As one of our (currently) 433 National Park sites, this one tells the story about why we have…read moreconservation and the story behind the families who have contributed to our conservation efforts. Located just on the edge of town, this park is huge and I would have loved to hike in the back country. Unfortunately we arrived late in the day and only had enough time for a mansion tour and to take a short hike on the 'Jr Ranger Loop'. The house itself is beautiful and I highly recommend stopping in for a tour. Loved chatting with the rangers here.

Last weekend, my wife and I were thrilled to discover that Vermont is home to its very own National…read morePark and it's located right here in Woodstock! As longtime supporters of National Parks, we couldn't wait to experience it for ourselves. Entry to the park is free, though ranger-led tours of the mansion run about $9 per adult. The park's history is absolutely fascinating. It preserves the boyhood home of George Perkins Marsh, a pioneering environmental thinker whose book Man and Nature laid the foundation for conservation in the U.S. Another interesting fact: the park includes the oldest continuously managed scientific forest in the country, originally reforested by Frederick Billings as a model of sustainable forestry. We opted for a ranger-led mansion tour (worth every penny), which brought the estate's legacy of stewardship to life through beautifully preserved furnishings, art, and stories of the Marsh, Billings, and Rockefeller families. After the tour, our ranger highly recommended a scenic trail hike. It was an easy, peaceful walk that led us to a lovely lake loop - perfect for stretching our legs and soaking in nature. The trail meandered beneath shady trees and felt like a serene escape from the world. All in all, if you're curious about conservation history or just looking for a peaceful, enriching outing in woodland surroundings, this park is a gem. The blend of free admission, affordable ranger tours, compelling legacy, and gentle trails make it a memorable and meaningful stop in Woodstock.

Very easy! Follow the path all around~ trail is easy with a slight escalation but not strenuous…read more The state park welcome center had one gentleman who was very rude and passive aggressive to our questions. I will not hold it against him, but the welcome center should be more welcoming~

Rating: 4.5 Came to…read morethe quechee gorge trail. We started our trail at the visitor center and when up stream towards the dam and the fall first and then made it down back down toward down stream. We also stopped at the bridge and looked at the gorge as well from both sides. It was a comfortable hike about 1.5 mile or so. The trail was mostly gravel and some leaves and twigs here and there. There is a pond upstream which was beautiful. Downstream there is a area where you can go down to the water and look and feel the streams coming from the gorge. Lots of flowers, mushrooms and trees. It's cool to see the sediments that water curved over the years at the downstream. Overall a cool hike. Must see if you are in quechee area or passing by. Took about 1.5 hours or so.

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 !

Solid spot to see small waterfalls. Very peaceful and not a lot of rushing water…read more Parking is available on the shoulder at the lower and middle falls, located further up the road, and also at the upper falls at the end of the road. No restrooms available here

This was sooo much fun! We spent almost 2 hours here and loved reading the educational facts along…read morethe boardwalk and exploring the caves! There were so many beautiful areas along the boardwalk. The lemon squeezer and dungeon were the most difficult but also the most fun! We got a bit muddy and wet but that's all part of the adventure! We also loved the huge birds nest at the end and got a huge laugh out of pretending to be baby birds. I would definitely come back here again!

Stumbled across Lost River when planning a trip to NH to see the fall foliage. I absolutely love…read morethe Flume Gorge trail & this one wasnt too far away. I had heard there were gorges & caves to explore different from other trails nearby along with beautiful pines and waterfalls. It exceeded all my expectations! It says this is a 1 mile loop hike but be prepared- I walk a 5k daily & this trail kicked my butt in a good way. It was moderately challenging- I went in the rain so it was a bit cooler too. The best advice I could offer is to take a backpack with snacks, another jacket just in case (although i layered up), pack rain pants to help keep me warm in the rain, and shoes with good traction. And plenty of water. Beanies may also be a good option to keep your head warm from the cold. And a portable battery. Also, if you haven't traveled with a car like me..then the Shuttle Connection is a life saver to travel in town. Way cheaper than Uber and fairly quick to transport you wherever you want to go. Also for travelers go back and forth to other states travel by bus is the perfect and most affordable way to travel. This trail offered amazing views, great photo ops, and plenty of additional trails to explore. They also make sure to keep everything maintained and safe for hikers exploring. Everything is well labeled and easy to follow. They do say and I can attest- travelers who have difficulty walking or have walkers etc..this may not be an ideal trail. Also, for younger children this may not be an kdela hike because of how extensive the elevation is. You are climbing a mountain and waterfall elevation. Make sure to look up details on their trail before you plan a trip. But well worth the hike :)

We pulled up to the ticket booth just off the main road at around 2:15 p.m. on a weekday. After…read morepaying our $5 per person, it took another 15 - 20 minutes to drive up the twisting road to the parking lot closest to the summit. There was only one other car parked there, though the lot looked like it could hold 35 - 40 cars. The hike from there was then a minimum of 0.6 miles (rocky and occasionally steep) to a lookout tower (25 feet tall, maybe). The summit was another 0.1 miles but probably wasn't even as high as the tower. We took the Slot trail up since it appeared to be more gradual (but was a bit longer). On the way back, we opted for the other option: the Slab trail (which was steeper but had steps cut into the dirt or fashioned from large stones, in spots). I would classify this hike as short but moderate. The tower views were pretty nice. It probably took us a bit over an hour to hike up and back.

