Beautiful part of Vermont for a short, scenic hike and dog friendly. If you are in the area most…read moredefinitely stop by and see this wonder! In the summer it's crawling with swimmers and the fall is just hiking but bring water proof boots. Pictures don't do it justice!

Came here on a morning before the crowds came and, being midweek and at the end of summer, there…read morestill were not a lot of people as the morning wore on. There are arrows on the path pointing you in the direction(s) you want to go. Boulders are pretty slippery, so watch your step. The river water, almost turquoise in color, was. as expected, very cold but super refreshing, Waterfalls were mesmerizing. Lots of places on the riverbank & even the riverbed to hang out in the sun, or, of course, dive into the deeper swimming holes. There is a small parking lot, dogs have to be leashed, and carry out what you bring in.

A great hike of moderate difficulty. The summit is lovely, with beautiful views of Lake George and…read morethe surrounding mountains. Some areas of the trail are fairly eroded, but there were crews there working to protect the trail and divert water. Even with a full parking lot, the hike was long enough that we didn't see people very often along the way. We saw some families with little ones, but none near the top, so I'm not sure how far they made it. This wouldn't be an easy hike carrying kids, and I don't think most kids under 10 would stick it through to the end. A few portions are pretty steep, so it'd be tough on little legs. The one downside is that apparently Dacy Clearing Road isn't always fully open to vehicles, so rather than parking closer to the trailhead, you may have a few extra miles to walk on a gravel road. This takes your roundtrip from approximately 5 miles to roughly 8.

One of the most beautiful places I've hiked in. The view from the summit is spectacular on a sunny…read moresummer day, and probably even better in the fall. The hike to the top can be long or short, depending on your skill level, and how you want it to be. If you choose to do a longer hike, you can park at the Hogtown parking lot at the bottom. If you choose the shorter path ( 1.8 mi) to the summit, you must drive further down a dirt path (if the gate to go further is open) for another mile or so and park at the Dacy clearing. The hike itself is not bad. It can be a little rocky and steep, but if you're in average shape, you should be okay. It is for the average to moderate hikers. There were a lot of families with smaller children and dogs when I went. It's definitely something a family can enjoy. If you go on a nice day, I would recommend bringing lunch or snacks with you. It was really nice to eat with a view of the Adirondacks, and Lake George.

Wow ! What a hidden gem ! We were visiting Ludlow VT and saw this fall . Kids wanted to enjoy…read morewater and this was a perfect choice for us . The water was colddddddddddd though. Ufff . Very cold . The first dip was tough ! Later once you get use of it , it felt a bit better . Pathway was a bit crazy , in some places .it is about a 2 mile walk but we just went not too far : .. the lower and middle falls is also accessible from car parking lots outside . Parking is outside and sometimes you have to park 5-8 mins away from the falls . Not much of restrooms around . Lots of dogs in the water :) It was an amazing tint though ! Loved it . 5 stars !

As we were staying near Ludlow, I had put this on our schedule as a "check it out whenever time…read morepermits" item. We drove back after visiting some places to the north, and were passing this around 4 p.m. so we checked it out. This was in early October and the sun was just starting to go down. Though it was pre-dusk, it would be better to visit this site in full sunlight. There are 3 separate falls (the creatively named upper, middle, and lower). You access them from the main highway via a side road that starts as paved but soon becomes (good) dirt/gravel. The total length is less than 2 miles. You first get to a wide spot / parking area from which you can access the middle and lower falls. A trail leads down a hill where you must choose which falls to visit. The middle falls is impressive. It is probably the easiest one to access. The area from which you have the best view is a bit rocky, but navigable. It makes for nice photos. The lower falls appeared accessible from a side trail that descended a bit more steeply. You can also see it from above (somewhat) without descending. It appeared smaller and less photogenic than the middle falls. We then drove another 1/4 mile up the road (to its end) to check out the upper falls. There is a sharp short descent from the road to the top of the falls. It appeared to have a fairly large pool at the bottom and a flat dirt/sand area where some people had laid out a blanket for a picnic. The light was fading more so we skipped walking down the relatively gentle slope to check it out further. If you are in the area and have time, this is a nice spot to visit. It is within 3 miles of Ludlow. I cannot comment on what the swimming is like, but I saw references to that online (during summers, I guess).

