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.
North Branch Cascades Trail
Worcester, Elmore, Vermont
North Branch of the Winooski
Open every season of the year, this is a magical, mossy forest with a 1-mile flat trail along the cascading river, ADA outhouses and picnic tables, and a dozen stone stairways down to the river.
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Special considerations: Due to significant flooding during the June 23rd 2024 storm, the northern section of the trail and the northern parking lot are both closed.
- Public access: Yes
- Activities: swimming, hiking, birding, fishing, photography
- Caretaker: Vermont River Conservancy
North Branch Cascades Trail
When volunteers got together to launch Vermont River Conservancy in 1995, this place was on their minds. The area’s older forest, mossy riverbed, cascading pools, and location just north of Vermont’s capital city, all added up to a clear place for riverside protection. In 2018, this dream was realized. When E.B. Hyde and Deer Lake timber companies were ready to sell 6,000 acres of its land, Vermont River Conservancy was ready to step up to make sure this forested slice along the North Branch of the Winooski would be protected from timber harvest and open for quiet recreation. Vermont Land Trust bought the E.B. Hyde timber lands, then gave these 78 acres to Vermont River Conservancy.
The North Branch Cascades is a remarkable 1-mile stretch along the North Branch of the Winooski River. It has seven stunning waterfalls and numerous deep holes for swimming. A 1-mile nature trail along the river, all of which is now wheelchair accessible, gives people of all abilities the chance to connect with the river. Multiple stone stairways wind down the banks to the river, giving visitors the chance to explore the many cascades. The site offers a unique nature experience in a verdant, moist, and mature hardwood-hemlock-spruce forest along the cold, mountain waters of the North Branch of the Winooski, and is a great place for bird watching, nature study, hiking, fishing, swimming, and picnicking.
This site is truly special for natural history enthusiasts. Abundant Canada Yew and large-diameter Hemlock and Red Spruce along portions of the trail suggest much of the riparian forest is mature and has had little human disturbance for a while, and it certainly feels that way!
There are currently two access points along Route 12. One is at the south end and one in the middle. The northern parking area is currently closed as a result of significant flooding on June 23rd, 2024. There is a privy adjacent to the south parking area. The privy near the north parking area is currently inaccessible.
Flooding on June 23rd, 2024 had a large impact on North Branch Cascades. Flooding over the road damaged our northern parking lot, the bridge was undermined, and large amounts of rocks were washed down the trail. This has sadly led to the closure of the northern end of the trail, and we are working hard to reopen the trail fully. Thank you for your support of this special place.
Download our trail map and brochure here.
Explore the Spanish-language video featuring this site here.
Conservation Details
- River: North Branch of the Winooski
- Acreage: 78.00
- River frontage (ft): 5,000
Funding Partners
This project made possible thanks to the support and partnership of:
- Timber & Stone, LLC
- Outdoor Gear Exchange
- Dunkiel Saunders Elliott Raubvogel & Hand
- Northwoods Stewardship Center
- Vermont River Conservancy Board
- Hermit Woods Trail Builders, LLC
- AARP of Vermont
- Trust for Public Land
- Vermont Land Trust
- North Branch Nature Center
- Vermont Housing & Conservation Board
- Department of Environmental Conservation Ecosystems Restoration Grant
- Vermont Fish & Wildlife Watershed Grant
- Vermont Forest Parks and Recreation Recreation Trails Program
- Canute Dalmasse Legacy Fund
- Carl Taylor
- Swimming Hole Fund
- Women’s Giving Circle of Central Vermont
Directions
From the North (Lake Elmore): Drive 8-miles south on Route 12. The northern parking lot was significantly damaged by flooding during the storm on June 23rd, 2024. There are two other parking areas to the south, and the southernmost one is indicated by road signage.
From the South (Worcester): Drive Route 12 north for about 5 miles to the southernmost parking lot, indicated by road signage. There is a small pull of about a half mile north, and the largest lot, the northern one, another half mile north, is currently closed due to flood damage.
Note that there are two parking areas currently open. Capacity is currently reduced as a result of significant flooding that closed the northern parking area on June 23rd, 2024.
You can also download and print our trailmap & brochure to take with you on your visit.
