Vermont River Conservancy has recently completed the conservation of a a 15 acre floodplain forest in Westminster, VT, providing new opportunities for non-commercial, non-motorized public recreational use along the Connecticut River Paddlers’ Trail. This is a special property located on a scenic stretch of the Connecticut River. In particular, it is one of the few remaining parcels of intact floodplain forest in the town of Westminster. In addition to 12.6 acres of forest, the parcel includes nearly 3 acres of productive agricultural land leased to an organic farmer. The property is located 16 miles south of the SCA campsite, an ideal length for a day’s paddle. Well away from roads, it is a scenic, secluded location for a campsite. The parcel, which includes 3,300 feet of river frontage, is now protected from development, timber harvest, and river bank alteration. In the coming month, a campsite will be developed for paddlers.
Volunteers are invited to help construct a campsite during workdays scheduled for October 25th. A site adopter is also needed to assist with campsite monitoring and maintenance tasks. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Noah Pollock at .
This project was made possible through financial assistance from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, the Davis Foundation, the National Park Service, and local donors. Many thanks for their generous support.
Directions: Public access to this parcel is permitted from the river only. A campsite will be developed in October, 2014, near the mouth of Cobb Brook. To access the property, launch from Bellows Falls or North Walpole. It is a 2.7 mile paddle downstream from these sites. Alternatively, one can paddle 0.5 miles upstream from the an access in Walpole. Look for a beach near the mouth of a tributary. The landing will also marked with campsite signage.