Peaceful wooded area surrounding the rushing river. Easy to navigate. Good parking lot. Part of the…read moreAppalachian Trail.

Look at me, parking the van and going for a semi-random walk in the woods. Yes, there is parking…read morehere for the Clarendon Gorge Appalachian Trailhead which meets up with the Long Trail (which runs through Vermont from the Massachusetts border to Canada and the Appalachian Trail. About a tenth of a mile down a well worth path from the trailhead is the Clarendon Gorge Bridge (which is also called the "Bob Brugmann Memorial Bridge" after a hiker who attempted to cross the raging river below but fell and died) that wobbles 30 feet or so over the riverbed. Yes, wobbles. It is a cable-suspension bridge and it was built in 1975 to replace an earlier bridge that was washed away in a flood in 1973. I expected it to be even wobblier but it has netting to keep you safe and the anchors look quite solid. Note that it's quite a drop into the riverbed from either side and there are no railings or protections to stop you from doing something stupid. Also, there is wildlife. Never hike alone and always bring a friend! [Review 18464 overall - 64 in Vermont - 1986 of 2022.]

This is a must see! Well worth the trip. Beautiful views and amazing geologic structures easy to…read morenavigate because of the man-made wooden walkways. There is a small cave with rushing water you can go into but most of the tour is outside. We loved this place!

A really fascinating place to visit for a decent hike/ tour. It's a self guided tour after you grab…read moreyour tickets inside the gift shop. There are some pretty incredible views & a few astounding caves you can explore. The trail features quite a bit of stairs & winding paths so come prepared (eg. walking stick if need be). We saw plenty of families, children & seniors on the trail so it's suitable for an array of people. We saved the coolest part for last: cracking open a few geodes. This is completely random but it's enchanting to wait & see what color is inside! We love this place.

We did a quick 15-min hike to the falls and got a somewhat-slippery though gorgeous view of the…read morepowerful falls and all the ways the water has shaped and smoothed the rocks. Loved the up-close view of it all and the shade of the forest. 5 stars!!!!

So glad we did the short but somewhat challenging hike to see these during our visit to Stowe -…read moretotally worth it. We parked at the trailhead (plenty of space on a weekday afternoon). Had to be careful on the rocks but on the whole doable. Wasn't brave enough to jump into the waters but you could. No restrooms that we saw so plan accordingly.

If you are looking to hike and summit Mount Killington, Bucklin Trail is a wonderful option. Much…read moremore of a traditional hike (as opposed to climbing the ski trails on the resort), the path is well-marked and well-maintained. It is approximately 7.5 miles round trip to the summit and back. It is marked with blue blazes that are easy to follow. To find the trailhead, you must turn down Wheelerville Road off Route 4... keep in mind that this is an unpaved road. After approximately 4 miles, you will reach a sharp turn in the road. There is a turnoff to the left with a decent sized area for parking. The trail begins here and remains relatively flat for almost 2 miles. It follows Brewers Brook for some time, with a couple of bridge crosses over its rocky waters. After the initial 2 miles, the trail begins to climb more steeply until it joins the Appalachian and Long Trail (follow the white blazes for this section). Along this section is Cooper Lodge, a refuge for backpackers... built in 1939, it is the highest shelter on the Long Trail. Unfortunately it was covered in graffiti (I mean really... who brings spray paint 4,000 feet up a mountain?). To end the hike you scramble up the last and steepest part of the climb, emerging from the treeline to a panoramic view of the surrounding Green Mountains. It took about 3.5-4 hours of actual trekking to complete the hike. I am not a fast hiker by any means and took several breaks along the way (especially as it got steep!). Beware of the black flies that swarm in the spring/early summer. Overall, I was very pleased with this hike. Waterfalls, rivers, bridges, panoramic views. Doesn't get better than that!

