Nobody said getting back in shape was easy--but if you're going to suffer, you might as well do it…read moresomewhere beautiful. I picked a hiking trail in Vermont after getting lured in by some stunning photos online. Inspired (and slightly delusional), I stopped and picked up a pair of Oboz hiking shoes and some solid hiking socks--thankfully, one of my better decisions. Let me be clear: this trail was no joke. It twisted, turned, and climbed in ways that made my heart rate spike enough to question my life choices. At one point, I genuinely thought I heard Bigfoot breathing down my neck--turns out it was just me gasping for air. Here are the stats: 4,083 ft summit 7.4 miles round trip 2,645 ft vertical rise 6 hours of hiking The mountain is known as Tawabodi-e-wadso, which means "The Saddle Mountain" in the Waubawakee Native American language. Yes, I did my research--mainly because I felt like I needed to know the name of the place that almost killed me. (Kidding... kind of.) But here's the real truth: it was absolutely worth it. The trail winds through beautiful groves of maple and oak, with peaceful river streams breaking up the climb. It was majestic, serene, and a perfect reminder of why nature is one of the best places to push your limits. And yes, the shoes held up like champs. Bottom line: A tough but rewarding hike--equal parts humbling and awe-inspiring. If you're looking to reconnect with nature and your cardiovascular system, this one's for you.

We started the hike via the Huntington parking lot and hikes the Burrow trail…read more Do not underestimate this hike. It is all incline up and lots of rock scrambling. We are not experienced hikes and took us 5 hrs to finish. It is true that it is shaded the whole time, but no one mentioned about the amount of bugs on the whole trail. After asking a local, we find out that they are called "black flies". They are small and annoying little bugs that cling on to your skin and bite you. We put bugs spray but did not keep them away from us. Apparently they come in season that received alot of rain. (first week of June) And it just happens to hatch new eggs as the weather gets hot and wet. So if you plan to hike this with there is alot of rain, I suggest wearing a netted hat. Because these flies are soon annoying and just takes out the fun of the hike. Although it was not an easy hike with annoying bugs biting our skin, the summit was one of 360 view of the landscape. It is beautiful and view are breathtaking!!!!

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 guess this trail doesn't get enough love because parking is extremely limited. We were fortunate…read moreto get one of the three available parking spots near the residential entrance. The trail is well-marked with bright yellow diamond markers on trees, and additionally annotated by sharpie at trail forks. We skipped the alternate route that presumably would've led to a longer loop that included a small waterfall at the river (according to AllTrails), so it only took an hour round trip for us to reach the Wu Ledges vista, then get back to our car before a rainstorm hit. The gorgeous views of the shorter leg were worth the effort. We were occasionally plagued by mosquitoes and flies, so I'm glad we packed the bug repellant.

This is the loveliest place to walk / hike / run / snowshoe with children in the Mad River Valley…read moreIMHO. The loop is about 1.7 miles IIRC, an easy (but not too wimpy) trek for my seven-year-old, with gentle ups and downs, even with thick snow cover on the ground in regular winter boots. (The Pardner forgot to throw our snowshoes and crampons in the car = demerits!) Although there are only three parking spots, there are enough accumulated visitors that there's a nicely packed, easy-to-follow trail. From the top, there's a nice view of the town with, I think, Mad River Glen, in the distance. Yellow trail markers are easy to follow up to the viewing point, less well marked on the other side. Lots of deer tracks, racoon and possum tracks, and a few intrepid squirrels out and about in winter. If you need a break from skiing, head to Wu and stop at the Sweet Spot across the covered bridge after. Perfect use of a winter morning. :)

Great hike right off the freeway, so super convenient if you are just passing though the area. The…read moreloop trail was great, it was a good workout when we were going up a slight incline, and then relaxing as we came back. The trial was pretty well marked, but a bit confusing in certain places. It would have helped if the signs had the distances. Overall, a very nice place!

So pretty and definitely worth seeing. We really enjoyed this experience. I would recommend…read morevisiting!

