DO NOT SWIM! Vermont waters are currently unsafe.
Due to significant rain and flooding in most of Vermont on July 10th, with rains continuing on July 11th, currents are very strong. Also, most rivers are filled with debris, effluent, chemicals, fertilizers, etc. and are unsafe for swimming.
Maidstone Bends Natural Area
Brunswick, Vermont
Upper Connecticut River
Two and a half meandering miles of the upper Connecticut River wind through a patchwork of cornfields, hayfields, and wetlands. That land floods regularly, a natural process that deposits sediments and slows down floodwaters, protecting water quality and reducing flood impacts for rural Brunswick and communities downstream.
- Public access: Yes
- Activities: Walking, bird-watching, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing, swimming, hunting
- Caretaker: The Nature Conservancy
Maidstone Bends Natural Area
At Maidstone Bends Natural Area in Brunswick, two and a half meandering miles of the upper Connecticut River wind through a patchwork of cornfields, hayfields, and wetlands. That land floods regularly, a natural process that deposits sediments and slows down floodwaters, protecting water quality and reducing flood impacts for rural Brunswick and communities downstream.
Vermont River Conservancy and Vermont Housing and Conservation Board co-hold the easement protecting this site, which has been owned by The Nature Conservancy since 2023. Our three organizations are working together to protect the river and its floodplain forever, providing opportunities for active and passive restoration, agricultural production, and enjoyment of the site’s scenic beauty.
Year by year, the band of tall silver maples that arch over the water from the banks will grow into a wider floodplain forest spanning 104 acres; brooks and 17 acres of wetlands throughout the protected area will gradually be restored. As the forests and wetlands of the Maidstone Bends Natural Area return to their natural grandeur, this important Brunswick landmark will enhance flood resilience, water quality, and wildlife habitat and connectivity across the Vermont-New Hampshire line.
Public access is welcome, and access improvements are planned for summer 2024. Parking is not yet available. Please be respectful of agricultural activities during your visit. Visit The Nature Conservancy’s website to learn more about the Maidstone Bends Natural Area, including options to access it from the New Hampshire side of the river.
Conservation Details
- River: Upper Connecticut River
- Acreage: 182.4
- River frontage (ft): 13,200
Funding Partners
This project made possible thanks to the support and partnership of:
Directions
From the west, follow US-2 E to St. Johnsbury where it becomes Western Ave/Western Ave Fork, which turns slightly left and becomes Main Street. Continue 0.1 mile and turn right onto Eastern Avenue. Continue 0.3 miles and turn left onto Railroad Street, then continue 0.1 mile and turn right onto US-2 E/Portland St. Continue to follow US-2 E for 26.8 miles. Turn left onto VT-102 and continue for 16.2 miles. The area can be accessed via a gravel farm road that is on the right-hand side of VT-102 after passing house numbers 6731 and 6581 (with a driveway marked Plumley Drive) on the right. Follow the farm road down to the abandoned railroad, now a farm road, which follows the western property boundary.
From the south, take I-91 N to I-93 S (exit 19). Continue 3.5 miles. Take exit 1 toward VT-18 and continue 0.2 miles, then turn left onto VT-18 and travel 0.6 miles. Turn right onto US-2 E and continue 23.9 miles. Turn left onto VT-102 and continue for 16.2 miles. The easement area can be accessed via a gravel farm road that is on the right-hand side of VT-102 after passing house numbers 6731 and 6581 (with a driveway marked Plumley Drive) on the right. Follow the farm road down to the abandoned railroad, now a farm road, which follows the western property boundary.
