Clarendon Gorge in Vermont is a must visit place to stop in any season. The suspension bridge is awesome. The gorge is beautiful. It’s also super easy to find located in western Vermont between Rutland and Wallingford.
Directions to Clarendon Gorge-
We got lost. Don’t follow the directions on Google. When we followed this set of directions, it took us under a historic covered bridge, passed the Rutland airport, down a dirt road, and eventually to a dead end with a bunch of “no trespassing” signs. However, Alltrails, had us go back out onto Route 103 and there is a fairly big parking lot on the right. Pull in there.
FUNFACT:
The Kingsley Covered Bridge (also called the Mill River Bridge) is a wooden covered bridge carrying East Street across the Mill River in Clarendon, Vermont. Built about 1870, it is the town’s only surviving 19th-century covered bridge. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsley_Covered_Bridge
Time to Start Walking toward Destination …
When you gather all of your belongings, make sure you find the correct trail. There is an unmarked trail that looks as if people use it. But, you really don’t want to go rambling on random trails in the middle of Vermont. The trail is in the left corner of the parking lot if you turn and face the woods. You can’t miss the Appalachian Trail sign or the giant kiosk with the map.
The trail is narrow at first. Be aware because some people might still be nervous about social distancing. But, eventually, it opens up to the suspension bridge. Walk across the suspension bridge and follow a lovely trail along the river. Be mindful of the people camping along the river. We got off the main trail and went straight to the river. Supposedly if you follow the main trail for just under a mile, there is a nice view. However, staying in the gorge area is enough for a memorable trip. You don’t always need to summit a mountain.
When you are done exploring, follow your steps back to the car.
The Suspension Bridge over Gorge-
I hate heights. But supposedly the best way to conquer a fear is to face it head-on. So off I walked. It’s a suspension bridge located on the Appalachian Trail and only a short distance from the trailhead. So it sways and bounces from fairly high up in the air. Be courteous for anyone else on the bridge and don’t act as if it is a trampoline. I actually thought the bridge was going to be a lot bigger. In fact, it’s only thirty feet across. All in all, it’s still really cool and makes you feel like some awesome explorer on an expedition.
The Clarendon Gorge-
The water is fairly low as of August 2020. However, we still found some nice swimming pools. For little ones, it’s a fun place to skip along the rocks. Someone also made rocks in a circle to make a small pool for little swimmers.
There are many places to just dip the toes too and splash. If you venture into the rougher or deeper water, make sure you are a strong swimmer and bring life vests for smaller ones. Swim at your own risk. There are also some cool rocks to climb up that have been carved by hundreds of years of history. Again, please explore at your own risk. The water was also surprisingly warm when we went. Truly a beautiful spot to stop and relax. Perhaps even have a family picnic. Just remember to carry out what you carry in.
Final Thoughts about Clarendon Gorge in Vermont-
There are many awesome places to explore in this area of Vermont. Go visit our other blog post and learn of some other awesome places to venture in this area. As far as Clarendon Gorge in Vermont, we wish we would have known of the places earlier. It’s truly a great place to explore.
