Walking, Hiking, and Swimming Recommemdations!
Walking, Biking, Sunset, Swimming Holes
Walking, swimming holes summer, leisure biking, xc in winter: In-Town Departure
Find the beginning of the path right behind the church.
There is a parking lot at the base and it begins with the first of many bridges!
The (actually) famous "Stowe Rec Path" bike path (and quiet path for dogs) with a river running along the path (and swimming holes too!) only a 7-10 min walk away -- through the village. The path is over 5 miles long and goes almost to the base of Mt Mansfield.
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Stowe
Walking, swimming holes summer, leisure biking, xc in winter: In-Town Departure
Find the beginning of the path right behind the church.
There is a parking lot at the base and it begins with the first of many bridges!
The (actually) famous "Stowe Rec Path" bike path (and quiet path for dogs) with a river running along the path (and swimming holes too!) only a 7-10 min walk away -- through the village. The path is over 5 miles long and goes almost to the base of Mt Mansfield.
There are few hikes with a higher return. The trailhead is at the end of Sunset Rd, found across from the white church in town. Halfway up there is a rock pick over the town and Main St. At the top, a view towards Mansfield, especially at Sunset, delights every time. 7-10 minutes to the rock overlook of the town, another 7-10 to the peak.
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Sunset Rock
Sunset AvenueThere are few hikes with a higher return. The trailhead is at the end of Sunset Rd, found across from the white church in town. Halfway up there is a rock pick over the town and Main St. At the top, a view towards Mansfield, especially at Sunset, delights every time. 7-10 minutes to the rock overlook of the town, another 7-10 to the peak.
Great walking trails. Lots of mountain bikers. But they're gentle usually, just fast.
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Cady Hill Forest
Mountain RoadGreat walking trails. Lots of mountain bikers. But they're gentle usually, just fast.
A smaller woods trail network, Kirshner is a lesser known area of woods and trails that I think is a real gem.
6min drive.
Incredibly peaceful and secluded.
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Kirchner Woods
Taber Hill RoadA smaller woods trail network, Kirshner is a lesser known area of woods and trails that I think is a real gem.
6min drive.
Incredibly peaceful and secluded.
Hike Medium Level (1h45-3hrs r/t)
The "Pinacle," a peak in the Worcester range, great 2-3 hr intermediate hike with 360 views to NH, Southern VT, across to Mansfield and the ADKs and up to Canada is a 6 min drive from the house up the other side of the valley into the "Hollow" -- on Stowe Hollow Rd. It's a fan favorite for good reason.
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Stowe Pinnacle
Upper Hollow RoadThe "Pinacle," a peak in the Worcester range, great 2-3 hr intermediate hike with 360 views to NH, Southern VT, across to Mansfield and the ADKs and up to Canada is a 6 min drive from the house up the other side of the valley into the "Hollow" -- on Stowe Hollow Rd. It's a fan favorite for good reason.
Sterling Pond Trail -- drive through the Notch to the end, before it turns back into a road again to the last parking lot.
A 45-60min hike to the top (30-45 down) of Mansfield's sister peak, Spruce Peak offering a great hike with spectacular views. High return for low investment.
Add on a loop around the lake at the top for a flat hike and an additional scenic hour.
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Sterling Pond Trail
6443 Mountain RdSterling Pond Trail -- drive through the Notch to the end, before it turns back into a road again to the last parking lot.
A 45-60min hike to the top (30-45 down) of Mansfield's sister peak, Spruce Peak offering a great hike with spectacular views. High return for low investment.
Add on a loop around the lake at the top for a flat hike and an additional scenic hour.
My personal favorite hike (2-2
5 up, gondola down) without snow...
is to hike right up the ski slope "Chin Clip" to the far far right of the mountain (start under the gondola and take right turns until you can't) It is seldom used and full of butterflies. You have views the whole way up. Grass can be long and pants or leggings can be helpful.
Take the gondola for free down (always free for hikers) for any assent up Mansfield. Closes at 4 or 430!! Double check!!
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Stowe Gondola station
My personal favorite hike (2-2
5 up, gondola down) without snow...
is to hike right up the ski slope "Chin Clip" to the far far right of the mountain (start under the gondola and take right turns until you can't) It is seldom used and full of butterflies. You have views the whole way up. Grass can be long and pants or leggings can be helpful.
Take the gondola for free down (always free for hikers) for any assent up Mansfield. Closes at 4 or 430!! Double check!!
A beautiful walk that you can tailor -- a small or larger loop. Not a difficult climb, very gradual, almost just a woodsy walk. Beautiful views of the gorge in the early part of the hike.
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Sterling Falls Gorge
Sterling Gorge RoadA beautiful walk that you can tailor -- a small or larger loop. Not a difficult climb, very gradual, almost just a woodsy walk. Beautiful views of the gorge in the early part of the hike.
