Outdoor Activities
For a comprehensive look at all the great outdoor activities in the St. Johnsbury region, be sure to visit the Northeast Kingdom Travel and Tourism web site.
For more activities in and around St. Johnsbury, please go to our Calendar of Events page.
There is always something for you and your family to do in and around St. Johnsbury. Because the weather changes from season to season, outdoor activities change from spring to summer to fall to winter.
Here is a peek of what you can you expect in every season:
Early spring is Vermont's own Maple Sugaring season, when the maple sap begins to flow and sugarmakers produce the golden liquid for which Vermont is famous. The St. Johnsbury area is home to many farmers who produce the highest quality maple syrup, and they welcome visitors to see how maple syrup is made. St. Johnsbury has often been called "the Maple Center of the World."
Summer in Vermont is a pleasure to behold. Warm sunny days and cool, comfortable evenings allow for never-ending possibilities. Summer is a time for hiking and biking, horseback riding and swimming. Watch for a country fair, farmers market, antique car rally or art show to appear around the next bend. Antique hunting, flea market shopping, casual or elegant dining, summer repertory theatre, and concerts under the stars are offered up for all to enjoy.
Glorious vistas with a backdrop sky of deep blue appear at every turn during the autumn foliage season. Harvest time festivals, farm stands and hayrides provide ample to do. What more enticement does one need to tour the roads around St. Johnsbury?
In the winter, you can visit four ski resorts within an hour’s drive of St. Johnsbury. Our “home mountain” is Burke Mountain, only a 20-minute drive from downtown St. Johnsbury. Now owned by the Ginn Company, Burke Mountain is adding more year-round activities to its challenging ski and snowboard trails, including plans for a new golf course and vacation home community.
If you’re starting to get in shape this summer, we have a great goal for your training -- “The Kingdom Challenge.” The Challenge consists of two road races in St. Johnsbury: a half-marathon and a 5K race. “Choose your Challenge,” says Alice Woods, one of the volunteers helping to organize the event. Adding to the fun, the races will be held on Halloween morning, October 31, with the half-marathon starting at 8:30 am and the 5K at 9:30 am.
The half-marathon (13 miles long) starts in Lyndonville, Vermont at the 
municipal building and ends in St. Johnsbury at the St. Johnsbury School on Western Avenue. The race is known as a “point-to-point” race, because it begins on one place and ends in another, rather than looping back to its starting point. The half-marathon course winds along beautiful rolling terrain, through four covered bridges, along scenic Vermont back roads. Race organizers call it “moderately challenging.”
The 5K race (five kilometers long, or 3.1 miles) takes place within St. Johnsbury, starting and ending at the St. Johnsbury S
chool. The course loops through residential streets in the “Four Seasons” neighborhood of St. Johnsbury. The course is most flat, with a few mild hills to add interest.
Awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers of each race, as well as the top finishers by age group. Last year’s half-marathon winners were Mark Hecox of Henniker, New Hampshire (1:28:03) and Heather Arsenault of Leominster, Massachusetts (1:34:01). All race proceeds benefit the Good Shepherd School in St. Johnsbury. Entry fees for students are especially low to encourage young people to participate in the race.
The organizers of The Kingdom Challenge are looking for more volunteers to help out on race day. You can get more information by calling 802-748-1514 or checking the race website, www.thekingdomchallenge.com. Get ready for The Kingdom Challenge!
The Kiwanis tennis courts in St. Johnsbury get plenty of use throughout the season, functioning as the home courts for St. Johnsbury Academy’s tennis teams and for the town youth tennis program in the summer. But from the first Monday evening in May to the last one in October, the courts host another group of highly competitive tennis players: local men of a certain age (over 40).
Dudley Bell, longtime tennis coach in the area, began organizing this particular group of tennis players in 2001. “We started with 8 players,” says Bell. “Now we have over 50 men playing.” Bell lives and breathes tennis and just about every other sport imaginable. As a faculty member since 1959 at Lyndon State College in nearby Lyndonville, Vermont, Bell started the college’s Physical Education major in 1968. He coached eight different sports during his tenure at the college, often coaching a sports team every fall, winter, and spring.
Bell retired from Lyndon State in 1996, but the word “retired” doesn’t describe his level of activity. “I participate in ten different sports when I’m in Florida during the winter,” says Bell. “Sometimes I play 5 sports a day.” This 77-year-old athlete competes in the Senior Olympics each year, and has won two bronze medals and a fourth place in the Nationals in badminton. He’s also qualified for ten track and field events, basketball, and volleyball at National Senior Olympics. This year, he’s playing racquetball.
