Cumulative Official Town Count | Unofficial Town Count |
196 | 46 |
John Muir penned the the title of this post thinking of Yosemite but I couldn't stop thinking about it while visiting the towns of BOLTON, DUXBURY, MIDDLESEX, MORETOWN, FAYSTON, & HUNTINGTON, the towns for this VT 251 exploration. They all have less than 2,000 residents and across them include 2 ski areas, a covered bridge, some of the state's most popular hiking trails/ peaks, as well as beautiful vistas everywhere you look. Come along and see for yourself...
BOLTON
Bolton, VT is a small town of roughly 1,300 that is best known for its ski/snowboard/mountain bike resort, as well as its natural swimming hole called the Bolton Potholes. Located just a half-hour from Burlington, the Bolton Valley Resort has Vermont's highest elevation base area which accounts for its typically good snow in the winter, and views year-round. It happens to be a favorite ski destination for us as the crowds are far thinner and the lift tickets far cheaper than the nearby swankier (and higher peak elevation) resort of Stowe. I rode up the chairlift on the last day of rides until ski season starts, which allowed for amazing views (and great mountain biking for those interested). On my third attempt, I was FINALLY able to find the Bolton Pot Holes, which were very cool and made clear why they are so popular in summer. Parking for them is quite the challenge, but if you are there on a weekend, you can likely park and walk up from behind the elementary school without getting in trouble (but don't quote me on that). That said, people die there every year, so pay heed -- just lounging on the rocks was good enough for me.
DUXBURY (& South Duxbury)
Duxbury, VT is a small town (pop. 1,413 in 2020) without a town center although in South Duxbury (an unofficial town), one can find a (decommissioned) church, cemetery, and school. While there isn't much to see in Duxbury, they do have one claim to fame: it apparently is the only municipality in the United States with an elected position of dogcatcher.
MIDDLESEX
Middlesex, VT is a jewel of a small town. With a population of 1,779 in 2020, it has everything a town needs, as well as some food options which hit way above its size (er, weight). It is home to Red Hen Baking, an amazing bread/ pastry maker, and a wonderful place for coffee/ lunch. Should you find yourself in the area (just over a half-hour from Burlington), or driving on I-89 to/ from Burlington, I highly recommend a stop here (but check hours first).
MORETOWN
Moretown, VT is a town of 1,753 (in 2020) which is located on the Mad River. It has a small but cute downtown, complete with school, general store, town hall, and post office right on Main Street. The Mad River Valley is remarkably scenic, and Moretown proves that. Plus, it is home to the Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm, which offers amazing views and rides!
FAYSTON
Fayston, VT is purported to have the highest average elevation of any town in Vermont. It has no real town center (that I could find) and in fact, its town offices are located in Moretown (the next town over). The town gets a lot of traffic (predominantly on route 17) as it is a hub for outdoor recreation. Mad River Glen (MRG) ski area is located there, which is famous/infamous for its lack of snow-making and its single-rider chairlift. A real skier's mountain, its tagline is, "Mad River Glen: ski it if you can." Enough said. Additionally, the Appalachian Gap (aka the App Gap) is located just up from Mad River Glen, and offers a breathtaking vista at the top (where there is a pull-off and, on the day I was there, cider!). For hikers, there are Stark Mountain (MRG's mountain), Burnt Rock Mountain, and Mount Ellen (one of Vermont's 4,000' peaks, part of which is in Fayston), which offer plenty of challenge and views. Interestingly, it is the Long Trail, not the Appalachian Trail which crosses the Appalachian Gap (nobody seems to know why it was thus named). You can find a preserved schoolhouse (Schoolhouse Number 9) which was built in 1903 and used for 60 years, as well as the Battleground (covered) Bridge, which is named for an in-town feud (not an American revolutionary historical battle). Lastly, for those who care about history, Fayston was charted in 1788 (but not organized until 1805).
HUNTINGTON
Huntington, VT is the biggest of the towns in this post with a whopping population of 1,938 (in 2020). It is well-visited by hikers because of its access to Camels Hump, another of Vermont's 4,000' peaks. (Be warned, though, parking for the two trails is very limited!) Aside from that, it is home to the Green Mountain Audubon Nature Center and the Birds of Vermont Museum (where all the models are carved from wood -- no taxidermy to be found on display). The town has numerous farms and maple producers, as well as the amenities which make a town livable -- general store, post office, library/ Meeting House, and church. The town is exceptionally beautifully situated and it's hard to imagine any home not having an amazing view.
Stay tuned as I write up the final quarter of towns in VT.