In 1969, year-round Vermont outdoor centers weren't on Tony Clark's radar. Back then, Clark was hard at work creating a network of cross-country ski trails on his inn’s property in Goshen and on adjacent U.S. Forest Service land. For decades, the trails were part of the...
The winters are long at Prospect Mountain Ski Area. That’s because Prospect Mountain, located off Route 9 in Woodford, has elevation in its favor. The rugged, small town of Woodford in Bennington County has the highest elevation of any Vermont community. At Prospect Mountain, the base...
Friendship and farmland are at the heart of the Strafford Nordic Center. The 700-acre cross-country ski area is located on two adjoining Upper Valley farms and operated by three lifelong friends – Jeremiah Linehan, Rett Emerson, and Earl Ransom. The base lodge, trail head, and scenic trails...
On our way to my sister’s house last week, we took a detour through the back roads of Windsor County. I was searching for Amity Pond Natural Area State Park in Pomfret, which was donated to the state 45 years ago. As my husband drove,...
-Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton When people ask me about good mountains for alpine skiing, I'll often suggest places like Jay Peak, Sugarbush, Stowe or Bromley. For Nordic skiing, I'll tell them to visit Trapp Family Lodge, Wild Wings or Ole's Cross Country Ski Center. All...
The opening of Route 108 through scenic Smugglers Notch is a rite of spring in Vermont. This scenic road that winds through a narrow pass between Mount Mansfield, Spruce Peak and Sterling Mountain is closed to traffic during the winter months. Located near Vermont's tallest...
The first time I visited Merck Forest and Farmland Center in Rupert, Vermont was in the early 1980s during an elementary school field trip. I've returned to the 3,100-acre forest over the years, but never in winter. On Saturday I stopped by and saw quite a...
I was expecting at least a little bit of snow to blanket my yard in northern Vermont this weekend. For the past two years, we've had at least one major storm around Thanskgiving, so I figured we were due for a big winter blast. My plan...
Mills Riverside Park in Jericho is enjoyed year-round for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing, and local community events. The park, located off Route 15, includes 216 acres of open meadows and forested hillside.Established in 1999 by the Jericho-Underhill Land Trust, the park preserves one of...
