This is a kid-friendly swimming hole that is only a few miles away from Ludlow, VT. Our family…read morestopped by for a visit with our dog in July 2026. Here are 3 tips for newbies. First, it can get very crowded along the road (there is no official parking lot). Be sure to pack your patience. If you arrive mid-afternoon, more spaces near the entrance may open. Second, no public restrooms are available. So, plan accordingly. Third, the middle falls are easiest to access if you're here for a short time. Overall, it was a nice place for a quick visit. However, Buttermilks Falls are not as impressive as other Vermont locations with swimming holes such as Bartlett Falls or Warren Falls. The latter is particularly scenic with a high cliff jump that is for brave teenagers and adults only. The state of Vermont is blessed to have so many natural swimming areas!

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 !

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

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.

My family has been enjoying Stoughton Pond for many years…read more Since I was a kid, we have been going there for picnics, swimming, hiking, and family get togethers. SP is great because it is local, and not too many people use it. It is rarely crowded, and the beach and picnic area is always immaculately clean. There are bathrooms and a changing area as well. So much wildlife to see here. The best of all, the park is free to use. There is a shelter, for groups to use for a nominal fee. Trash is carry in and out, and there is a No pets rule :-( There is a ton of land here with some wonderful hiking trails well off from the picnic area. A wonderful Vermont resource.

There's a reason why this place is always empty and free. Because the water is GROSS!! We used to…read morelive right around here when I was growing up and the water was always NASTY! I wouldn't be surprised if people caught parasites from swimming in Stoughton!

Beautiful park with a small beach, kayak and paddleboard rentals, snack shack, restrooms,…read moreplayground, and volleyball court. Spent hours here on a multi-family trip and everyone had a great day. Being bug spray because there are lots of biting flies.

This park has a nice big beach area and lots of picnic tables where you can sit and enjoy the…read moresurroundings. There's plenty of parking nearby. The staff here was especially friendly.

Easy access hype…read more This Gorge is easily accessible from the road and worth stopping for a few minutes. It is not a destination worthy but provides a scenic rest stop on your way to elsewhere. Many road trippers and tourist traps are here. There are about 20-30 parking spots near the East side of the bridge. There is an info board and a trailhead at the parking lot. The trail meanders below the road bridge to the Quechee Gorge. This summer (9/25) has been quite dry, so not big cascades but better views into the Gorge can be had. There's a big construction going ON the bridge so there was some traffic (yup). The construction probably will be completed before the winter. PSA - The best vista to this Gorge is actually from the bridge which is a very short walk from the parking lot.

This place has always been a home for me . Home away from home . It is cost efficient due to the…read morehigh hotel rates these days . I remember when a hotel stay would be less than 100.00 a night with amenities. Anyways, this campground is close to work, entrainment and many food choices. It is clean and well managed with a friendly and competent staff. I never felt unsafe or financially cheated. This will always be my go to spot ! Thank you Quechee !

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.

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.

Anytime of the year is perfect for the rewarding view. Maybe a little tough during snow and mud…read moreseason, but still doable. Table Rock faces the Bellows Falls are from New Hampshire, just across the Connecticut River. We're in our 60s and needed to stop a few times on the way up, but it was never too steep or treacherous, just a long steady hike. You want bring good hiking shoes with serious treads. No fees. Dogs allowed.

Phenomenal trail!! Definitely in my top 5 fave hikes - especially for the fall colors (my visit was…read morein early October)!! And it's a killer workout too! The view from the top is breathtaking- but not for the faint of heart - I have a fear of heights and it took me a while to work up the nerve to go sit on the edge lol! AllTrails has this trail labeled as "moderate" - but it was insanely muddy and very wet when I hiked it - took me ages and totally wore me out - so in those conditions I'd call it moderate-hard. And also with the rock scrambling at the top - it can be quite difficult. Very steep and especially narrow at the top - can be dangerous if you're not careful. I did a total of 2 miles round trip - it's an out and back trail. In those 2 miles, my tracker showed an 800 foot elevation gain so it's definitely a butt burner. And along the trail there are numerous areas of rock scrambling (some are very steep) and stream crossings during the wet season - get ready to be covered in mud lol! You will definitely need decent hiking shoes - and poles would've been so helpful I think! There were quite a few other hikers around. The trails are very well marked with colorful tree badges - but in some spots between the markers, I needed my trail map bc the ground was covered in leaves and mud and it wasn't as obvious. Once you get to the top of Table Rock, the stunning view will absolutely take your breath away! It's a sweeping vista of the entire forest area with the lake and resort below to the left and the long stretch of road through the park to the right - perfect for taking in all the colorful autumn splendor!! The top is a long, very narrow and flat tableau. It seems pretty stable - but has extremely steep (and deadly!) drop offs either side and no safety rails or fencing or anything so be aware. Drones aren't allowed in the park (according to the State Park website) but someone was flying one and buzzing us closely at the top which made it very distracting and scary unfortunately. Dogs are allowed - there were many on the trail and at the top. Parking is a small dirt lot pull out on the side of the road at the trailhead - Google maps took me right to it (just put in Table Rock Trailhead). It's located in Dixville Notch State Park (you can see my review of that for more detailed info). The park doesn't have bathrooms that I could find. And I think it's free. I didn't see any fee areas and their website doesn't list it as a fee area.

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.

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!

Awesome trails surrounded by nature along the West River…read more 772 acres, so even on a crowded day, there are plenty of places to escape to serenity. Dogs allowed.

Very nice park, very clean campsites. Bathrooms, while well stocked with tp where kinda gross. Not…read moreswept and you had to pay for hot water in the shower. Nice swimming area although very rocky. A very rustic camping experience overall and a lovely setting. Nice .8 mile hike to the overlook but bring bug spray!!!

What a surprise. A NH state park, Chesterfield Gorge has well marked trails, hand laid wooden…read morebridges, a cute gift shop, is conveniently located & the grounds are well maintained. The gorge itself has picturesque views throughout the canyon. Our visit was October so between the fall foliage and crisp air, we really couldn't have asked for a better day. Because of the low water level we were actually able to walk up through the water itself which provided amazing views both up & down the rocks. Be careful of slippery rock surfaces & steep drops in some places.