This was the first high peak we climbed and wow did it pay off! This is often considered the best…read morebeginner high peak but it was still very tough for us given that we were out of shape. Parts of ot are very steep and can be difficult in wet conditons. Cascade is great because if you can push yourself a little more, you can double back to see Porter mountain's peak as well! The view was absolutely breathtaking and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a challenging hike!

One of my favorite hikes in the high peak region -- it's a great starter one to those interested in…read moredoing a high peak. You combine it with Porter to get two mountains off your list, for the "physical price" of doing one! This is a gentle mountain, but still should not be taken lightly as it is a high peak and it will challenge you, no matter how fit you might be. I've climbed this in the summer 2-3 times and at least 2-3 times in the winter. I prefer doing it in the winter personally for less crowds and beautiful ice covered pine sights and an Arctic wonderland, but either one is gorgeous. Parking is free, but limited...come early to try to snag a spot. Doing both mountains will only add an hour or so to your total hike time, so don't be afraid to tackle both even if you might be tired after hitting Cascade. I think Cascade is good to hit first and then head over to Porter, but honestly either one will work well. Plan 3-8hours round trip, depending on your level of physical ability. Come prepared and know the conditions, talk to the rangers or other hikers so you know what to expect.

Hiked Otter Creek Gorge Trail on Friday afternoon. After a long drive up to Vermont, decided to…read morestretch our legs at this dull trail, which was quick and uneventful. Quality: Otter Creek Gorge Trail is a short trail that starts near a dam on Otter Creek. It is a piece of a larger trail that circles all of Middlebury. The trail is short and pretty boring. Other than the fun bridges at the entrance and a small waterfall, which isn't actually visible from the trail itself, there is not much to see. It also has quite a few bugs that were very irritating. Okay for a quick stroll, but not worth a visit unless you live in the area. Quantity: There were a few different trail options in the Middlebury Area Land Trust, but we decided to stick with the shorter Otter Creek Gorge Trail, which was just under two miles. Value: No cost to park or hike this trail. Ambiance: Otter Creek Gorge Trail is located a little north of Middlebury, Vermont. It is a short trail that follows along the creek in a forested area before opening up to a large field. The trail is very easy with minimal elevation, but also very few viewpoints. There are two unique bridges that you traverse over the dam, which are the most exciting part of the short journey. Crowd: We saw cars in the lot, but no people on the relatively short trail. Service: Signage was not the best on the trail, but it is still easy to follow. The trail itself was well-maintained and the recent heavy rains did not impact the quality. Parking: Small dirt parking lot at the trailhead, not well marked.

Do you like hiking? Go to Laplatte River. It has forty five acres. I like the steep parts and the…read moretroll bridge. I didn't like the mud in the spring. I suggest you bring boots. I felt happy, tired and excited. I would recommend this place. -Oliver 2nd grade The Laplatte river is magnificent. It has a troll bridge,4.5 miles of trials, a river and rock cliffs.I like that you can offer things to the troll. If he likes it he might play a tune. I don't like that it is muddy in the spring. I would recommend bug spray and an offering for the troll. I felt happy. I would recommend this place. -Whit 3rd grade

Cute and tiny little spot in a more rural area…read more My friend showed me this place while we were in the Burlington area. We only made a quick stop and grabbed some photos. If you are a photography buff, I would recommend stopping here to take some pics. I'm a novice trying to learn how to use a real camera, but it was fun to snap a few shots. If you like history, check out the sign about the Mills at Shelburne Falls. It is a very peaceful and serene setting. It was great to have a zen moment and listen to the rushing waters.