Bennington College Trail Runs
Top three spots that are right by campus:
1. Robert Frost house an easy ~4 mile lollipop. Could also start from Lake Paran.
2. Mile Around Woods Park on the road or (walk from Pangea/Roasted Bean) and follow farm road to the map kiosk. Or, visit the parking lot near the mansion which has gardens and picnic tables.
3. Bennington Monument Drive around to the back of the monument to a row of parking that points out to the north. Nice views and all paved places to walk. Can follow the sidewalk down the hill to the Hospital's trails.
Here's a list of top hikes from The Mountain Goat in Manchester, VT
1. Robert Frost house an easy ~4 mile lollipop. Could also start from Lake Paran.
2. Mile Around Woods Park on the road or (walk from Pangea/Roasted Bean) and follow farm road to the map kiosk. Or, visit the parking lot near the mansion which has gardens and picnic tables.
3. Bennington Monument Drive around to the back of the monument to a row of parking that points out to the north. Nice views and all paved places to walk. Can follow the sidewalk down the hill to the Hospital's trails.
Here's a list of top hikes from The Mountain Goat in Manchester, VT
This a master list of the trail runs I've done between 2019 and 2022 in Bennington, VT.
Trailheads I've tried:
The Mile-Around Woods North Bennington, VT
Robert Frost/Lake Paran North Bennington, VT
Shaftsbury Historical Society Museum Shaftsbury, VT
Grass Mountain Shaftsbury, VT
SVC Trails, (Maps) supported by BATS (website) Bennington, VT
Pittstown State Forest Pittstown, NY
Valentino Family Community Forest (Maps) Cropseyville, NY
Stuffle Street Forest, Cropseyville, NY
Taconic Crest Trail/Snowhole west of Williamstown, MA
Bee Hill, west of Williamstown, MA
Mountain Meadow Preserve/Mason Hill Williamstown, MA
Rosenberg Center (Maps) Williamstown, MA
Lye Brook Falls Trailhead Manchester, VT
Lye Brook Falls Shortcut (Maps) Manchester, VT
White Rocks/Bald Mountain Bennington, VT
Trailhead Parking for AT Harmon Hill/Glastonbury Mt. (Maps)
Battlefield Trail / Valley View Trail (Maps) Bennington, VT
Mt. Anthony Summit (from Quarry Road) (from Everett Mansion) Bennington, VT
Parking for running Quarry Road (Maps) Bennington, VT
Tibbits State Forest (Parking-Maps)
Griffith Lake Trail Head Dorset, VT
Equinox Mountain/Lookout Rock/Red Gate Trail (Equinox preserve website) Manchester, VT
Prospect Rock Trail Manchester, VT
Owls Head Trailhead Dorset, VT
Culter Memorial Forest and Pinnacle Tower (Website) Dorset, VT
Mt Ascutney State Park
Roaring Brook Trail, Williamstown, MA
Haley Farm Trailhead, Williamstown, MA
Little Pond near Woodford, VT
not my favorite
Woodford State Park Loop/Adams Lake near Woodford, VT
Bear Wallow Trail near Woodford, VT
not my favorite
Quarry Hill, near Pownal, VT
very short, pair with Tubs
Parking for Searsburg Reservoir/Catamount
Trailheads I haven't tried
Taconic Trail State Park
Cascade Trail - Trailhead
River trail
Further from Bennington:
Mt Monadnock State Park near Keene, NH
Shrewsbury Peak (Maps)
The Mile-Around Woods North Bennington, VT
Robert Frost/Lake Paran North Bennington, VT
Shaftsbury Historical Society Museum Shaftsbury, VT
Grass Mountain Shaftsbury, VT
SVC Trails, (Maps) supported by BATS (website) Bennington, VT
Pittstown State Forest Pittstown, NY
Valentino Family Community Forest (Maps) Cropseyville, NY
Stuffle Street Forest, Cropseyville, NY
Taconic Crest Trail/Snowhole west of Williamstown, MA
Bee Hill, west of Williamstown, MA
Mountain Meadow Preserve/Mason Hill Williamstown, MA
Rosenberg Center (Maps) Williamstown, MA
Lye Brook Falls Trailhead Manchester, VT
Lye Brook Falls Shortcut (Maps) Manchester, VT
White Rocks/Bald Mountain Bennington, VT
Trailhead Parking for AT Harmon Hill/Glastonbury Mt. (Maps)
Battlefield Trail / Valley View Trail (Maps) Bennington, VT
Mt. Anthony Summit (from Quarry Road) (from Everett Mansion) Bennington, VT
Parking for running Quarry Road (Maps) Bennington, VT
Tibbits State Forest (Parking-Maps)
Griffith Lake Trail Head Dorset, VT
Equinox Mountain/Lookout Rock/Red Gate Trail (Equinox preserve website) Manchester, VT
Prospect Rock Trail Manchester, VT
Owls Head Trailhead Dorset, VT
Culter Memorial Forest and Pinnacle Tower (Website) Dorset, VT
Mt Ascutney State Park
Roaring Brook Trail, Williamstown, MA
Haley Farm Trailhead, Williamstown, MA
Little Pond near Woodford, VT
not my favorite
Woodford State Park Loop/Adams Lake near Woodford, VT
Bear Wallow Trail near Woodford, VT
not my favorite
Quarry Hill, near Pownal, VT
very short, pair with Tubs
Parking for Searsburg Reservoir/Catamount
Trailheads I haven't tried
Taconic Trail State Park
Cascade Trail - Trailhead
River trail
Further from Bennington:
Mt Monadnock State Park near Keene, NH
Shrewsbury Peak (Maps)
Bennington Trails as PDF (Updated 3-8-22)
Trails to add to the list:
Bromley Mountain from Mad Tom Notch Road
Haystack Mountain from Tunket Road
Merck Forest
Trails that are a question mark
West Branch Road/ FR74
The Dome/Thompson's Pond - no view, challenging uphill similar to Taconic Crest northbound
Fayville/ FR 307
Benedict Hollow near Arlington
Dry Brook Hollow
Black Hole Hollow/Arlington Town Forest - an unmaintained dirt road, leading nowhere memorable
Cherry Plain State Park - nice trails nearby, only 30 minutes from campus down Rt22
Albany area:
Thatcher State Park
Plotter Kill State Park
"Hill towns"
include Thompsonville
Heldeberg Escarpment, and "The Long Path"
which includes a connection from Thatcher SP to the Escarpment
CSAs in the Bennington Area
Wildstone (Pownal) (website)
Winter share Tuesdays 3-5 Pick up $300, no CSA in 2023
True Love (website)
winter - friday afternoon - $?
Clear Brook (Manchester) (website)
winter share $360 for 8 items/wk.
I did this one, very happy. I picked up Thursdays between 3-5pm
Mighty Food (website)
Shaftsbury. Sells out fast. Pickups on farm Friday and Saturday
Earth Sky Time
No CSA, just retail?
Known for Bread, Hummus, Olive Loaf
Manchester Farmer's Mkt Thursday 3pm
Wildstone (Pownal) (website)
Winter share Tuesdays 3-5 Pick up $300, no CSA in 2023
True Love (website)
winter - friday afternoon - $?
Clear Brook (Manchester) (website)
winter share $360 for 8 items/wk.
I did this one, very happy. I picked up Thursdays between 3-5pm
Mighty Food (website)
Shaftsbury. Sells out fast. Pickups on farm Friday and Saturday
Earth Sky Time
No CSA, just retail?
Known for Bread, Hummus, Olive Loaf
Manchester Farmer's Mkt Thursday 3pm