Places to Walk, Hike,

Bike and X-C Skiin

Putney, Vermont

Putney Trails Project

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TOWN OF DUMMERSTON

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South Pine Banks RdEast Town Farm Rd

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ThePutneySchoolPutneyCentralSchool

Landmark CollegeGreenwoodSchool

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The GrammarSchool

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trails (not all trails shown)old roadsroad walksbike loop$ $ $ 0 10.5 Mile

Credits: The Putney Trails Project was conducted by Hannah Pick incollaboration with the Brattleboro AreaPrevention Coalition, and with thesupport of a grant from the VermontDepartment of Health. The intention ofthis map is to inspire healthy physicalactivity within the community.

Cartographer: Jeff Nugent Graphic Designer: Susan Kochinskas Cover photo: Hannah PickPrinted by: Lotus Graphics, Brattleboro, VT

Thank you to the many residents ofPutney who offered their support,knowledge and feedback to this project.Special thanks to Windham RegionalCommission, Putney ConservationCommission, Lies Pasterkamp and The Putney School, Herve Pelletier and Putney Central School, Mary HellerOsgood and The Grammar School,Putney Mountain Association, Green Mountain Orchards, Jim andDiny Sweitzer of West Hill Shop,Kathleen White, Gino Palmeri, PatShields and Ann Kerry. It is hoped the project continues to grow in thecoming years!

Putney Town website maps:Find a copy of this map, as well as detailed maps of Putney CentralSchool Forest, Bare Hill, Beatrice Aiken and more.www.putneyvt.org/map.php

Find us on Facebook:facebook.com/putneytrailsproject

Maps and more information:

Putney Mountain Association trail maps:www.putneymountain.org/web/trails-maps/

Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association trail maps:www.windmillhillpinnacle.org/pages/trailmaps/trailmaps.html

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Map by Windham Regional Commission, Brattleboro, Vermont2nd Edition: August 2014

Places to Walk, Hike,

Bike and X-C Skiin

Putney, Vermont

Village Loop Cross Sacketts Brook twice when you make this loop: FromHi Lo Biddy Road turn left on River Road, past LandmarkCollege. Cross Route 5 and follow Sandhill Road throughthe Wilson Wetland, then loop back to town on theWestminster Road sidewalk.This loop is about 2¾ miles.

Connecticut River Boat Landings[Putney to Dummerston]

Easy, short walk on a flat dirt road with river destinations at either end.This walk is a rewarding place to stretch yourlegs and a nice place to enjoy the river. Park at either boatlanding and walk along the dirt road that skirts the corn field.

To extend this walk…park at the West Hill Shop and go from there.

Beatrice Aiken Moderate, short woodland trail with two steep sections.This is an 11 acre conservation site with a ½ mile trail thatleads to a mossy cliff with wildflowers. The trail is laid outto highlight the “Putney Volcanics,” a bedrock formationformed from ash spewed by an ancient volcano.The bedrockcontains calcium carbonate (limestone), allowing ferns andwildflowers to thrive.Trail guides in the green mail box.Parking near the kiosk on Old Route 5 South.

Old Route 5 SouthEasy, flat paved road walk. Many people walk this road on the edge of the village.This is one of the most easy and accessible routes on the map. It takes you past an old orchard and the Beatrice Aiken Conservation Site. Parking on Carol Brown Way.

Friendship Loop Easy to moderate dirt road loop.A place where manyfriends meet to walk and talk, this is a satisfying 2 mileloop that’s accessible from downtown. It is mostly shadyand takes you by a brook and a field.There’s one steepsunny hill on Signal Pine Road that you can choose toclimb up by walking the loop clockwise, or down if youwalk counter clockwise. Informal parking on the side of the road.

To extend this loop…Sun Hill Loop

Sun Hill LoopEasy to moderate dirt road loop.This route takes you above the village and offers beautiful views of the horizon.This can be enjoyed as an extension of Friendship Loop (4 miles), or on its own (about 2 miles). Informal parking on the side of the road.

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7Places to Walk, Hike, Bike and X-C Skiin Putney, Vermont

East Putney Brook TrailModerate old road. Closely following East Putney Brook,this unique woodland trail is wide and fairly flat. Iffollowed to the end, it reaches South Valley Road inWestminster West in less than 2 miles. Good for walking,mountain biking, ungroomed x-c skiing and snow shoeing.The footbridge at the end of East Putney Brook Roadmarks the start of the old road. Park at the intersection of Brook Road and Mill Brook Road.

River Road[From East Putney Falls Road to Fort Hill Road]

Easy, wide dirt road. Running along the train tracks, withviews of the Connecticut River, this beautiful route is goodfor walking, running, biking and birding. River Road wasthe first road in Putney, originally an Abenaki foot trail.Pass by the historically significant Great Meadows and astone marker for an old fort. Informal parking on the sideof the road.

Bare Hill Conservation Site Moderate woodland hike. Bare Hill Conservation Site is 27 acres that was acquired by the town in 1986 to preservea Black Gum Swamp and deer wintering area. Open to thepublic for hiking and hunting. Easy parking at the end ofBare Hill Road.

Putney Central School ForestEasy and moderate options, with well marked trails. ThePCS Forest is 164 acres of diverse hilly woodlands andfloodplain, with a criss-crossing trail system that wasdeveloped by students and the broader community. Located behind the elementary school, find parking at the town swimming pool, where there is a kiosk with trail maps and information.

