Your complete guide to the Killington, Rutland, Woodstock, Brandon, Poultney and Lakes Region of Vermont All content © The Mountain Times   2010

Hiking and Wildlife Viewing Hikers LOVE the Crossroads Region! They have many reasons for their enthusiasm. Some say it’s the chance to experience nature. Others say it’s the outdoor exercise. It’s a chance to “get away from it all.” For a good number of hikers, it’s a combination of all these reasons in relationship to each other that makes for a most enjoyable experience and a chance to encounter wildlife in their natural habitat. Walking is the only real way to see the country. As hikers walk slowly through the countryside, they can begin to feel part of the land - more connected to the Earth. Some hikers take this opportunity to learn more about the natural world around them. Other hikers love to look at the beautiful views. Still more people use hiking as a way to get to their favorite fishing hole or bird watching spots. Hikers in the Crossroads region can explore a wide variety of hiking experiences with remote waterfalls, hidden brooks, and sweeping views of the Green Mountains.   Green Mountain Club Since its founding in 1910, the Green Mountain Club’s primary purpose has been to build, maintain, and protect hiking trails and shelters for the enjoyment of Vermont’s residents and visitors. The Club founded the Long Trail, the nation’s oldest long distance hiking trail. They expend considerable effort to save the trail system and maintain it. They are an important source of help and information on hiking opportunities in Vermont. Available from GMC is The Guidebook of the Long Trail and The Day Hiker’s Guide to Vermont. Trail maps are also available. They can be reached at P.O. Box 889, Montpelier, VT 05601, (802) 244-7037. www.greenmountainclub.org Killington Resort Located at the Killington Base Lodge, Killington provides locals and visitors alike with direct access to all that Vermont’s environment has to offer. Hiking trails are made up of a combination of existing ski trails, work roads, and footpaths. Hikers and walkers can explore 5 of Killington’s 7 mountains, which include 20 distinct routes. The terrain is vast and is excellent for first time hikers as well as those that have spent years blazing trails. If hiking is not your fancy you can take the K1 Express Gondola to the top of Killington Peak (4,241-feet). Here you can explore any number of smaller trails, from these spots you can see views of 5 states and Canada. If you are feeling adventurous, power down by foot down or you can enjoy another ride in the gondola as you descend. For more information or a brochure call 802-422-6200. For hiking packages and reservations call the Killington Resort Villages at 1-800-866-4115. Recreation at Pine Hill Park Pine Hill Park is a unique 300-acre public park with a 16-mile singletrack trail system ideal for snowshoeing, mountain biking, running, hiking, walking, and GPSing/geocaching. (No ATV access) Great views overlook the Rutland area and Marble Valley. The trailhead is at the Giorgetti Athletic Complex, 2 Oak Street Extension in northwest Rutland, with easy access from Route 4 West and Route 7 North. Volunteer-built wooden bridges, each a unique work of art, lift the trail bed above the boggy spots. For more information, visit www.pinehillpark.org or call (802) 773-1822. Trails • Appalachian Trail, Bridgewater. From Bridgewater Center, cross bridge at Oak Chapel, bear right across bridge. Dirt road offers woods, meadows, and steep climb into wild Chateauguay section. • Appalachian Trail Trailhead, Woodstock. Crosses Rt. 12 approximately 2 miles north of Woodstock with variety of short/longer hikes available. • Bald Mountain, Mendon. 3-mile, 3-hour round-trip. Hike in Aiken State Forest, off Stratton Rd. from Rte. 4 in Mendon. • Blue Ridge Mountain Trail, Mendon. North turn off Rt. 4 onto Old Turnpike Rd.; 4.8 mile round-trip hike. • Bomoseen State Park, West Shore Road, Bomoseen (802) 265-4242. • Camp Plymouth State Park, Plymouth. East side of Echo Lake - Echo Lake Vista Trail, 1.5 miles, marked. (802) 228-2025. • Coolidge State Park, Plymouth. 4.2 miles south of Rt. 4 off Rt. 100A. Trails in park, maps at office. (802) 672-3612. • Deer Leap, Killington. Off Rt. 4, behind The Inn at the Long Trail. Popular short hike: two-hour round-trip trek. Panoramic views. • Delaware Hudson Rail Trail, Poultney/Castleton - Hikers, bikers, walkers, equestrians, cross country skiers, and snowmobilers enjoy the Delaware Hudson Rail Trail. Guide: Dept. of Forest & Parks, RR 2, Box 2161, Pittsford, VT 05763. • Faulkner Park, Woodstock. Modeled on Baden-Baden’s ‘cardiac’ walks; marked trails lead upward around Mt. Tom. • Gifford Woods State Park, Killington. Rt. 100. Hiking trails, camping. (802) 775-5354. • Green Mountain National Forest. Hiking trails include the Long Trail, Vermont’s extensive hiking system that often hooks up with the Appalachian Trail, an East Coast hiking trail that runs from Georgia through Maine. (802) 747-6700 - ask for Birds of the Green Mountain National Forest checklist. • Green Mountain Trails, Pittsfield. (800) 257-2226. The Green Mountain Trails are a public access multi use trail system in Pittsfield and Stockbridge Vermont managed by the Pittsfield Bike Club. The trail system consists of over 30 miles of public access trails for hiking, running, mountain biking, snowshoeing and more. Trail heads and parking are at The Amee Farm on Route 100 north and at the end of Tweed river Drive. Directions to and recommendations for trails can be found at the Pittsfield General Store. Be kind to the trails and leave no trace. • Helen W. Buckner Memorial Preserve. Nature Conservancy. Hiking trails and nature exploration. West Haven, VT (802) 229-4425. • Little Rock Pond, Wallingford. Homer Stone Brook Trail located near the Little Red Schoolhouse on a side road off Rt. 7, 5.6 miles round-trip. • Long Trail, Vermont’s “footpath in the wilderness.“ Follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont line to the Canadian border. The trail climbs rugged peaks and passes pristine ponds, alpine bogs, hardwood forests and swift streams. It is steep in some places, muddy in others, and rugged in most. Novice and expert alike will enjoy the varied terrain of the trail as it passes through the heart of Vermont's backwoods. With its 270-mile footpath, 175 miles of side trails, and nearly 70 primitive shelters, the Long Trail offers endless hiking opportunities for the day hiker, weekend overnighter, and extended backpacker. Courtesy of, and founded by, The Green Mountain Club. • Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, VT. Surrounded by the quiet charms of the nearby villages of Brandon, Goshen, Leicester, Middlebury, Ripton, and Salisbury, Moosalamoo is a place to relax and experience nature on 20,000 acres nestled in the Green Mountain National Forest. Mountains, lakes, forests, valleys, and streams together with a diversity of plants and animals which make up the rich Moosalamoo ecosystem. Summer recreational pursuits include walking, hiking, canoeing, and biking. Camping facilities range from primitive campsites to fully developed campgrounds. Take the 4.8 mile, 3 hour trip on the Mt. Moosalamoo trail. Call (802) 247-5737 for a map/brochure. Visit them online at www.moosalamoo.org or call (802) 747-7900. • Mt. Tom Trails, Woodstock. Map available at information booth on the green. Miles of ski trails make pleasant hiking and bird watching in the summer and fall. (802) 457-3368. • Mt. Peg Trailhead, Woodstock. On Golf Avenue or Slayton Terrace for views of Billings Farm from summit or hike 3 miles roundtrip to Health and Fitness Center. • New Boston Trail, Chittenden, Blue Ridge Mountain. Trail starts at the end of Mountain Top Road, and climbs up mountains overlooking Chittenden; 4.8 mile round-trip hike. • Thundering Falls Boardwalk, River Rd., Killington. The 1st wheelchair-accessible section of the Appalachian Trail in Vt, a 900’ boardwalk and path through flood plain and forest. Bird watch, take a walk, or just enjoy nature. • White Rocks Cliff, Wallingford. Side road off Rt. 140. 3.2 mile round-trip hike. Tours and Hiking Programs Self-Guided & Guided Hiking & Biking Vacations Make your vacation exactly what you want it to be. A self-guided hiking or biking vacation is ideal for those who desire an active and flexible vacation on their own. Your itinerary will give you several options. Each innkeeper will give an update on current conditions and make suggestions based on individual needs. Country Inns Along the Trail, Brandon, VT Choose from several favorite inn-to-inn packages or ask about customizing a trip plan. Guided tours are also available. We recommend that reservations be made well in advance of your trip. The inns are small and can fill up quickly. Reservations may be made by phone (800) 838-3301 or (802) 247-3300, by FAX (802) 247-6851, by email rciatt@sover.net, or you may register directly at the Web site www.inntoinn.com. Escape Routes, Pittsfield Inn, Pittsfield, VT Customized self-guided and guided hiking, combined with lodging and meals. Tours available daily with special maps and trail descriptions or experienced guides. Reasonable rates. Make reservations at 802-746-8943 or 877-746-8943. email escapert@vermontel.net www.pittsfieldinn.com. Camping Facilities For those who wish to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Vermont’s Crossroads region, our area offers a broad range of private and state-owned camping facilities. Whether you’re looking for lakefront or mountainside camping, access to the Long Trail, the Appalachian Trail or a historical site, we have a campsite for you! • Lake Bomoseen Campground, Bomoseen, (802) 273-2061, open May 1 - mid-October. • Camp Plymouth State Park, Ludlow, (802) 228-2025, open mid-May - Labor Day. • Coolidge State Park, Plymouth, (802) 672-3612, open mid-May - Columbus Day. • Gifford Woods State Park, Killington, (802) 775-5354, open mid-May - Columbus Day. • Half Moon State Park, Fair Haven, (802) 273-2848, open mid-May - Columbus Day. • Iroquois Land Family Camping, North Clarendon, (802) 773-2832, open May 1 - mid-October. • Lake St. Catherine State Park, Poultney, (802) 287-9158, open mid-May - Columbus Day. • Branbury State Park, Lake Dunmore, Salisbury, (802) 247-5925 or (888) 409-7579, open mid-May through Columbus Day. • Country Village Campground, Route 7, Brandon, (802) 247-3333, open mid-May through mid-October. • Silver Lake and Moosalamoo Campgrounds, Two primitive campsites in Grn Mtn Natl Forest with pit toilet and hand pump for water. Call Forest Service (802) 388-4362.   All content © The Mountain Times  2010