After spending the morning hiking at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock, we were looking for another easy hike in this area of Vermont. We did a bit of research and found out that there was a state park in Quechee, not far from where we were, and we decided to check it out.
Quechee State Park features the Quechee Gorge, the deepest gorge in Vermont. It is a very popular place for tourists, and we realized this when we got there and found that the state park parking lot was completely full (luckily for us, a car left the lot as we were arriving, so we were able to find a spot).
From the visitor center, there is a trail (Quechee Gorge Trail) that we decided to follow to get a closer look at the famous gorge.
The Quechee Gorge was formed by glacial activity over 13,000 years ago. Over the centuries, the Ottauquechee River slowly carved out the rock, creating this beautiful canyon, with rock walls over 50 metres (165 feet) high in places.
One of the best views of the gorge is apparently from the bridge that spans it (which can be reached by following the road), but the bridge was under construction when we were there, so it was difficult to access. We therefore just followed the trail through the forest towards the gorge.
This trail is quite short (about 2 kilometres / 1.2 miles round trip) and descends in the forest for a few metres before starting to follow the gorge in a straight line. It offered us a few viewpoints of it, and we finally got to see this beautiful gorge!
We continued on our way to the end of the trail (which ends with a short loop near the river). At this point, the Ottauquechee River forms a small waterhole surrounded by rocky outcrops, which the trail provides access to.
To our surprise, we realized that several people had also chosen to swim in the river at this point. The current didn’t seem too strong, and on this hot summer day, the river looked quite inviting. We hadn’t brought our swimsuits with us, so we wondered if it was worth the effort to retrace our steps, get our swimsuits, and then hike the trail again to come back for a swim.
Finally, that’s exactly what we did. And swimming in the gorge was definitely a magical moment! Not only was the scenery spectacular, but it was also the perfect activity for a hot summer afternoon!
There is another trail in the state park, which goes under the bridge and up to the old dam on the Ottauquechee River and Dewey’s Mill Pond. At this location, the river and pond were used to power a woolen mill that was important to the local economy. The mill closed in the 1950s, but it is apparently still possible to see the ruins of the mill and dam at the entrance to the gorge. Unfortunately for us, construction work on the bridge prevented us from accessing this trail.
But with the swimming, it was still a successful visit! We ended this perfect day by going to eat a crepe at Skinny Pancake in Quechee. Vermont, you’ve been spoiling us!
Note that swimming in the river is not supervised, and therefore at your own risk. The river is deep in places, and the current is quite strong. Access to the state park is free. There is also a campground there.
I can see why this place is so popular. The scenery looks lovely. It’s too bad the bridge across the gorge was under construction, but hey, it meant you got to do a bit more hiking to get there. And going back to get your swimsuits sounds like it was worth it.
Yes, it was definitely worth it! This place was magical, it wasn’t a really complicated hike, but it was beautiful. We are really happy we stopped there!
How beautiful it is, Venessa!
Thank you Jyothi, this place was stunning and really fun to visit!