Hyde Park: Culture, Reservoir and Trails

Explore Hyde Park through several specific interests: local history and performing arts at the Hyde Park Opera House, Green River Reservoir, and trails for outdoor activities. If you’re looking for a hotel in Hyde Park, it helps to first narrow down the purpose of your trip. A cultural event, time by the water, mountain biking, and a winter ski tour involve different planning considerations. This can help you coordinate your travel dates with the activities you have in mind.

Cultural History and Performing Arts

The Hyde Park Opera House was built in 1912, after a devastating fire destroyed most of the town in 1910. This sequence of events places the building within the town’s early 20th-century history. Since 1952, the venue has been home to the Lamoille County Players. The group uses the historic building for its own productions and other performing arts events. Productions and performance dates vary by season. If a performance is central to your trip, check the schedule against your preferred dates.

Green River Reservoir and Its Rules

Green River Reservoir, in Green River Reservoir State Park, is Vermont’s largest non-motorized lake. Its shoreline stretches for 19 miles and is largely undeveloped. The park has 27 remote tent sites accessible by boat. If you plan to camp at these sites, factor boat access into your plans.

The designation “non-motorized lake” does not mean that electric motorboats are completely prohibited: boats with electric motors that travel no faster than 5 mph, as well as human-powered watercraft, are permitted. Check the current boating rules before your trip.

Mountain Biking, Rail Trail and Winter Sports

The trailhead for the Cricket Hill Mountain Biking Trails is on Cricket Hill Road, behind Lamoille Union High School. There is a small gravel parking lot there with space for 8 to 10 cars. If mountain biking is one of the reasons for your trip, this precise location gives you a useful reference point for planning your arrival.

A short walk along the Depot Street sidewalk leads to the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Trail conditions and seasonal access may vary; check them before your visit. For planning purposes, these are two different access options: a gravel parking lot at the start of the mountain biking trails, and a short walk to the Rail Trail.

The Catamount Trail adds backcountry skiing to the range of outdoor activities. It is 300 miles long and runs through Vermont’s winter landscapes from Massachusetts to Québec. Hyde Park is one of the Vermont towns associated with the trail. The 300-mile figure refers to the Catamount Trail as a whole; Hyde Park is one of the Vermont towns associated with it. When choosing an outdoor activity, you can consider backcountry skiing on the Catamount Trail or mountain biking on the Cricket Hill Trails.

Discover more destinations: Eden, Stowe.

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