Land Conservation Archives - Happy Vermont

Land Conservation

  • Four Scenic Vermont Rail Trails for Biking
    Four Scenic Vermont Rail Trails for Biking

    Vermont rail trails are the perfect antidote to cabin fever and quarantine. Since the 1960s, thousands of miles of old abandoned railroad lines have been converted into public recreational trails across the United States. And in this summer of travel restrictions, stay-at-home orders, and canceled summer camps,...

  • What Makes Vermont the Greenest State in the U.S.
    What Makes Vermont the Greenest State in the U.S.

    Recycling, composting, buying local, and a genuine love for the land are values and practices that are a way of life in Vermont. Vermont consistently ranks as one of the greenest states in the country. Of course, we’re not exactly perfect. The state needs to...

  • In Groton State Forest, Seyon Lodge Offers Comforts of Home
    In Groton State Forest, Seyon Lodge Offers Comforts of Home

    In the remote Seyon Lodge in Groton, innkeepers Chris Brader and Tiff Soukup spend their days cooking meals, taking reservations, managing yardwork, grooming trails, and keeping guests comfortable and happy. But this is no ordinary lodge. Seyon Lodge is the only state-owned lodging destination of its...

  • A Plan to Save Mount Ascutney Ski Area
    A Plan to Save Mount Ascutney Ski Area

    Ascutney Mountain may not be a lost ski area for long. The West Windsor ski area, which went bankrupt and closed in 2010, could be turned into a community recreation area offering backcountry skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The town just needs to raise...

  • Unplugging at Amity Pond Natural Area in Pomfret
    Unplugging at Amity Pond Natural Area in Pomfret

    On our way to my sister’s house last week, we took a detour through the back roads of Windsor County. I was searching for Amity Pond Natural Area State Park in Pomfret, which was donated to the state 45 years ago. As my husband drove,...

  • The Legacy of Pine Top Ski Area Lives on in Vernon
    The Legacy of Pine Top Ski Area Lives on in Vernon

    On Huckle Hill in Vernon sits a lost Vermont ski area that closed 50 years ago. Pine Top ski area operated between the 1940s and 1960s with three rope tows and four trails. With a vertical drop of 400 feet, Pine Top offered  terrain for novice,...

  • A Dorset Hollow Ski Area That Never Came to Be
    A Dorset Hollow Ski Area That Never Came to Be

    It’s difficult to imagine Dorset Hollow as anything other than a six-mile, scenic road with beautiful mountain views, forestland, open fields, and gorgeous homes. But nearly 50 years ago, the Dorset Associates investment group planned a massive, four-season resort in Dorset Hollow, complete with an 18-hole...

  • A 100-Mile View from Hogback Mountain
    A 100-Mile View from Hogback Mountain

    The famous "100-Mile View" from Hogback Mountain in Marlboro is more than just a pretty place. When you stop at this popular scenic overlook on Route 9 (the Molly Stark Byway), you'll find gorgeous views of forested land and mountains in Vermont, Massachusetts and New...

  • Town Pride in Tinmouth
    Town Pride in Tinmouth

    The road to Tinmouth is hilly with a few twists and turns.  Along the way there are some old barns, thick wooded forests and wide-open fields. When you finally descend into town, it's easy to feel as if you've discovered a beautiful paradise that's tucked...

  • A Journey in the Path of Life Garden
    A Journey in the Path of Life Garden

    The Path of Life Garden in Windsor is unlike any other place I've seen in Vermont. The garden, created in 1997 by Norwich therapist Terry McDonnell,  focuses on the circle of life and the decisions we make.  The 14-acre meadow, set along the Connecticut River,...