Southwestern VT Outdoor Recreation Resources

Trail Finder Logo with compass

Find Trails in Vermont with TrailFinder!

BATS on TrailFinder.Info HERE
Local organizations and land trust, etc have been adding information here. Very searchable and a great resource!

Screenshot of a trail map with caption "Recreation in the shires"

Recreation in the Shires of Vermont- The Bennington Chamber website has a collaborative map about outdoor recreation (hike, bike, fish, winter recreation, and more)  in the area, including an overview map (not to be used for navigation) showing some of the recreation areas, as well as links to the places shown on the map.

Local Outdoor Recreation spots include, but are not limited to (again, try using TrailFinder.info to find more places):

Bennington-Trail-Map-6.7.19.pdf

Outdoor Recreation In the Berkshires

Berkshire NEMBA Chapter and their MTB Trails 

Bike North Berkshire

Ashuwillticook Rail Trail

Mount Greylock State Reservation & Greylock Glen Multi-Use Trail System

Trustees of Reservations Properties in the Berkshires

Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation 

Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area – Has a great hike/walk series in the fall as well as other information about

Western New England Greenway– a Route 7 multi-segment, multi-state bike route linking NYC and Montreal. It goes through Bennington and is growing. Learn more!

Don’t forget you can always call your local bike shop, or gear shops locally for tips on places to go. Your local bookstore also has maps and guidebooks.

Outfitters Nearby

The Mountain Goat, Manchester, VT
Berkshire Outfitters, Adams, MA (Winter Gear and Kayaks Too)
Nature’s Closet, Williamstown, MA
Lots of hike info at the shops near Stratton like Equipe Sports and First Run /Mt. Snow area
Zoar Adventure Center (hike/whitewater/snowshoe/bike), Wilmington, VT
First Trax Sports Shop, Dover, Vt
Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, Brattleboro, VT (!! Everything!!)
Albany / Glens Falls Area

Bike Shops

The Bennington Bike Hub, Bennington, VT
Battenkill Bicycles, Manchester, VT
Equipe Sports/ Mountain Riders, Rawsonville and Stratton Mt., VT
Burrow’s Sports, Brattleboro, VT
The Spoke, Williamstown, MA
Berkshire Outfitters, Adams, MA
Tomhannock Bicycles, Johnsonville, NY

Resorts with Shops and Services

Bromley Mountain 
Magic Mountain
Stratton Mountain
Mt. Snow Resort

State Parks Near Bennington

Woodford State Park
Lake Shaftsbury State Park
Emerald Lake State Park
Molly Stark State Park

Green Mountain National Forest Manchester Ranger District

Recreation Activities- South Zone/ Manchester Ranger District

Long Distance Trails- Did you know the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the oldest long distance hiking trail in the US, the Long Trail, are the same trail and go through Bennington and Woodford? Well, they do!

Learn More at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s website, or get a map at the Bennington Bookshop!
Current Trail Updates for the A.T.
Info on Parking and Transportation along the A.T. 
Leave No Trace Principles for Hiking with great videos

Learn More about the Long Trail from the Green Mountain Club
Join an activity or a volunteer trail stewardship project with the GMC Bennington Section- posted on Meetup
Find some tips for hiking in groups, or find some suggested day hikes.
Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics – check out their  LNT You Tube Channel too