With so much rain this summer 2021, I decided to make most of it and do a waterfalls tour…read more Huntington is a bit out of the way and this review is based on my first visit. HG is a dramatic natural stunner. It's compact, STEEP and loud with ROARING waterfalls. Many falls, you cannot see from above and without endangering self. There's been many fatalities over the years so swimming and climbing down to the falls are heavily discouraged by the local government. There are several very short trails from the road for viewing but the trails were ridden with poison ivies! Also, there were poured granite gravels in an effort to alleviate a landslide (which is rare in VT) from the paved road. One could cross AFTER (not upstream) the Gorge to cross to the opposite side. If you desire to, I'd recommend wearing a pair of water-shoes and perhaps not soon after rain. HG is unlike any other rapids I've seen in VT. It is worth visiting to see the extreme changes of water flow and power of nature. It's an out of place, tiny compact version of gorges that you see out West. Parking is sparse...a handful of spots above the Gorge. It was a bit of a downer to see so much (signs) discouragement. Obviously peeps don't stop coming....maybe they could embrace and build safeguards for everyone to access and enjoy this beauty safely?

We brought our dogs with us on a ski trip and came here every morning before we skied. The surface…read moreis grass and they provide drinking bowls and a basket of dog toys, including tennis balls, chuck its with balls, frisbees and rope toys. There is a no plastic bagging policy, but scoopers and dog poop composting bins are placed throughout the park. The dog poop composting is maintained by VOLUNTEERS. There is a corner in the back reserved for the equipment the volunteers use to turn it into mulch and there was really no smell in that area at all! They have a water access point located within the large dog park. The small dog park has a separate entrance which was blocked by the snow. What is nice is that there is also an entrance between the large and small dog parks, which can be helpful for those small or reactive dogs who have settled down in the small dog park and want to try joining the large dog park. There is also a separate gate in the large dog park which opens to the woods on the back which border on the river. In warmer months, dogs can go swimming or wading in the river. There is a shelter with two picnic benches and a library book box within in the large dog park. The dog park is located at the end of a side road (River Road) from the main road (Route 2) surrounded by the woods near a river.

Very nice dog park with dog poop composters. Very well maintained and super convenient to Rt 89…read more There is a covered pavilion with two picnic tables and some Adirondack chairs. There is also a super cute Little Free Library where you can take a book and leave a book! It is a very large area for the puppies to roam. There is a water spicket for filling water bowls that has been shut off for the winter. There is even a small pen that if you have a dog that doesn't get along with others they can have their own personal space just to themselves.

The Currier Park Historic District is located northeast of Barre's Downtown Historic District. It…read moreis a well-preserved planned residential development from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Currier Park Historic District consists of numerous private homes that are not open to the public. It is roughly bounded by Park Street, Potash Brook, East Street, and Academy Street. The district's hub, Currier Park, is a public park. It is a large square green space with a gazebo. The marker in the park reads, "Currier Park was presented to the town of Barre in 1884 by builder Stedman Chubb (1828-1890). The two-acre public park was part of the 60-acre Ripley farm purchased in 1853 by Chubb's father-in-law, Richard S. Currier (1803-1875). Currier had moved to Barre to allow his children to attend Barre Academy, for which he served as treasurer. Foreseeing that granite would spark development in Barre, Currier often said his farm would ultimately be covered with dwellings. In 1881, Chubb purchased the Currier farm and three years later subdivided it into building lots, with Currier Park at the center. In 1990, Currier Park Historic District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its residential architecture and park." It was erected in 2019 by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and does not have a number. There is free street parking on all sides. [Review 1662 of 2024 - 151 in Vermont - 22685 overall]

Decent campsite. We…read morestayed here on a recent trip. We reserved a lean-to over the phone and with only a few days notice. The site was not a "prime" lean-to so it was a bit lacking in the view. Our site was clean and sizable with restrooms nearby. Pros: Can make reservations over the phone. More availability versus campsites closer to Montpelier/Stowe. Friendly park service staff. Firewood and other supplies available for purchase. Bathrooms with plumbing and shower. Cons: Not very close to areas with services (food, coffee, gas, grocery, etc). Decent place to stay if you just need a campsite.