Many people in our area know Bell for his prowess on the tennis court. He is proud of the college graduates in his Tennis Management program, many of whom have gone on to successful careers as teaching pros at large tennis clubs. And plenty of local residents first started to swing a tennis racquet under Bell’s tutelage, either as children when Bell led St. Johnsbury’s youth program for 13 years, or as adults who benefitted from private lessons with Bell.
Like many retired folks, Bell plays a lot of golf these days. But unlike others, he plays at a different level. “I organize a group and we play tournaments at four different country clubs every week.” Bell, of course, plays in all four tournaments each week! Bell confesses, “I love competition.”
Bell is a born sports organizer. For the men’s league, he takes the time to call
many of the players every Sunday evening to establish the roster for the Monday groupings. Bell plays doubles with the rest of the participants, unless there are an odd number; in that case, he always insists on sitting out and letting the others play. “I can’t ask all these guys to come play and then take a spot from one of them. I play often enough.” Bell enjoys seeing players improve and move up the ladder he keeps based on the results of each week’s matches. “We have at least six new players this year,” he says, “and we’re always looking for more.”
Bell’s trim frame and agile movements on the court make other players forget his age. He may be old enough to be father to most of the men in the group, but he is more than able to keep up with the better players. “I’ve had a special lifetime in sports,” says Bell. And he’s still sharing it with all of us.
Did you know there’s a 96-acre forest within the town limits of St. Johnsbury, Vermont where you can walk, hike, and snowshoe? It’s the St. Johnsbury Town Forest, and on any given day you can enjoy the trail system within the working forest.
Many Vermont towns have a town forest, says Joe Fox, St. Johnsbury Recreation Director. “The St. Johnsbury Town Forest was created in 1922 by the Women’s and
Professional Group here to commemorate the World War I veterans from the area who had died.” That first year, according to Fox, 20,000 trees were planted on the 96-acre plot of old unused farmland. “Many of the species of trees chosen reflected the nationality of the veterans -- Scottish, English, French, and so on.”There are four marked trails in the town forest -- green, blue, red, and yellow. They wind through the forest with some uphill and downhill elevations. The website www.hikenewengland.com has detailed two lovely hikes through the St. Johnsbury Town Forest. Click here to link to their descriptions of the town forest hikes, complete with maps and photos.
It takes a village to care for a town forest: the Town Forest Stewardship Committee is a volunteer group dedicated to the up
keep and maintenance of the forest. A local Boy Scout troop as well as the St. Johnsbury Academy Forestry class help maintain the trails. The St. Johnsbury Recreation Department administers programs in the forest.The town forest is open to everyone, and there are just a few rules for its use. No firearms are allowed in the forest, but during the proper season, bow hunting is permitted in the town forest. Campfires, bikes and motorized vehicles are not allowed. Pets must be leashed and owners must clean up after them. Overnight camping is not permitted, and your trash should be brought out of the forest when you leave. “We prefer that people keep the use of the trails to a minimum in April,” says Joe Fox, “for erosion control during mud season.” People who use the forest should be aware that as a working forest, logging operations are ongoing.
The forest entrance and trailhead is on Alms House Road, off Concord Avenue
near the baseball field and the 80-seat Rotary Picnic Pavilion. During the summer, the Recreation Department sponsors a family program, “Art in the Outdoors,” which meets at the picnic area every Tuesday evening from 5:30 to 7 pm for arts and crafts and a guided family hike on the trails. The St. Johnsbury Town Forest -- a bit of the wilderness right here in town. Come and enjoy!
(Thanks to Sharon Sierra of Hike New England for the lovely photos used in this article, all taken on her hike through the St. Johnsbury Town Forest)
Here’s the way some Vermonters count the seasons of the year:
Ski season - Mud season - Summer - Foliage season - Hunting season
For 71,000 Vermonters and about 11,000 visitors to the state, November is the height of hunting season in Vermont.
Hunting, like other outdoor sports, makes a significant contribution to the economy of Vermont. In 2006, hunters spent more than $189 million annually in Vermont, according to a survey by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. John Hall, Information Manager in the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife says that the timing of hunting season brings much-needed dollars at a time of year when other tourism revenues are low -- “after the leaves are off and before the skis are on” -- and it is distributed throughout all the small communities, including the most rural areas of the state. “This means local businesses are often benefitting from the dollars spent by hunters,” Hall says.
