Recreation

Recreation. Southshire Region including Pownal, North Bennington, Woodford, and Shaftsbury. , Recreation for All Seasons , Bennington is located at the southern end of the Valley of Vermont and is drained by the Walloomsac River, a tributary of the Hoosic that flows into the Hudson. The Green Mountains rise to the east and the Taconics to the west, with lakes and streams in between. Opportunities for four-season recreation abound., Skiing and Snowshoeing , For downhill, Stratton, Bromley, and Mt. Snow are an easy drive away, and Woodford's Prospect Mountain, only seven miles east of Bennington, offers more than 30 kilometers of groomed trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. The Mile Around Woods trails in North Bennington are also open for cross-country and "skate-"skiiers. Wild Wings Ski Touring Center in Peru also offers cross-country experiences within a short drive., Golf , The Mount Anthony Country Club, located on gently sloping hillsides just below the Bennington Monument, offers 18 scenic holes for visitors as well as members. Further north in Manchester, the Equinox Golf Club is also open to the public.
, Swimming, Paddling, and Kayaking , In addition to the state parks, North Bennington's Lake Paran has a well-maintained public swimming area, and there's a boat launch across the lake for motorized craft. Bennington County lakes harbor some rivers, the Hoosic, the Walloomsac, the Battenkill, and the Deerfield. In the 18th and 19th centuries, they supplied power for industry; today, canoeists, kayakers, and tubers share them too., Municipal Facilities , The town boasts several active Recreation Centers and a myriad of park areas, from a veterans park to active playgrounds, including a 3-acre Willow Park, with open space and playing fields, in the Northshire town, and a Splash Pad is located near the Four Corners intersection in the center of town., Fishing and Hunting , The Battenkill is a world-famous trout stream, and the Orvis facility, which trains fly-fishers, maintains a store and fly-fishing center in Manchester. The Green Mountain National Forest in Bennington hosts large, local streams and small brook streams. Deer season is a ritual for many local residents, and the local shops are of state hunters too., Camping , Bennington is close to several state parks. Finest relies on the east off Route 9, Woodford State Park offers campsites, lean-tos, a playground and other amenities next to a pristine lake with a beach, ideal for swimming. Twenty miles to the north off Route 7A, Shaftsbury State Park features Lake Shaftsbury that provides an idyllic setting for camping, swimming, picnicking, and boating., Walks and Hikes , There are rolling hills of features: Old Bennington is a favorite walk on the wild side, or Vermont's Long Trail. The Long Trail was the precursor of the Appalachian Trail, and the two trails run standard path along 100 southern summits of the Green Mountain National Forest, the LT/AT crosses Route 9 five miles east of Bennington. Bennington is also designated an Appalachian Trail Community in 2021. A network of trails also weaves through the protected slope of Mt. Anthony, visible from the town. In addition, an open network of easy walks is found around the 152-acre Park-McCullough House in North Bennington, the Mile Around Woods behind the historic McCullough Mansion and trails access to the Walloomsac along the northeast edge of Lake Paran., Snowmobiles and ATVs , The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) and the Vermont ATV Sportsman's Association (VASA) maintain networks that cross Bennington County using many of the region's public territories., Cycling and Mountain Biking , Bennington has plenty of choice paved roads for cycling, as well as virtual roads and local trails for the more adventurous. The annual Ridge Trail ride path options to general parts of town. The Shortway at Avon Trails System (BATS) on Mount Anthony has miles of technical biking trails.