Sunrise on Lake Paran in North Bennington, Vt. Photo provided by Lake Paran Recreations
Explore the great outdoors in Bennington 5 places to hike, bike, walk or just enjoy a day in the sun By Cherise Forbes
Bennington, Vt., is blessed with a bountiful and beautiful landscape, which makes it all the more difficult to decide where to explore next! Whether you’re a local looking for a backyard adventure or a visitor eager to discover Vermont, we’ve got you covered with five outdoor recreation locations to check out this summer.
Explore historic Bennington with BATS The Bennington Area Trail System — it’s affection-
ately known as BATS — was founded by a group of local advocates in 2015 and is one of the best-maintained trail networks in the region. Cascading through historic Bennington, these trails are ideal for biking, walking and running. Don’t miss the group’s inaugural 2015 trail, Hops & Vines, which routes hikers and bikers from the Everett Mansion, on the former Southern Vermont College campus, to Monument Avenue in Old Bennington. Hops & Vines can be traversed in either direction and is prime,
in particular, for mountain biking. Looking for a more beginner-friendly trail? Start with the Carriage Road trail, which will take you along a cobblestone road to sweeping views of the valley and the Bennington Battle Monument. Trail maps and more information about BATS can be found online at batsvt.org. For updates on trail conditions, visit facebook.com/batsvt. Be sure to check out the trail rules and etiquette on the BATS website before you go.
Take a hike on the Bald Mountain Trail It’s no secret that Vermont is rich with hiking locales, including sections of the Appalachian and Long trails, both of which intersect at the southwestern corner of the state. But, Bennington’s best trail might be the Bald Mountain Trail, known simply as “white rocks” by locals. You’ll understand the name when you reach the summit, which opens up to a jaw-dropping vista of the western valley. Sit in the sea of rocks — they UpCountryOnline.com | 43