Hikes More Difficult (4+hrs)
A favorite hike. And...a favorite hike for many..
Our family call this the shark fin. We see no Camel's Hump here.
Can be busy, but the views are worth it. Not in Stowe like the prior recommendations, but near Stowe, on the way in--at the intersection of 89 more or less.
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Camels Hump
A favorite hike. And...a favorite hike for many..
Our family call this the shark fin. We see no Camel's Hump here.
Can be busy, but the views are worth it. Not in Stowe like the prior recommendations, but near Stowe, on the way in--at the intersection of 89 more or less.
The Hassleton Trail goes up Mansfield. Leaves from the Notch. Park at the Notch lot and it is about 1/4 mi in on your left.
and
The Hasselton offers an additional piece at the end -- the Chin--a final assent to the very top of Mansfield which is technically quite challenging.
A good partial to day-long hike to the top of offering a great hike with spectacular views.
This is the address for the parking.
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Smugglers' Notch Visitor Center
Mountain RoadThe Hassleton Trail goes up Mansfield. Leaves from the Notch. Park at the Notch lot and it is about 1/4 mi in on your left.
and
The Hasselton offers an additional piece at the end -- the Chin--a final assent to the very top of Mansfield which is technically quite challenging.
A good partial to day-long hike to the top of offering a great hike with spectacular views.
This is the address for the parking.
Lakes and Swim Nearby (15-30min)
Only 12 minutes from our place. this gem of a lake offers canoes, SUP. kayak, a sandy beach and mountain views!
The beach access closest to us is Resevoir Rd, the next right after Cold Hollow Cider if you are coming from Stowe. It is down a little hill in the Rd.
You can park for free with a VT National Parks pass or buy an inexpensive punch card.
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Waterbury Reservoir
Only 12 minutes from our place. this gem of a lake offers canoes, SUP. kayak, a sandy beach and mountain views!
The beach access closest to us is Resevoir Rd, the next right after Cold Hollow Cider if you are coming from Stowe. It is down a little hill in the Rd.
You can park for free with a VT National Parks pass or buy an inexpensive punch card.
Iconic and well-travelled for a reason. Can be jumped into or just admired. People swim in it and it offers both shallow areas and great deep sections safe for jumping. There are kids who get gravely hurt every year here, so be very careful where you jump.
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Bingham Falls
Iconic and well-travelled for a reason. Can be jumped into or just admired. People swim in it and it offers both shallow areas and great deep sections safe for jumping. There are kids who get gravely hurt every year here, so be very careful where you jump.
The pictures above are funny and cannot give you an idea of the beauty of this place.
It is not for the faint of heart, but worth trying to sumup the courage for.
A shallow end allows for cooling off on hotter days without jumping in
This is not your typical guidebook recommendation!
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Bolton Potholes
1 Bolton Valley Access RdThe pictures above are funny and cannot give you an idea of the beauty of this place.
It is not for the faint of heart, but worth trying to sumup the courage for.
A shallow end allows for cooling off on hotter days without jumping in
This is not your typical guidebook recommendation!
Lakes and Swim 30+min Drive
There is nothing quite like it anywhere in VT or the Northeast, for that matter. It looks like a lake in the Alps. It is worth the drive!
The back side is less busy amd you can walk in through a wooded path.
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Lake Willoughby
There is nothing quite like it anywhere in VT or the Northeast, for that matter. It looks like a lake in the Alps. It is worth the drive!
The back side is less busy amd you can walk in through a wooded path.
If you are really up for an adventure, this is our go-to day trip! The only sandy beach in Vermont. A beautiful -- seemingly desolate -- beach on Lake Champlain that spans miles that you'll have almost to yourselves.
**Extra extra insider tip: Get sandwiches in South Hero on the way there. (You can't miss the general store.)
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Alburg Dunes State Park
151 Coon Point RoadIf you are really up for an adventure, this is our go-to day trip! The only sandy beach in Vermont. A beautiful -- seemingly desolate -- beach on Lake Champlain that spans miles that you'll have almost to yourselves.
**Extra extra insider tip: Get sandwiches in South Hero on the way there. (You can't miss the general store.)
Waterfalls
A beautiful waterfall and gorge. Read the hike if you want to add a loop for some woodsy exercise and fun.
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Sterling Falls Gorge
Sterling Gorge RoadA beautiful waterfall and gorge. Read the hike if you want to add a loop for some woodsy exercise and fun.
See above for swimming. Beautiful to just hike and admire. About 10 min from Rte 108/Mountain Rd.
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Bingham Falls
See above for swimming. Beautiful to just hike and admire. About 10 min from Rte 108/Mountain Rd.