Essex County: Lakes, Trails and Railroad History

Essex County can be explored through a variety of themes: water and shorelines, trails through natural areas, and the railroad history of Island Pond. To plan your trip, you can first decide whether you want to focus on a lakeside stay, a particular route, or historic sites. The options described also differ in trail length and seasonal conditions.

Lakes, shorelines and waterways

Brighton State Park offers lakeside camping on Spectacle Pond and day use at Island Pond. Two swimming areas add to what the park has to offer. Mostly level, easy walking trails run around Spectacle Pond, and there is also a self-guided nature trail. The 15-acre Spectacle Pond Natural Area is part of the park. This makes it possible to combine time by the water with short walks and a nature trail.

Maidstone Lake also has a distinctive natural history: glacial ice carved a deep basin into an existing valley. The result is a deep, clear, cold lake where nesting loons can be observed. If you are interested in how landscapes form, this geological history offers a different perspective on the lake from observing its wildlife.

Island Pond is the headwaters of the Clyde River; paddling and fishing are possible on the water. From there, the Clyde River flows 40 miles northwest to Lake Memphremagog. The recommended Upper Clyde River trip starts at Island Pond. You can take out either at Five Mile Square Road or at Route 105, near the access point at Ten Mile Square Road. Check route information before setting out.

Trails by length and character

The trails described vary in length. The Nulhegan River Trail is a 1-mile loop that begins and ends at the Nulhegan Basin visitor contact station. The North Branch Trail is a 4-mile loop that runs along the North Branch of the Nulhegan River and is accessible year-round from a parking area on Vermont Route 105. The 20-mile Kingdom Heritage Trail is a backcountry trail with scenic overlooks. It begins at Lewis Pond Overlook and leads to downtown Island Pond. The distances help with planning how much time to allow, but do not indicate hiking times.

At Brighton State Park, the focus is on easy walking trails and a nature trail, while the Kingdom Heritage Trail is specifically described as a backcountry trail. These differences can help you choose if you are looking for a walk around a pond or a longer route with scenic overlooks. The information about each trail’s start and end points also shows that they use different landmarks for orientation.

Seasonal conditions and outdoor activities

In the Nulhegan Basin Division, roads are closed to motorized traffic every year from December 16 through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend; snowmobiles are exempt. During this time, the roads remain accessible on foot, by bicycle, on skis, or on snowshoes. Snowmobiles may use groomed VAST trails there. The groomed trails in the Nulhegan Basin are also used for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. If this seasonal rule affects your plans, check the information before your trip.

Victory State Forest offers nature-based recreational activities such as wildlife watching, hiking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. Multi-use trails in the forest are open to horseback riding; parts of the forest are also open to primitive camping. Check seasonal dates before your trip. The range of activities means you can shape your stay around wildlife watching, exercise, or spending the night outdoors, depending on your plans.

Railroad history in Island Pond

The Island Pond Historic District owes its significance largely to its connection with the Grand Trunk Railway, North America’s first major international railway. The railway station is the district’s central building and the last direct link to the region’s railroad history. It was built in 1903–1904 for passenger service and U.S. Customs. The historic district includes a relatively intact, cohesive collection of buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The collection in Island Pond includes photographs, railroad memorabilia, 19th-century clothing and uniforms, tools from the lumber industry, local newspapers, and Odd Fellows memorabilia. The region’s more distant past includes the fact that the Connecticut and Nulhegan River basins provided the Abenakis and Mohicans with food, water, and transportation. These topics add a longer perspective on life along the rivers to the railroad history.

You can use the specific differences to guide your choice: lakeshores and water activities, short loops or longer backcountry routes, seasonal winter activities, and historic sites each offer a different focus for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Brighton, Grand Isle County, Lamoille, Bennington County, Orleans County, Windham County, Franklin County, Washington

For the broader travel overview: Vermont.