Your complete guide to the Killington, Rutland, Brandon, Poultney and Lakes Region of Vermont All content © The Mountain Times   2007

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. 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. • 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 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 ëcardiací walks; marked trails lead upward around Mt. Tom. • Gifford Woods State Park, Sherburne. 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. • Hawk Inn and Mountain Resort, Plymouth. 11 trails, varying levels of difficulty. Map available. (802) 672-3811. • 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. • Mt. Moosalamoo and Moosalamoo, Vermont. 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. Call 802-247-6401 for a map/brochure. Visit them online at www.moosalamoo.org • The Mount Moosalamoo trail is a 4.8-mile trip taking approximately 3 hours. Rated as moderate, the trail starts near the Moosalamoo Campground and Voter Brook Overlook. The Moosalamoo Vermont Outdoor Recreation Map is available at many locations or call 802-247-6401. • 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. • New Boston Trail, Chittenden, Blue Ridge Mountain. Trail starts at the end of Mountain Top Rd. and climbs up mountains overlooking Chittenden; 4.8 mile round-trip hike. • Pine Hill Park Trail, Oak St., Rutland. 1 mile round trip starts behind Giorgetti Skating Rink. (802) 773-1822). • Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS), Woodstock. Self-guided nature trails through 77-acre preserve. (802) 457-2779. • Vermont Raptor Center, Woodstock. At the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. (802) 457-2779. Nature trail. • 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 May1 - 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  2007