Also known as: Breadloaf Mountain
Bread Loaf Mountain rises to 3,835 feet in the heart of the Breadloaf Wilderness, the largest designated wilderness in Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest. The summit gives its name to the entire 24,986-acre wilderness and sits at the center of the central Green Mountains, flanked to the northeast by Mount Wilson. The slopes drain into two river systems: the New Haven River, flowing west toward Lake Champlain, and the White River, flowing east into the Connecticut River.
The most popular approach follows the Skylight Pond Trail from the Steam Mill Road trailhead, a 2.5-mile climb through recovering forest to the Long Trail junction. From there, the Long Trail heads north 1.2 miles to a short summit spur that reaches the outlook in roughly 0.1 miles. The terrain is moderate throughout, with gentle grades and a handful of rock scrambles; the nearby Skyline Lodge offers overnight shelter for backpackers. Combining the summit with a traverse to Mount Wilson makes for a full-day outing of about 9 miles.
Because this is a designated wilderness, trails receive minimal maintenance and signage is sparser than on more heavily managed routes elsewhere in Vermont; solid navigation skills are an asset. Moose and black bears live here in considerable numbers, and the streams carry small brook trout. Snowshoers can explore the Norske Trail in winter.