And those total dollars don’t include what may be spent by “hunting widows” -- the spouses who don’t hunt and find shopping a fun activity for a weekend. In fact, many women say it’s the prime opportunity to get all the Christmas shopping done while the husband is away for the weekend at the hunting camp. For those wives who think a weekend in the woods doesn’t include the camouflage clothing, a spa weekend at a Vermont inn with friends can be just the ticket.
Hall says that although the number of hunters is decreasing, the amount they spend annually continues to increase. “Part of the reason,” he says, “is that there is so much more sophisticated equipment available.” For example, in years past, a hunter would buy an inexpensive compass to guide the way. Now, hunters and others who trek in the woods prefer a GPS system.
According to Lt. Ken Denton, District Supervisor in St. Johnsbury for the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, November is very busy for his office. “We check licenses, work with landowners, take lots of questions from the public, and investigate any illegal hunting activity that is reported.”
He reminds Vermonters that hunting in season is permitted on private property that has not been posted. It’s actually part of the state Constitution, dating back to the formation of the state in 1777.
No firearms hunting is allowed in the Town Forest or anywhere in the Village of St. Johnsbury. But hunting by bow and arrow only is permitted in the Town Forest. Mike Welch, Town Manager, says that several years ago, the Select Board made the decision to ban all firearm hunting from the entire Town Forest. “People who hike in the Town Forest as well as people who hunt there came to a hearing,” says Welch. “The Select Board made the decision banning firearms in the Town Forest to balance the interests of the various groups who use the area. It seems to have been a good solution.”
St. Johnsbury Chief of Police Rich Leighton says that people sometimes hunt in other rural parts of St. Johnsbury, such as off Concord Avenue. “I’ve never seen anyone hurt during the bow hunting season here,” says Leighton.
Lt. Denton offers advice to hunters and non-hunters during the season:
- Above all, be courteous and respectful to landowners, whether you’re hunting, hiking, or doing any of the countless wildlife activities people enjoy in Vermont.
- Dress in bright colors so you will stand out and be easy to see in the forest. Hunters are encouraged to wear the orange fluorescent vest that is such a fashion statement in the North Country right now.
- For hunters, be sure to obey the “Ten Commandments” of firearm safety.
- As always, watch for large wild animals crossing the roads. Deer and moose are on the move during November, and drivers should be extra vigilant, especially at night.
Vermont is among the top three states in the U.S. for the love of wildlife, says Denton. Whatever the season of the year, it’s clear that folks here in St. Johnsbury agree.
The man holding the ball in the photo is Richard Reoch, Golden Ball Tai Chi teacher from London, England. Richard recently led a training session for new leaders.
Supported by the Area Agency on Aging, the Good Living Senior Center, the Fit and Healthy Coalition and the generosity of local leaders, class participants learn the ancient Chinese tradition of Tai Chi. Pamela Anderson and Sal DeMaio are the leaders of the class, which teaches movements that are both strengthening and relaxing.
The class is open to all, and continues through the winter at the Good Living Senior Center. For more information about the Tai Chi class, call Susan Shaw at the Good Living Senior Center at 748-8470 or email at goodliving@vtlink.net.
St. Johnsbury is home to a magnificent 18-hole golf course at the St. Johnsbury Country Club on Route 5, just a few minutes’ drive north of downtown. The course is semi-private, which means that there are members, but the public is welcome to play there, too. “That suits us well, especially for visitors,” says Colin Gillies, the new golf pro at the club. “People who are vacationing in the area really enjoy playing a round or two of golf during their visit.” Golf continues at the club throughout the fall, as long as the weather accomodates. Just put on a jacket or sweater, and you can play for another month at least!
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The St. Johnsbury course is known for its beauty, scenic views, and challenging holes. “It’s a hilly course, with many elevated tees, which makes for beautiful views wherever you go,” says Gillies. “The 17th hole, for example, has a very elevated tee, which gives you a fantastic view of the hole and that section of the course. It’s really spectacular.”
The course has been home to several statewide championships, including the Vermont State Amateur championship and the Mid-Amateur championship (the latter excludes college-age amateurs). In fact, a young man from St. Johnsbury, Trevor Murphy,
is currently making his way onto the professional golf scene, following great success as an amateur. Murphy won the Vermont Open championship in 2007 while still an amateur, and began his professional career in the summer of 2008. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in May 2008, helping his team to an eight-place finish in the NCAA tournament.
