Sherburne Pass
Encyclopedia
Sherburne Pass, or Shelburne Pass, is a mountain pass
in the Green Mountains
of Vermont
, between 3957 feet (1,206.1 m) Pico Peak
to the south and 2782 feet (848 m) Deer Leap Mountain to the north.
The height of land of the pass is located in the town of Killington
.
On the east side, the pass drains into Kent Brook, thence into the Ottauquechee River
, the Connecticut River
, and into Long Island Sound
in Connecticut
.
To the west, the pass drains via Mendon Brook, then East Creek, into Otter Creek, thence into Lake Champlain
. Lake Champlain drains into the Richelieu River
in Québec
, thence into the Saint Lawrence River
, and into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
.
Pico Mountain
, part of Killington Ski Resort
since December 1997, is on the south side of Sherburne Pass, with a ski lift
running from Rte. 4 to the summit of Pico Peak.
The Long Trail
(LT), a 272 miles (437.7 km) hiking trail
, runs the length of Vermont from Massachusetts
to Québec
along the spine of the Green Mountains, crossing U.S. Route 4
about half a mile west of the height of Sherburne Pass. The Appalachian Trail
(AT), a 2170 miles (3,492.3 km) National Scenic Trail
from Georgia
to Maine
, is contiguous with the LT to the south of the pass. The AT diverges from the LT about a mile north of Rt. 4 at Maine Junction — northwest of Deer Leap Mtn. in Willard Gap — and runs east to New Hampshire
and the White Mountains
. The AT and LT formerly crossed Rt. 4 at the height of Sherburne Pass, and split on the east side of Deer Leap Mountain. Until 1999, the trails passed 0.3 mi (0.482802 km) east of the summit of Pico Peak, along the 3500 feet (1,066.8 m) contour. Both were moved to the west slope of the mountain. The old route of the AT/LT is now a blue-blazed trail, named the Sherburne Pass Trail.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
in the Green Mountains
Green Mountains
The Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont. The range extends approximately .-Peaks:The most notable mountains in the range include:*Mount Mansfield, , the highest point in Vermont*Killington Peak, *Mount Ellen,...
of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, between 3957 feet (1,206.1 m) Pico Peak
Pico Peak
Pico Peak is a mountain located in Rutland County, Vermont. It is the northernmost summit of the Coolidge Range in the Green Mountains, and the second highest after Killington Peak....
to the south and 2782 feet (848 m) Deer Leap Mountain to the north.
The height of land of the pass is located in the town of Killington
Killington, Vermont
Killington is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 811 at the 2010 census. Killington Ski Resort is located here....
.
On the east side, the pass drains into Kent Brook, thence into the Ottauquechee River
Ottauquechee River
The Ottauquechee River is a river in eastern Vermont in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound....
, the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
, and into Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
To the west, the pass drains via Mendon Brook, then East Creek, into Otter Creek, thence into Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
. Lake Champlain drains into the Richelieu River
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
in Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, thence into the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
, and into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
The Gulf of Saint Lawrence , the world's largest estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean...
.
Pico Mountain
Pico Mountain
Pico Mountain Ski Area was one of the first commercial ski resorts in Vermont, USA. The base lodge was located on the northwest side of Pico Peak on U.S. Route 4. In 1996, the resort went into receivership and was bought by the Killington Mountain Resort and Ski Area in December 1997. Ski runs have...
, part of Killington Ski Resort
Killington Ski Resort
Killington Mountain Resort & Ski Area is a ski resort near Killington, Vermont. It is the largest ski area in the Eastern United States, and has the largest vertical in New England as well at 3050 feet.-History:In 1954, Perry H...
since December 1997, is on the south side of Sherburne Pass, with a ski lift
Ski lift
The term ski lift generally refers to any transport device that carries skiers up a hill. A ski lift may fall into one of the following three main classes:-Lift systems and networks:...
running from Rte. 4 to the summit of Pico Peak.
The Long Trail
Long Trail
The Long Trail is a hiking trail located in Vermont, running the length of the state. It is the oldest long-distance trail in the United States, constructed between 1910 and 1930 by the Green Mountain Club...
(LT), a 272 miles (437.7 km) hiking trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
, runs the length of Vermont from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
along the spine of the Green Mountains, crossing U.S. Route 4
U.S. Route 4 in Vermont
In the U.S. state of Vermont, U.S. Route 4 extends for between the New York state line at Fair Haven and the New Hampshire state line at White River Junction. It is one of the main arteries between New York and New Hampshire.-Route description:...
about half a mile west of the height of Sherburne Pass. The Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
(AT), a 2170 miles (3,492.3 km) National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail is a designation for protected areas in the United States that consist of trails of particular natural beauty.National Scenic Trails were authorized under the National Trails System Act of 1968 along with National Historic Trails and National Recreation Trails...
from Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
to Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, is contiguous with the LT to the south of the pass. The AT diverges from the LT about a mile north of Rt. 4 at Maine Junction — northwest of Deer Leap Mtn. in Willard Gap — and runs east to New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and the White Mountains
White Mountains (New Hampshire)
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England...
. The AT and LT formerly crossed Rt. 4 at the height of Sherburne Pass, and split on the east side of Deer Leap Mountain. Until 1999, the trails passed 0.3 mi (0.482802 km) east of the summit of Pico Peak, along the 3500 feet (1,066.8 m) contour. Both were moved to the west slope of the mountain. The old route of the AT/LT is now a blue-blazed trail, named the Sherburne Pass Trail.