Local Wanders

The Champlain Valley and nearby Green Mountains offer students endless possibilities to explore the natural beauty of Vermont. If you’re thinking that you have to scale Mount Mansfield to get a glimpse of the state’s natural beauty, think again. The Middlebury area has plenty of sites of geologic and biological importance that can be accessed easily from your car. Whether you’re an urbanite who considers walking up stairs rather than taking the elevator exercise or a Vermonter who prefers to stay indoors, consider these less arduous options when you feel like connecting with nature.

Texas Falls Recreation Area

Located just five minutes east of the Snow Bowl on Route 125 East is Texas Falls Recreation Area, home to a series of stunning cascades on the Hancock Branch of the White River. The recreation area is pretty built up and features a gentle nature trail around the brook, an outlook area to observe the falls and a nearby picnic area ideal for weekend outings. Due to a series of injuries, swimming is prohibited in the cascades and pools at Texas Falls.

Though the falls themselves are not as impressive as Niagara, the sheer beauty of the surrounding area makes Texas Falls one of the most picturesque nature sites in the Green Mountains. A perpetual balmy mist wafts from the rushing emerald-tinted water. Viewing the falls never gets old because every viewpoint offers visitors a new scene. I recommend sitting on the rock outcroppings if you want a closer seat to view this spectacle put on by Mother Nature.

This summer will begin a reconstruction project to build a trail foot bridge that will connect the banks of the river and offer another lookout area for visitors directly above the river.

According to one man visiting the Falls, the river flooded so badly last year that the water surge tore down the previous bridge. Nevertheless, Texas Falls Recreation Area is a geologically stunning site that is perfect for those seeking an outdoorsy adventure without the added effort. Instead of a framepack, bring along a camera and lunch and enjoy an afternoon of leisure by the falls.

Swamp Wildlife Mananagement Area

The Cornwall Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is one part of a seven-swamp system that runs along Otter Creek. Covering 1,566 acres, this site is often cited as the most biologically diverse swamp in New England. The area is home to more than 43 bird species, unique marshland plants like the swamp fly-honeysuckle, and a plethora of mammals such as otters and muskrats. There is a small fishing access area and a parking lot located on Swamp Road, 15 minutes south of Middlebury off of Route 30.

I would recommend this site to those feeling a bit more adventurous due to the limited amenities offered at the Wildlife Management Area and the unpredictable conditions of this fragile ecosystem. When I visited the swamp, water flooded the only accessible road, which made it impossible to pass. The water was so high at one point that visitors were actually kayaking on top of the pavement! Nevertheless, it is certainly an interesting spot to check out if you’re secretly an avid ornithologist or just interested in the diverse landscape of the Champlain Valley. If spending the day identifying bird species or kayaking through the marshlands does not sound like your cup of tea, a drive down Swamp Road could still be quite amusing, even if it means turning around once the road turns into a swamp itself!