Where to Explore the Vermont Outdoors This Summer
July 07, 2020

Tara Schatz is staying put in Vermont this summer to explore the outdoors.

That suits Schatz just fine as she feels ultimately at home when she’s outside.

The Bennington resident is an avid hiker, camper, and outdoor enthusiast who writes about her adventures on her blog, Back Road Ramblers. Her blog offers tips on kayaking, camping, hiking, visiting state parks, traveling with dogs, and road trips in Vermont and across the United States.

This summer, she’s planning on camping in Vermont with her husband and their dogs, hiking in the Green Mountain National Forest, cooling off in swimming holes, and kayaking and canoeing in lakes around the state.

Favorite Vermont Summer Camping and Hiking Spots

Schatz offers a wealth of knowledge for getting outside in Vermont.

If you’re looking for an alternative to camping at Vermont State Parks this summer, Schatz recommends searching for places on HipCamp.com. The website allows you to book camping experiences on farms, ranches, vineyards, and public parks across America.

In Vermont, you can find places on HipCamp.com to pitch a tent, stay in a yurt, park your RV, or sleep in a rustic cabin.

Some of Tara’s favorite off-the-beaten-path places for camping—available to book on HipCamp.com—include Tanglebloom Farm in Brookline and Mountain Home Tent Sites in Tunbridge.

When it comes to hiking, Schatz often brings along one of her dogs to Prospect Rock in Manchester.

“We hike with a senior dog, so we really like trails that are about six or seven miles and aren’t super technical,” she says. “We’re based in southern Vermont, so I guess around here, we really like to hike up to Prospect Rock in Manchester. It’s a nice steady climb, but it’s just three miles round-trip, there are some waterfalls, and then there’s just such a fabulous view of Manchester.”

Other places she suggests to visit this summer include Harriman Reservoir in Wilmington, Buttermilk Falls in Ludlow, the Stowe Auto Toll Road, and Mount Mansfield.

Happy Vermont Podcast: An Interview with Tara Schatz of Back Road Ramblers

In this episode of Happy Vermont, Schatz talks about her favorite Vermont summer hiking and camping spots, swimming holes and waterfalls, towns to visit, and more.

You can find this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Stitcher.

You can learn more about Schatz’s travels at backroadramblers.com.

As always, thanks for listening. Please email ideas, comments, or feedback to [email protected].

-Photos courtesy of Tara Schatz. Main image of Harriman Reservoir in Wilmington. 

Special thanks to Pluck for podcast editing and post-production.