OTHER RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES

The open spaces in Barre Town allow residents to enjoy many individual outdoor pastimes. Trout fishing in the cold and wild Stevens and Jail branches of the Winooski River is popular. Hunters harvest turkey and deer every fall, and occasionally a bear is taken in Town.

Vermont has an extensive snowmobile trail system coordinated by the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers. Two Barre Town clubs are affiliated with V.A.S.T. laying out and maintaining snowmobile trails throughout the Town. Cross-country skiers may use the trails as well as other open spaces.

Horses are very common in Barre Town. Residents use the back roads and have their own private off-road trails. Of course, many of these open spaces can be used for just walking and enjoying nature.

During the summer, local residents cool off at the Barre City swimming pool. Barre Town pays a share of the pool operating expenses so Town residents are charged the same low admission fees as City residents. The pool is usually open from mid-June (the first full week after the school year ends) to Labor Day. Daily pool hours are 12:30-6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 12:00-5:00 p.m. weekends.

When you think of Vermont you think of outdoor activities. Barre Town is right in the middle of all the fun! The Sugarbush and Mad River Glen ski resorts are in the same county as Barre Town, and Killington and Stowe mountain ski resorts are only a 1-hour drive from Barre Town. There are so many hiking trails in Vermont it takes an hour to thumb through all of the Vermont hiking books in a bookstore. There are easy walks around lakes and up small hills; there are easy-to-moderate day hikes into the mountains; and there are difficult all-day hikes up our larger mountains. Then there is the Long Trail, a primitive hiking trail along the spine of the Green Mountains extending from Canada to Massachusetts. Access to the Long Trail can be reached from Barre Town in less than an hour's drive. Many other hiking trails are all around us.

Golfers do not need to travel far to enjoy their sport. The 18 hole golf course at the County Club of Barre is rated in the top five courses in Vermont. Non-members can play at the semi-private Country Club of Barre. The Montpelier Elks Club operates a 9 hole course. The semi-private Northfield Country Club also offers a 9 hole course just 20 minutes driving time from Barre. Golf is flourishing in Vermont. For more information about courses and Vermont golfing in general visit the Vermont Golf Association at vtgaorg.

Water sports are popular in Vermont. Lake Champlain is large enough to support all types of water craft. There are numerous public water bodies in the state where residents and visitors can canoe, kayak, sail, water ski, and fish. The Connecticut River forms Vermont's eastern border and is less than an hour's drive from Barre Town. The river is an outstanding resource for water sports enthusiasts.

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation operates campgrounds all over Vermont. For information, visit its website at www.state.vt.us/anr/fpr .