Skip the Views and Skip the Crowds: Seek Out the Lesser Known Paths
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During Southeastern Vermont’s school spring break, each day WRC is offering some suggestions for hitting the trails safely this week during the COVID-19 pandemic. For Wednesday, we suggest that you skips those popular trails that lead to viewpoints, and instead seek out those lesser known trails. And this is a great time of year to do just that. With the leaves off the trees, you can see much more in the woods, and still get some views here and there. You can also enjoy the spring wildflower display and watch the changes as our forests transition from winter into spring. Here are some sugggestions on where you can do this.
The Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association and Putney Mountain Assocation maintain dozens of miles of trails in eastern Windham County, yet everyone flocks to The Pinnacle or Putney Mountain. WHPA has had to close the Holden Trail parking lot which is the most popular trailhead to The Pinnacle, and PMA has made access to Putney Mountain one way, because of overcrowding.
The Associations suggest you use their Access Points Map to find trailheads other than the Holden or Putney Mountain trailheads, and visit destinations besides The Pinnacle or Putney Mountain. WHPA recommends the Dunn Nature Trail, less than 10 miles from Bellows Falls, and has a nature guide if you wish to make your walk more educational. If you still want a view, consider Paul's Ledges in Athens, just over 10 miles from Bellows Falls. It can be accessed by a trail or a wider woods road.