Local golfer Trevor Murphy
According to Gillies, “It’s remarkable to have someone from northern Vermont do so well in the golfing world. We’re used to skiers coming from this area, not golfers. Everyone at the Country Club is so proud that Trevor is a local guy with ties to the club. His father and grandfather are both members here. We all wish him lots of success.”
The Country Club is host to a number of fundraising events throughout the season, which runs from April through October. Two of the largest events are sponsored by St. Johnsbury Academy and the local Hospice group. There are at least 20 such events throughout the season, and the public is encouraged to join the fun.
The club pro is Colin Gillies. He has been a pro for 25 years, mostly at a semi-private course in Maine. He made the move to St. Johnsbury last year when his old course was sold, and feels the atmosphere here is very comfortable and welcoming. He offers group and private lessons, and is the club’s General Manager. In that role, he is also responsible for the club’s full-service restaurant. The restaurant is open to the public for lunch and dinner and is available for large functions such as weddings and banquets.
To learn more about the Country Club, or to get your tee time, call 802-748-9894.
Head for the Hills!
It’s springtime, and one of the best ways to explore the beautiful rolling hills and vistas of the St. Johnsbury area is on a road bike.
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| Bonnie Bashaw-Cole on her bike |
According to Bonnie Bashaw-Cole, manager of the The Club at Old Mill in St. Johnsbury and a member of the bicycling group there, biking in Vermont is a totally different experience than riding in New Jersey or Florida. “People can ride twice as far in Florida in the same amount of time because there are no hills,” says Bonnie.
But even though the roads are hilly, the St. Johnsbury biking group emphasizes safety. Roads on the bicycle trips are paved and have wide shoulders.
Last year, a small group of about eight local riders started the informal bicycling group that goes on rides every Monday night in biking season, which starts when the snow leaves in late April and continues until daylight savings time comes to an end.
The group has expanded and now there are at least 25 bikers who go on the Monday rides. The rides start at 15 to 20 miles and can lengthen to 30 to 40 miles. They take from an hour and a half to two and a half hours. The St. Johnsbury group also has informal ties to a larger group located in nearby Littleton, NH, and some members of the St. Johnsbury group also join in on the Thursday night Littleton bike rides.
One of the members of the Littleton group, John Ryan, maps out the routes for the St. Johnsbury group. The southern routes leave from the Comfort Inn in St. Johnsbury at about 5:30 p.m. on Monday. The group rides south to Barnet, and sometimes to West Barnet around Harvey’s Lake. Sometimes the group travels to Wells River and comes back on the New Hampshire side through Whitefield.
The northern route taken by the St. Johnsbury riders leaves from the White Market Plaza in Lyndonville. The group takes routes around East Burke, West Burke, Burke Hollow, and Sutton.
Generally, all the bike rides taken by the St. Johnsbury riders are loops, starting and ending at the same location.
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| Spinning at the Club at Old Mill |
Some St. Johnsbury bicyclists love riding so much that they travel around the country for other challenges. This spring, nine St. Johnsbury bicyclists joined almost 30 riders from Littleton for a week-long tour of Virginia. Other St. Johnsbury bicyclists have been even more adventurous, participating in bike trips that go across the country.
Many bicyclists have the time to take longer trips because they are retired or semi-retired. “Some of our strongest riders tend to be older,” says Bonnie. “Some of them are former runners. They’ve found that bike riding is not as hard on the joints.” Bonnie says that bicycle running is great cardiovascular training and really helps the leg muscles.
Bicycling opportunities in the Northeast Kingdom are not limited to the St. Johnsbury area. The Northeast Kingdom Travel and Tourism Agency has a large listing of bicycle activities at its website. You can also request a free Cycling the Northeast Kingdom map at the website or by calling 800-884-8001.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7, there is a special Tour de Kingdom cycling event. It is a double century challenge with Day 1 taking riders through the Lake region of the NEK and Day 2 heading up and over the flanks of Jay Peak in the western "hill country." Shorter routes are available each day to accomodate all ages and all skill levels of cyclists. For more information see www.tourdekingdom.org or email bike@orleansrecreation.org.
(photo credits: top photo by Peter Brooks, North Country Bike Tours; photo of Bonnie biking by Tom Allen)