BRATTLEBORO — With the leaves starting to turn, more and more people are looking for trails and hikes to make the most of our outdoor vistas.
To help Vermonters and visitors find trails that meet their abilities and interests, the Windham Regional Commission, in collaboration with the Brattleboro office of the Vermont Department of Health, has created a resource guide, “Trails in the Windham Region” as part of the Windham on the Move initiative.
The guide, available at windhamregional.org/trails, will, when complete, provide information about the many trails in the Windham region all in one place.
The WRC serves all 23 towns of Windham County, as well as Readsboro, Searsburg, and Winhall in Bennington County, and Weston in Windsor County. As of September, the document features descriptions of trails in all towns but Readsboro, Rockingham, Weston, and Windham.
“It's not intended to be a trail guide, but should be used as a quick reference to trail information in each town,” explains WRC Senior Planner Jeff Nugent in the document's introduction. “You are encouraged to look at the official sources listed for more detailed information before you hit the trails.”
The guide details two to four trails per town, each with a brief description to help walkers and hikers find the best site for their interests and abilities.
The listings include trails that are accessible for families who want to try a short, easy walk, and trails for people looking for a more vigorous outing.
“All you need is pair of sturdy shoes, though for many of the trails sneakers are just fine,” Prudence MacKinney, director of the Brattleboro Local Health Office, said in a news release. “And it's always a good idea to bring along EPA-approved insect repellent and plenty of water.”
“We live in such a beautiful state,” MacKinney added. “The trail resource guide makes it that much easier for people to be active outdoors doing what they enjoy.”
MacKinney said that regular physical activity is an important key to reducing chronic disease.
“Being out in our lovely woods and meadows is good for your mind and body. Whatever activity you choose, by yourself or with family and friends, you're doing your body good.”
Among the trails featured in the guide is the Weeks Carriage Trail in Guilford. The Carriage Trail is a flat, round-trip walk of slightly less than one mile along a brook on an old carriage road that served a mineral springs resort.
Another is the West River Trail in Brattleboro, a multi-use, unpaved surface pathway on an old railroad grade that parallels the West River.