West Fairlee -- Bald Top Mountain's deceptively diminutive 1,765-foot elevation speaks nothing for its sweeping views at the summit.

With a flat, grassy area suited for a family picnic or a moment of solitude, Bald Top features a 270-degree vista to the north, west and southwest. As part of the 36-mile-long Cross Rivendell Trail network, a trip to Bald Top can be its own destination or one highlight in a lengthier trek.

Yesterday's walk was dedicated to the 3.7-mile round trip along the southwestern side of the mountain, beginning on Bloodbrook Road less than two miles from Route 44. This section was finished in the spring of 2008 and virtually completed the Cross Rivendell network -- which extends though the towns of Orford, Fairlee, West Fairlee and Vershire -- though the ambitious Rivendell Trails Association, in partnership with the Rivendell Interstate School District, which recently unveiled an 0.4-mile trail behind Rivendell High School.

Bald Top can also be reached from a trail head across from the public boat launch on Lake Morey, but that's double the distance and features more rigorous terrain than the West Fairlee entrance. From Bloodbrook Road, enter Bald Top across the street and about 30 feet north of signage telling the distance to Kin Hill Road and Flag Pole Road.

The first stretch is shared with the Vermont Association of Snow Travel and is wide enough for two-way snowmobile traffic. A kiosk 25 yards in needs its supply of carry-off maps refilled, but a trail map isn't necessary to climb Bald Top, which is marked well with powder-blue paint blazes. Brush growth (thick at first) gives way to a rocky, gradual incline running parallel to lush, open farmland on the right and young maples, pines and oaks on the left.

Bird sounds permeate, and soon an ethereal, flute-like song was heard. Out into the trail popped a tawny-brown veery, one of Audubon Vermont's “Birder's Dozen” list of easily identifiable, but declining, species. According to West Fairlee Selectboard member Patricia Ayers Crawford, the veery is one of several migratory songbirds that seek only unfragmented land, such as Bald Top's, to lay and hatch young.

About 15 minutes in, a VAST sign reads “Keep Right,” but watch for the blue flag on the left-hand side, indicating the Bald Top trail cuts left. From here, the path narrows and moderately grows steeper. It's well maintained, with branches and brush thoroughly cleared to leave an open trail of soft, amber pine needles. Rock water-diversions help with footing on the steeper parts.

The trail narrows into a shoulder along a ravine as the growth thickens. Tall hardwoods cover the sky here, an area CRT treasurer David Hooke estimates hasn't been cut in at least 100 years, if ever. Rollicking switchbacks make for a leisurely 20 minutes, a great chance to daydream and enjoy the sights and smells of the deepening woods. Forty-five minutes in, the trail extends on its steepest incline. The air cools as the trail meanders through a misty valley teeming with life. Birds are bountiful and the ground is peppered with orange newts, deer scat and critter holes.

According to a brochure produced by the Brushwood Community Forest -- a 5,000-acre (and growing) conservation area that the trail runs through -- moose, bear and turkey also thrive in the area. There's also plenty of unique growth, such as the intertwined maple trunks competing for sunlight and the balsam fiur evergreens with snaky roots slithering over the faces of large rocks.

Keep an eye out for the blue blazes because there are plenty of visual distractions as the summit nears, including diverse rock formations with wavy, multilayer patterns and bright orange, red and yellow mushrooms.

The final incline goes through a short section of thick brush, where a small snake and a dragonfly were sent scattering. It connects onto an old trail for ATVs, which are now prohibited, and the summit awaits just ahead. Stroll the peak's figure-eight path to see the many different views of pastoral landscape. During the immediate decent, be wary of the giant mullein plant that blocks a blue blaze painted on a rock at ground level, which when seen indicates that the trail cuts left. It's easy here to stay straight and remain on the ATV trail, but once the right path is discovered, the way down is easy on the knees and takes roughly 42 minutes.

On the Net: www.crossrivendelltrail.org; www.tpl.org.

Author's Note: The Upper Valley offers some of the most enjoyable day hikes in Northern New England, and Trail Trials is a new seriesaimed at highlighting some of them. Other than that they exist within the VALLEY NEWS coverage area, there are no restrictions to the trails that can be reviewed. Send suggestions to: jpendak@vnews.com or (603) 727-3306.