Local trails offer outdoor fun

Author: Tamara Hilmes

Who says 'Get Outside Week' comes only once a year? In honor of spring's arrival, The

Campus offers you a guide to popular hiking spots around Middlebury to get you out of the classroom and into some fresh air.

1. Cooley Glen/Emily Proctor

Located in South Lincoln in the Green Mountatin National Forest, both of these trails are roughly 8.5 miles long and take about six hours to hike the entire trail. Both loops are quite strenuous, but should you stray from the main paths, there are some smaller trails in the area that offer beautiful views of trickling streams and gorgeous Vermont countryside.

2. Silver Lake

Located in the Moosalamoo region of the state, this group of trails leading to Silver Lake range from .6 to 8.8 miles in length and can take anywhere from 45 minutes to five hours to hike. These trails are less strenuous than Cooley Glen and Emily Proctor and are easily accessible from East Middlebury by following Routes 7 and 125.

3. Spirit in Nature (SPIN)

This collection of 10 different trails puts a particular emphasis on meditation and relaxation. Located 70 acres behind the Robert Frost Trail, just up the road from Ripton, these trails offer a peaceful and calming exploration of the foothills of the Green Mountains. For more information, visit the SPIN Web site.

4. Robert Frost Trail

This 1.2 mile loop, much like the SPIN trails, provides a much easier and relaxing hike. Hikers who become easily bored with the great outdoors can entertain themselves by reading the Frost poems posted at various points along the path. This hike takes only 35-40 minutes - perfect for a break between classes.

5. Abbey Pond

This 4.1 mile round-trip trail leans toward the more moderate side of the hiking spectrum. The trail only takes around two hours to complete, and offers its hikers terrific views of assorted wildlife and all sorts of dribbling brooks and creeks. At the peak of the trail hikers are greeted by a picturesque pond that sits atop the ridge. From Middlebury, the trail can be reached with relative ease by traveling only a little over 4 miles down Route 7 and another 5 miles or so down Route 116.

6. Battell Trail

Located in Lincoln, about 14 miles NE of Middlebury, this trail on Mount Abraham takes about 3-4 hours to complete the 5.2 mile trail. It is known for offering incredibly scenic panoramic views and is a rather moderate hike, perfect for a lazy weekend afternoon.

While we have listed a handful of trails in the Middlebury area that provide scenic views of the Green Mountain State as well as great opportunities for exercise, there are many, many more trails located around the state to explore, and we encourage all to use this guide as merely a jumping-off point when planning your Vermont adventures.