the robert frost trail

After seven years of land acquisition and planning, The Robert Frost Trail in North Bennington and Shaftsbury, Vermont opened end-to-end in October 2011.

With the completion of a boardwalk along the northeast shoreline of Lake Paran and a footbridge over Paran Creek, the trail now extends 2.1 miles from Lake Paran to the Robert Frost Stone House Museum. Almost half of the trail passes through woods on the farm once owned by Robert Frost, and where he wrote " Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening."

Above, a member of the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps clears a portion of the trail on the former Frost farm.

The trail includes moderate grades but most of the route is gently sloped or flat. There are sweeping views south to Mount Greylock in the Berkshires, and east to the Green Mountains. The trail also threads through deep woods along cliffs above Paran Creek, and passes through a pine stand planted by Robert Frost. The footbridge -- the mid-point of the trail -- provides benches for resting and affords lovely views up and down Paran Creek. The western portion of the trail features a vantage point for looking over Lake Paran to the Village of North Bennington -- and beyond to The Mile-Around Woods.

New side trails are planned to open in the summer of 2012. These will provide an alternative route from the bridge over Paran Creek to the boardwalk along the lake.

The principal access to the trail is at the swimming area on the north shore of Lake Paran. The trail starts there at the point where the sidewalk to the beach reverses direction. The trail can also be accessed from its east end at the Robert Frost Stone House Museum on Route 7A in Shaftsbury. The trail there starts where the farm lane bordered by stone walls enters the woods. The lane adjoins the parking area. The trail is marked throughout its length by blue painted blazes.

The Fund for North Bennington, Inc. gratefully acknowledges the many generous gifts, grants and donations along with the volunteered assistance that made this project possible.