Hiking/walking in and around

Groton State Forest

Groton State Forest has many miles of marked trails plus numerous logging roads that are excellent for hiking and walking. 

Trails

The trails are described in the following material:

•        Groton State Forest Map  -  shows the primary hiking trails.  This map is available at the Nature Center and at State Park entrances. 

•        Trail Descriptions - a brief description of the primary hikes and trails.

In the following list,  trails are grouped by Trail Head (starting point).  The numbers shown reflect the number of the identification within the Trail Description.

New Discovery State Park Trail Head

Fee: day use fee during park season for those not staying at state park campgrounds

Parking: yes.  Off season parking in the Osmore Pond lot or the Northern Parking Area

            • Big Deer Mountain Trail from New Discovery - #1 

            • New Discovery Campground to Osmore Pond Trail  - #2

            • Osmore Pond Hiking Loop - #3

            • Little Deer Trail accessed from south end of Osmore Pond Hiking Loop - #4

            • Big Deer Trail accessed from Osmore Pond Loop - #1

            • Hosmer Brook Trail accessed from the junction of Osmore Pond Hiking Loop Big Deer Mountain Trail - #6

            • Owl’s Head Trail - #8

Northern Parking Lot (between New Discovery State Park and the Groton Maintenance Shop driveway)

Fee: none

Parking: yes - year round.

                        • Telephone Line Multi-Use Trail - under construction

            • Connector Trail to Montpelier-Wells River Rail Trail - #12 (This is a VAST snowmobile trail in the winter.)

The Nature Center Trail Head

Fee: none

Parking: yes - year round

            • Peacham Bog Loop Trail - #10

            • The Groton Nature Trail 

            • Little Loop Trail - #13

            • Hosmer Brook Trail from Groton Nature Trail - #6

            • Coldwater Brook Trail - #7

      • Telephone Line Multi-Use Trail - hiking access only       

Owl’s Head Overlook Parking Area (open May - September)

Fee: none

Parking: yes

            • Owl’s Head Trail Parking Area to Summit (0.2 miles)

            • Owl’s Head Trail Parking Area to New Discovery State Park - #8

Kettle Pond Day Use Parking Area

Fee: none

Parking: yes - year round

            • Kettle Pond Trail - #9

            • Montpelier-Wells River Rail Trail - short distance on VT 232 to trail

Silver Ledge Parking Area (off of unsigned Beaver Brook Road) (not accessible during winter and spring months)

Fee: none

Parking: yes

            • Silver Ledge Trail - #11

Ricker Pond Parking Area (south end of Ricker Pond) (not accessible during winter and spring months)

Fee: none

Parking: yes

            • Montpelier-Wells River Rail Trail

Devils Hill Road (not accessible during winter and spring months)

Fee: none

Parking: no

            • Devils Hill Loop Trail 

Seyon Lodge State Park

Fee: day use fee

Parking: yes - year round

            • Noyes Pond Trail (0.75 miles)

            • Groomed Cross-Country Ski Trails (5.5 miles)

            • Snowshoe Trail (1.0 miles)

Spruce Mountain Trail Head (Town of Plainfield on Spruce Mountain Road)

Fee: none

Parking: yes

            • Spruce Mountain Trail (2.2 miles)

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