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The Atlas/Vermont/Hogback Mountain Scenic Overlook

Hogback Mountain Scenic Overlook

Vermont
Region
Viewpoint
Stop type
Standalone stop
Atlas

Hogback Mountain Scenic Overlook sits directly beside Route 9 (the Molly Stark Scenic Byway) in Marlboro, roughly 14 miles west of Brattleboro. From an elevation of about 2,400 feet, the overlook delivers a 100-mile panorama spanning three states — southern Vermont's ridgelines, northern Massachusetts, and western New Hampshire. The Hogback Mountain Country Store and gift shop are located at the pull-off and provide parking, a small restroom, and seasonal food options. The viewpoint is accessible within a few steps from the parking area, making it a zero-effort destination on a fast-moving tour of the Molly Stark Trail.

// The stop

Hogback sits at the high point along the Molly Stark Byway in Marlboro, and the pull-off is about as low-effort as a viewpoint gets — the parking area is right on Route 9 and the view opens up within a few steps of where you park. The panorama swings roughly 270 degrees to the east, south, and west, and on a clear day it reaches well into Massachusetts and across to New Hampshire. The Hogback Mountain Country Store has been at this spot since 1936, offering a large observation deck on the west side of the building alongside the usual gift and food options — useful for stretching out a mid-route break without backtracking.

The mountain itself is part of a conserved area managed by the Hogback Mountain Conservation Association, and there are hiking trails on the property if you want more than the roadside stop. The site's history as a former ski area — it ran from 1946 to 1986 on the slopes of nearby Mount Olga — gives the clearing some of its open character, though the land has been protected from development and is returning to forest. Fog and low cloud can shut the view down entirely, so the overlook rewards a clear morning far more than a grey one.

// Why riders stop

Route 9 (Molly Stark Byway) is Vermont's main east-west motorcycle corridor in the south, running through the Green Mountain National Forest with sweeping curves, forested grades, and minimal truck traffic. Hogback sits at the high point midway between Brattleboro and Bennington — it's the natural stopping point on a full Molly Stark traverse and delivers the widest view on the entire route.

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