A Quick Stroll on The Ledges Overlook Trail

A steep but short climb to its rocky ledge outlook that affords a panoramic vista of the West River Valley, the Ledges Overlook Trail at the Townshend Reservoir in Vermont makes for an immersive fall hike. This time of year, with limited daylight hours, it's important to plan a route that's not overly long. Keeping that in mind, on a gorgeous mid-October day with the temperature in the mid-60s and a slight breeze, my longtime friend Curtis Carroll and I headed out to the 1.7-mile loop trail. From Brattleboro, we drove northwest on Route 30 to the junction of Routes 30/35 in Townshend. Continuing two miles farther on Route 30 north, we turned left onto a one-lane bridge that crossed the flood control dam and drove to a small picnic area. The gate was closed so we parked off the road. After taking a moment to enjoy the fluttering motion of quaking aspen leaves and the wide view across the reservoir of the rounded hills clad in yellow, gold, rust and bronze, we walked downhill on the paved recreation access road. Just beyond the reservoir beach, two large parking lots and a picnic area, about a half-mile walk, we came to a sign opposite a large pavilion (Davis Shelter) that marked the yellow-blazed trail, which is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We immediately moved uphill on a leaf-matted surface strewn with acorns. In no time, we crossed an overgrown road and then came to an old stone wall. Bearing left, we continued the steady and steep climb through a mixed forest of yellow birch, oak, hemlock and maple. Some minutes after starting, the trail leveled briefly before moving steeply uphill once more. Stopping to take a brief rest, through the openings in the trees we could see the river and reservoir far below. Back on the trail, a 15-minute climb brought us to a clearing and open ledges on the right. Stepping down, we took in the breathtaking panorama of the reservoir, the dam and Bald Mountain (1,745 feet). We noticed the amorphous shape of the reservoir with its "islands" of sand, a result of silt deposits from Hurricane Irene in 2011. The silt had also reduced the water level of the lake. After taking in the view, we set off on the return loop. The trail climbed a knoll, then continued through a grassy area with shaggy-barked hop hornbeam (ironwood) before making a steep descent (about a half-hour walk) back to the road. We turned right and completed a 15-minute walk on the paved road back to the car. The Overlook Ledges Trail, a 2.7-mile round trip, including the section on the paved road, takes between an hour and a half to two hours to complete. Leashed dogs are welcome.