Quechee Gorge, VT

• 4-star hikes
• 0.7 to 3.8 mile options
• Easy difficulty | Gain 110 to 180 feet
• Quechee, VT | Central East VT
• Driving Directions: Visitor Center, Dewey's Pond


Quechee Gorge Bridge is Vermont's oldest steel arch bridge.

One mile long and 165 feet deep, the narrow Quechee Gorge was carved out by the rapid draining of glacial Lake Hitchcock some thirteen thousand years ago, and continues to be slowly etched away today by the flows of the Ottauquechee River.

Stopping by the Quechee Gorge Bridge on Vermont's Route 4 highway is necessary to gain an appreciation of the site, but much more can be discovered on some short walks beginning at the Quechee Gorge Visitor Center. We present several brief hikes that can be enjoyed either individually or collectively.

Bridge View, Rocks & Swimming, Pond & Dam, Campers only Expand ↓ Map

Quechee Gorge Trails
0.7-3.8mi, Easy, Gain 110-180ft
Trailspotting Map at AllTrails

Visitor Center to Bridge View 4★ | 0.7mi, Out & Back, Easy, Gain 110ft | This short trail begins down the steps at the visitor center and winds through forest and then under the Quechee Gorge Bridge to reach the road level for gorge views from the bridge. If you want a shorter route you could just stick to the roadside pavement, but we like a trail that echews pavement for dirt, provides some woodland views and an appreciation of the bridge's structure.

Quechee Gorge Trail to Rocks 4★ | 1.4mi, Out & Back, Easy, Gain 160ft | Head downhill on the Quechee Gorge Trail to the downstream end of the gorge where you'll find exposed rock outcroppings to hop around on, or from which to take a cooling dip in warmer months. There are few views along the wooded trail, but there are upstream views of the gorge and bridge from the rocks. Our route inclues a short angular looping return.

Dewey's Pond & Quechee Dam 4★ | 2.2mi, Out & Back, Easy, Gain 140ft | Dewey's Pond was formed from an old oxbow section of the Ottauquechee River when it was dammed to power a textile mill back in the 1830s. The dam remains though the mill structures were demolished over sixty years ago. Today the route is a pleasant walk to the head of the gorge, and an opportunity to explore wildlife around the pond from within a ring of surrounding hilltops. There's also a quieter trailhead on Quechee Main Street at the North end of the pond.


Swimming hole in the summer, rock hopping at other times.

Campers Only Trail 4★ | 0.8mi, One Way, Medium, Gain 180ft | Located just East of the visitor center is the Quechee State Park campground. This trail is identified "for registered campers only". We've included it on this map for the convenience of hikers, and for those who think it might be reasonable to use this trail to return to the Visitor Center out of season. Marked as medium because of a short and marginally steep section of hill.

Locally there are more attractions to check out by the gorge and in the nearby town of Quechee. Close to the visitor center is the huge antiques mall, or head upstairs to the Vermont Toy Museum to revel in some nostalgia. Next to the town's picturesque covered bridge and falls you'll find the popular Simon Pearce glassblowing workshop, store and restaurant.


Ottauquechee River falls by the former Dewey Mills.


Dewey Pond, once an oxbow of the river is now cut off by levee.


Wooded walk down to the gorge from the visitor center.

Tangents:
• Trail Links: Public Map at AllTrails
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article

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