Smoke and Blazes (Killington) 50 (1997). Killington Section, Green Mountain Club. 44.
- Smoke and Blazes (Killington) 50 (1997). Killington Section, Green Mountain Club. 54.
- Long Trail News 1999 (1999). Green Mountain Club. 21.
