Lowell Lake is a great place to enjoy some of the beautiful scenery this area of Vermont has to…read moreoffer. We first came here last year on a recommendation from our hotel just a few minutes away. At the time, it was too cold to stay very long, so we just picnicked and left. We came back again this year with a group of our friends, and it made for a lovely day trip. The hike around the lake was light and scenic, and we found some fun spots along the way. At the end of the loop, there was a neat little cemetery with faded old gravestones we were able to explore. Parking was easy, with a number of spots at the entrance. The picnic areas were clean and well kept with quite a few tables, and there was a launch area for canoes and kayaks.

I've been coming here since 2003 with my dogs. There are great trails to hike and the scenery is…read morebeautiful. I've done some fishing here and my dogs have enjoyed swimming. There is a revolutionary war era cemetery near by. Several picnic tables available and a porta potty. This year we were here in mid June and the mosquitoes were brutal. No amount of repellent would keep them away from ourselves or our dogs. But the views were still spectacular.

I have lived next to Lake Shaftsbury for 32 years. Great place for a walk, a swim, to have a…read morepicnic. Beautiful spot all round to spend quality time with family or friends.

We love, love, love this lake! We're spending the summer in Vermont and our family goes nearly…read moreafternoon for a swim and to play on the (very clean) beach. Red-winged blackbirds zip around looking for picnic crumbs, there's lots of shade, and the lake is shallow enough around the edge for my two young grandchildren to play. We had my grandson's 6th birthday party here and used one of the charcoal grills to make hot dogs. Be prepared to bring a table and chairs because all of the picnic tables have been removed due to COVID. The lake closes at sunset. Go!

The first time I camped at Emerald State Park, I was 11 years old. I am now 29 and my family has…read morecamped here for a week each and every summer in the same campsite for the past 18 years. As a native Vermonter, I am accustomed to beautiful state parks in picturesque locations, but there is something special about this one. The campground is large, with 3 separate loops (A, B, and C), and while I have only ever camped at one site in the park, many of the campsites are in wooded areas with more privacy than many other state parks provide. The sites are great, the facilities are clean, but the truly magical part of Emerald Lake State Park is the lake itself. Campers can choose to hike the half mile trail down to the lake from any of the loops at the campground, or drive down to the parking lot and walk in (less than a quarter mile). The short walk from the parking lot winds along a little canal lined with partly shaded areas with many picnic tables for those who want to picnic away from the beach. Canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats are available for rental at the beach, and there is a small island located a few hundred yards offshore. I recommend an evening swim to the island when the beach is quiet, before heading back to your campsite to sit in front of the fire and look for constellations in the sky, which is what you'll find me doing each summer for at least the next 50 years.

This is a small state park off US 7 about 10 miles north of Manchester Center VT. It's a 5-10…read moreminute walk from parking lot to the lake. The lake is fairly shallow, it's very clean, not a large beach area and very picturesque. It's not Lake Tahoe by any means but it's very pleasant and refreshing.

As always we had a great trip down the river. The people are the friendliest and helpful. I have…read morebeen tubing with Battenkill Valley Outdoors for 20 years. Best people!

We've been coming to the Battenkill for 30 years! The crew…read morewere amazing, and we had a Norman Rockwell day. Thank you. We hope to do this for another 30+ years.

I found this hike thanks to Yelp! What an amazing place!…read more ****you will get a ticket if you park at the bottom of the hill!*** I went ahead and drove up and parked at the trail head, and was fine, the two cars parked at the bottom of the hill got tickets. The trailhead has a nice picture of the trails. I only did the pond loop, which is absolutely gorgeous! Dog friendly!

Pond Loop trail on the Equinox property was not quite what I expected but enjoyable nonetheless. I…read moreended up walking from the Equinox resort to this loop trail and back and the overall round trip took me less than one hour with a decent pace. Seeing the trail map, I expected to be walking the perimeter of the pond at water's edge the entire time, but this was not the case. The majority of the trail does not have a view of the water. Only at the very end, if walking counter-clockwise, is there a small section where the pond pavilion is located, can you walk up to the water. Also take note, there isn't any public parking for this trail so I would recommend coming on foot or even biking up to the entrance. Overall, a pleasant nature walk, though it's more woodland trail than waterside promenade.

I have logged many-a-mile on this trail over the years; most often between Kiwanis and Aqueduct…read moreParks. I especially enjoy starting near Schenectady Community College - an easy-to-spot local landmark with lots of room to park for group run meet-ups, a small track space perfect for timing splits and speedwork, and plenty of benches and grasses spaces for stretching and chatting before/after a walk, run, bike, or blade. The path varies in flatness, tree cover, nature-views, and frequency of traffic crossing, offering a nice variety for any activity. I've spotted loads of unthreatening wildlife while on the path, including turtles, deer, snakes, ground hogs, beavers, and many different birds, squirrels, and enjoy being near the water and especially stopping at the locks to stretch, rest, or fuel mid-long run, too. [extra garbage cans, tables/benches, and proximity to other humans makes it feel like a safer space to slow, perhaps?] I am hopeful that the Color the Canal project will return for the third year in 2021, which creates visual and sculptural art to welcome the CEC cyclists riding from Buffalo to Albany each July.

My wife and I walked the portion between Watervliet and Albany recently and it was a pretty nice…read moretrail. Much of it was in the woods along an old railroad right-of-way, so there were plenty of trees providing shade. A couple of clearings allowed for sightlines of the expressway but it wasn't too noisy. One area had a bench, picnic table, and informational display about the location of the old Troy Iron Works. A few areas had cutaways in the trees for sightlines to the river. I wish there was more to see or do along the trail, and it would have been appreciated to have some more benches or tables or whatnot to rest on. But, the area in Watervliet where the parking lot is had a couple of tables.

Affordable prices and availability. Took my son out on the river and enjoyed a day on the water…read moretogether

Staying up by MCLA, my fiancee and were looking for a leisurely, sensible and cost effective…read moreadventure. This canoeing company fit the profile. Calling ahead, they answered both phone calls immediately and were cool and efficient in their response- young guy (maybe early 20's?)- nice guy/kid. When we got there, it was a simple and painless process. Get your vest, choose some paddles (both in great, solid quality) and get on our kayak, which the employee had in the water, waiting. He gave us the basics and off we went. On our return paddle in, he saw us coming in and came up to the docking area and helped us both off. On our way up the little walk I turned back to see the view of the water when not even 2 minutes passed by and the employee had already lifted the kayak and started washing it off and cleaning it. It shows that this guy and the company care about quality and presentation as well as customer feeling and well being. Kudos to them. Loved the experience. Take a chance folks, you won't be dissappointed.

I haven't been to beach here in years besides for a concert, but the trails here are great to walk!read more

I've come to the beach here for the last 7 years. Parking is $8, there's a playground nearby and…read moretons of space to spread out on the beach. We will absolutely keep returning!

Amazing lake views and beach…read more Clean facilities and bathrooms available. Picnic tables available. Both shaded areas and open areas. Carry in carry out area

Wow! This place was so peaceful I enjoyed the birds chirping and the very few ppl there were so far…read moreyou couldn't hear anything but the birds. The tall trees and water was beautiful. There was a man in a canoe fishing, and an older lady fishing from a bench Along side the lake. It was a great sight. I can imagine all the fun in summer time with the canoes, and games bring played. There was a playground and you can see signs for life guard. There's camping areas, with barbq located atop lake and you can see the lake from on top. Its side beautiful, it started drizzling but I enjoyed the water and it didn't hurt hahaha.