Chittenden: Trails, Forests and History

Chittenden can be explored as a travel destination through its landscape, trails, and history. In the south-central part of the town lies Chittenden Reservoir, with an approximate surface area of 721 acres. Within the town boundary, the Green Mountain National Forest covers 31,411 acres. These two area figures describe different things: the approximate area of the reservoir and the portion of the National Forest within Chittenden. They offer two distinct points of reference if you are interested in the town’s landscape.

Forests and Trails in Chittenden

The Long Trail crosses Mt. Carmel State Forest in Chittenden from north to south and is used there for hiking and camping. It is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States. Mt. Carmel State Forest lies within the Town of Chittenden and can be reached via the New Boston Trail, a side trail of the Long Trail. The trail connections can be distinguished: the Long Trail runs through the forest; the New Boston Trail is the named side trail that provides access to the State Forest. For a trip focused on hiking, a long-distance trail and a specific access trail to the forest meet here.

Chittenden Brook Camping Area is in the northeast of the town and is currently used for camping, hiking, and fishing. Its uses therefore include fishing as well as camping and hiking. Along with the Long Trail, the town description offers two distinct outdoor options: a long-distance trail that runs through Mt. Carmel State Forest and a camping area with three named uses. If you plan your stay around activities, you can distinguish between these two places and their respective features.

Recreational Use of the Trails

Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are also among the recreational activities mentioned in Chittenden. Trails maintained by the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers run throughout Chittenden and are used for snowmobiling and other recreational activities where permitted. Trails maintained by the Catamount Cross Country Ski Association also run town-wide; they are used for cross-country skiing and other recreational activities where permitted. The two trail networks therefore represent different activities. When planning, it is important to keep the applicable permission requirements in mind rather than generalizing about what uses are allowed.

Historic Sites and Local History

The Holden Historic District is one of two historic districts designated by the State of Vermont in Chittenden. The Chittenden Historical Society organizes educational field trips and hikes that explore the town’s early history. These offer different ways to engage with local history: the designated historic district and activities that explicitly focus on Chittenden’s early history. You can therefore explore the historical focus of your trip both through a named district and through the field trips and hikes organized by the Historical Society.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower National Fish Hatchery lies entirely within the Town of Chittenden, in the west-central part of the town, and is a tourist attraction. Together with the reservoir in the south-central area, these locations provide two different directional points of reference within Chittenden. The hatchery adds another clearly named attraction to the themes of trails, forest, and local history.

If you are looking for a hotel in Chittenden, start with the focus of your stay: hiking on the Long Trail, camping, hiking, or fishing at Chittenden Brook Camping Area, permitted use of the trail networks, or local history. This distinction helps you understand Chittenden in terms of the activities and places that matter for your trip. You can then compare specific hotel offers based on their respective details.

Discover more destinations: Shrewsbury, Castleton, Mendon, Brandon, Killington, Danby, Rutland

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