A beautiful park with amazing trails and interesting history. The rangers were helpful and…read morefriendly. I definitely plan to return.

A cute little landing in Woodstock Vermont, this small overlook holds benches and a beautiful…read morebabbling brook. Named in honor of Frank Teagles Jr, it is a lovely area to rest or enjoy coffee while out shopping in downtown Woodstock. In front of the landing stands a plaque that dedicates this space to his efforts for the local community. It is definitely worth a stop by if you're in the area!

This is a gorgeous waterfall and swimming hole about a 45 minute drive from Burlington, VT! My…read morewife, two teenage sons, mini-poodle, and I came here in July 2024 on a hot summer day to cool off for an hour. Lots of pluses. First, it has a wide receiving pool area that is conducive to large groups and is more kid-friendly than other swimming holes (such as Warren Falls). Second, parking is generally available on the side of the road above the falls. You can descend along the second pathway down which is less steep than the first pathway. Third, dogs with a leash are allowed in the area. Would strongly recommend bringing water shoes (river shoes) if you don't like the pain of multiple rocks on your bare feet. Also, it tends to be a bit more quiet from 3pm-4pm, but got crowded when we departed at 5pm. Overall, this is a great place to experience a swimming hole in Vermont - especially if you are staying nearby in Burlington, VT.

I am into cold plunging for health and wellness. It was a cold rainy Aug. day and we headed to…read moreBristol for food and falls. Bartlett falls are amazing. Very accessible and pristine. We had a lovely swim. We parked on the side of the road and walked down..easy peasy.

I wish we lived closer to this institute because we would probably visit every weekend! The Vermont…read moreInstitute of Natural Science does praiseworthy work by rescuing aviaries and raptors from the side of highways, etc. These once injured birds are now thriving and the staff working here really care for the inhabitants. It is wonderful to see. It is worth the money to come visit! Kids love it and adults do too. Besides the beautiful rescue stories and gorgeous creatures living here, the nature walk and look out tower is another fun experience! There is a netted trampoline that is many feet up towards the back of the nature walk. It gives kids cool views of down below and is fun to prance on top of! The look out tower walk up is a great work out for the adults and the promising view up top is worth it. The gift store has some lovely treasures as well. I hope we can visit again soon!

A must-visit for all ages! Highly recommend! Wish we had left more time for this. We were 6 adults…read morein our early 30's and 60's. The birds here are all unable to survive in the wild. Mostly outdoor exhibits with well maintained paths. Lots of shade. Enjoyed the very well done Raptor presentation appropriate for all ages. Plenty of room for families with younger kids to "frolic in nature" as one of the VINS inspirational signs shared. Beautiful grounds including a Canopy walk with optional Tower! Pleasant friendly staff. Picnic tables to bring your own food. Would love to go back next time we're in VT. Very reasonably priced Adoption program if looking for a gift. Nice souvenir shop. For a $2 off per ticket, pick up a VINS 5x9 card in racks showing local attractions.

Rating 4.7 Came to…read morevisit for a short walk to the thundering brook falls. It's located in killington VT. Once we arrive we parked on the aide of street as designated parking is very small. The area is connected to other hiking trails as well but the fall trail is just 0.5 mile. The trail itself is maintained well and has solid wooden path and some gravel along the last part of the trail. We changed into hiking shoes but was probably not necessary. There are lots of flowers along the way and as we get close to the fall we go into area with lots of shade, trees and moss/rocks. The fall itself is very pretty and the water runs down to the river at the bottom. It took us about 20min roundtrip. It's a nice and easy walk that are kids and dog friendly and provide pretty view. A must stop for all visitors coming to Vermont.

Easy walk to the falls with kids and adults on a walkway surrounded by wildflowers. Tougher but…read moremanageable hike to the top if you want to go for it! We saw a couple who took lunch and sat on a rock right next to the falls - fabulous idea for next time!

At the top of Hubbard Park is the Hubbard Tower that was built between 1915 and 1930. Only 65 steps…read moreto the top, it is made of stones gathered from nearby abandoned walls and fences when the park was used as grasing pastures. It was designed to look a bit like a medieval ruin and contains a metal stairway that seemed safe enough to climb today. I opted to drive about as close to the tower as I could and was able to pull off to the side of the road. That left about a half-mile hike to the summit and then the tower. Pretty nice view of the surrounding area from the top. [Review 18520 overall - 118 in Vermont - 2042 of 2022.]

Great place for sliding or snow tubing with the kiddos. Parking adjacent to the hill. Loved it…read more.. depending on where you are, it might be a drive.... nice options for lunch in the city, too !