Sand Hill Road Easy walking on a flat dirt road.This beautiful roadrunning through the wetlands is surrounded by wildlife. Watch for turtles, frogs, dragonflies, ducks, and great blueheron. Visit at dusk to look for the beaver. About a halfmile one way. Easy parking across from the pond.

Mill Street to Hi Lo Biddy Road[Sacketts Brook Lower Falls]

Easy to moderate, short but hilly village road. From thecenter of the village this little walk takes you over theSacketts Brook on a footbridge to Hi Lo Biddy Road. OnMill Street, look on the left for the historic site of the OwlPaper Mill with interpretive sign, and overlook the SackettsBrook lower falls. Park in the center of town.

To extend this walk…Village Loop

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The Putney School Trail System Easy, moderate and challenging routes through fields andforest. One of the treasures of Putney, this well marked trailsystem has 40 kilometers of groomed x-c ski trails in thewinter and is open for walking and running other times ofthe year. Park in the main parking lot near the kiosk, whereyou will find a detailed trail map.

Note: No walking, snowshoeing or dogs on groomed ski trails. Nomotorized vehicles.

Green Mountain OrchardsEasy, gently rolling farm roads. Located in the hills abovePutney village, this is one of Vermont’s largest apple orchards.It has stunning views and over 125 acres of working orchard,including pick-your-own apples and blueberries. The landborders The Putney School trail system and connects to The Grammar School trails, providing a link for extendedexercise. Follow the roads through the orchard, and makeyour own loop. Park in the main parking lot.

September to April the orchard is open to the public forwalking, ungroomed x-c skiing, and snowshoeing. Duringother months it’s important to check before coming.Phone: 802-387-5851.

Note: No climbing in trees. Keep watch for the annual PutneyCommunity Ski Day — groomed trails and free ski rentalscourtesy of West Hill Shop.

The Grammar School TrailsModerate woodland trails.Trails start behind The GrammarSchool and connect to the Green Mountain Orchards,which connects to The Putney School trails.The trail systemincludes x-c skiing, hiking, and twisty single track mountainbike routes. They are currently unmarked. Parking is availableat the school. Coming soon: a kiosk and map at the trailhead.

Bike Ride – West Hill Shop’s “Tamer Tour”Moderate bike ride on dirt and paved roads.This is a wellpaced ride that tours some of the most beautiful dirt roadsof Putney, offering scenic views, some moderate hills, andnice spots to rest along the way.Take a swim at the culvert,wade in the stream on Brook Road, pause and look out at the orchard views. About 12.7 miles round trip. To get started, park in the center of town and head outWestminster Road towards Hickory Ridge Road.

Note: Hickory Ridge Road, Black Locust Road, Brook Road and Cory Hill Road are all part of the Tamer Tour, and are alsoenjoyable on their own.

Hickory Ridge–Black Locust LoopEasy to moderate dirt road loop, about 2½ miles.Thesescenic dirt roads are ideal for walking and biking, creating a nice loop.Take a refreshing dip in the Sacketts Brookwhen you park at the Culvert (on the right shortly afterThe Grammar School).

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13 Brook Road Easy, gently rolling dirt road. Running along the SackettsBrook, it is shady in the summer and a good place to walk orbike on a hot day.A nice starting route for beginners.Thereare a couple of access points to wade in the brook.About 1½miles one way. Informal parking on the side of the road.

Cory Hill RoadShort dirt road walk with a steep hill.This tree-lined roadhas impressive views of the Green Mountain Orchards.

To extend this route…Make a loop by adding Aiken Road andTavern Hill Road.

Joy RoadModerate old road hike in the woods.This old town road isnow a wide unmarked path. It crosses a brook and passes acemetery, then climbs up through the woods to the drivableend of Joy Road. Keep to the left when the road forks in thewoods. The old road is just over ½ mile one way. Parkingpull off on Putney Mountain Road, near Leon Wood Road.

To extend this walk…continue on the driveable section of Joy Road.

Faraway Road to Jones RoadEasy to moderate old road walk. No longer maintained forvehicles, this old road has become a wide woodland walk.It is edged with stone walls and can be accessed from bothJones Road and Faraway Road.About ¾ mile one way.Limited, informal parking available on either side.

Dine TrailEasy to moderate woodland walk. 1½ mile out and back,this rolling woodland trail is part of the Putney MountainAssociation trail system.At this point it is a dead-end but is soon to be part of an expanded trail network in the area.Trail marked by white disks, which you’ll find on the rightabout 2¼ miles up Holland Hill Road.

Putney Mountain Association Main TrailEasy to moderate woodland hike to the summit.A greatfamily hike with a beautiful, well-marked ½ mile trail togorgeous summit views. Probably Putney’s most wellknown trail, it is a destination for hawk-watching in thefall. From the summit you can return on the West CliffTrail to create a loop that is a little over a mile, or headnorth on the West Cliff Trail for a more advanced 6 mileloop. Lots of parking at the base of the main trail, whereyou will find a kiosk and map.

Ed Dodd Trail to Five CornersEasy to moderate woodland trail.This ¾ mile hike takesyou to the “Five Corners” where you can turn north to the Pinnacle or south to the Putney Mountain Associationtrails. It is a nice starting point to access the ridgeline. Canalso access the old road that heads towards Dusty RidgeRoad. Park at the end of Holden Road and follow signs tokiosk and map.

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Respectful use of trails: Some of these trails are on privateproperties. Please be respectful so they can remain open for all to enjoy.