Kelley Stand Road: Gateway to the Green Mountains
September 30, 2014
Kelley Stand Road between East Arlington and Stratton is more than just a scenic drive in southern Vermont. This beautiful dirt road through the Green Mountains offers incredible access and options for hiking, camping, mountain biking, and sight-seeing.
Three years after Tropical Storm Irene washed Kelley Stand Road away in 2011, the road reopened to traffic in September 2014. If you’re in southern Vermont during foliage season, put Kelley Stand Road on your must-list.
Kelley Stand Road runs along the Roaring Branch river and crosses into the Green Mountain National Forest and the town Stratton before ending at Route 100 in West Wardsboro. You’ll find many opportunities for hiking, including access to Stratton Pond along The Long Trail, as well as trail loops around Grout Pond and Somerset Reservoir.
History and Beauty Along Kelley Stand Road
Closed in the winter, the road originally served numerous logging camps and early settlements during the 19th century. It’s also where Daniel Webster’s spoke to 1,600 people at an 1840 Whig rally. A historic marker commemorates the spot along the road in Stratton.
While visiting my mom in southern Vermont last weekend, I traveled along Kelley Stand Road on two separate occasions with my young daughter Phoebe—once from East Arlington and once from Stratton. It had been several years since I had been on it, and I wanted to experience the drive from east to west, and west to east.
As I drove, I saw people mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and taking photos. It was a beautiful weekend, and I realized I really wanted to get out of the car. So did Phoebe.
Eventually, we stopped to visit Grout Pond, a beautiful, 1,600-acre recreational area in the Green Mountain National Forest that’s open for camping, fishing, canoeing, and hiking.
We had been driving for a while, and Phoebe needed to stretch her legs and have some fun. She was thrilled to go down to the little beach at Grout Pond, throw sticks and leaves into the water, and gleefully run into the pond with her socks and shoes on (the only shoes I had packed for her). I chatted with some folks who were sitting nearby, and we all enjoyed the view and the autumn glow of late September.
In the fall, I love to drive around to see all of Vermont’s beautiful foliage. But nothing beats being outdoors with your loved ones in the wonderful Green Mountain National Forest.
**If You Go: From Route 7A, take East Arlington Road to Old Mill Road to Kansas Road. Turn right onto Kelley Stand Road. To access the road from the east, take Route 100 to West Wardsboro and head west on Stratton-Arlington Road, which eventually becomes Kelley Stand Road. The road is closed in winter.
Grout Pond is a perfect spot for canoeing, fishing, kayaking camping, and getting your feet wet.
Scott
Posted at 21:47h, 30 SeptemberOK… This one I’m definitely doing! I remember reading about the Webster meeting many years ago and heard about Kelly Stand Road, but had forgotten about it until now! Its a road I’ve never taken, but it sounds wonderful. Thanks!
Erica
Posted at 08:40h, 01 OctoberScott — It’s a wonderful drive. You won’t be disappointed!
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Posted at 10:49h, 14 October[…] me, some of the high points of the season included visits to Hapgood Pond in Peru, Grout Pond in Stratton, Jobs Pond in Westmore, Sandgate Road in Bennington County, the Old Stone House Museum in […]
Jim
Posted at 19:25h, 20 OctoberMy sister sent me this article from the Rutland Herald, to my home in Avon, Colorado. This brings back a lot of memories from our childhood. We spent countless weekends on the Kelley Stand road and specifically on the “Grout Job” which where the Deerfield River crosses the road. I believe that the “Grout Job” refers to a logging operation or a sawmill in this area. My grandfather had a cabin at this location, on land that was leased from the International Paper Company and we visited often. My uncle built a small boat and kept it on Grout Pond during the summer. We spent many day fishing on the pond for perch, bass and sun fish. Just up the road from the cabin was the Daniel Webster Monument that you mentioned in your article. Thank you for this article and the memories that it provided.
Erica
Posted at 16:42h, 21 OctoberHi Jim, Thanks so much for saying hello. Fishing on Grout Pond must have been incredible! What a spot. I would like to go camping there one of these days. Do you know if your grandfather’s cabin is still near Kelley Stand Road? I’m glad your sister passed along the article — and I’m so pleased it brought back some nice memories. Thanks again for saying hi. -Erica
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Posted at 20:32h, 17 April[…] Kelley Stand Road: Gateway to the Green Mountains […]
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Posted at 18:16h, 23 October[…] you don’t know, that you can take class D forest roads from Somerset all the way north to the Kelly Stand Road – a west-east oriented forest road that’s also one of Southern Vermont’s most […]
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Posted at 23:52h, 17 February[…] you don’t know, that you can take class D forest roads from Somerset all the way north to the Kelly Stand Road – a west-east oriented forest road that’s also one of Southern Vermont’s most […]
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Posted at 21:17h, 09 July[…] pick up some flies, waders, or a new rod and try fly-fishing in Roaring Branch in Sunderland along Kelley Stand Road or in the Battenkill River along Route 313 in […]
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Posted at 22:27h, 02 January[…] Kelley Stand Road between East Arlington and Stratton is one of my favorite fall go-to places. The road stretches from Wardsboro to East Arlington on a dirt road through the Green Mountains. You’ll find places to explore along the way, including the Roaring Branch River, Grout Pond and Stratton Pond. You can find places to hike, paddle, camp and fish. Or you can just go for a fall drive on this gorgeous road in southern Vermont. Getting there: From Route 7A, take East Arlington Road to Old Mill Road to Kansas Road. Turn right onto Kelley Stand Road. To access the road from the east, take Route 100 to West Wardsboro and head west on Stratton-Arlington Road, which eventually becomes Kelley Stand Road. […]