Putney: Hiking Trails, Theater, and Craftsmanship

For a stay in Putney, Vermont, you can focus on different things: hiking in protected landscapes, cultural events, or a historic walking tour. Your plans depend on whether a particular event is the deciding factor or whether you’d rather spend most of your time enjoying outdoor activities.

Hiking and Landscapes in Putney

The Putney Mountain Association manages more than 1,000 acres of protected land and over 15 miles of hiking trails. It also maintains its section of a ridgeline trail that runs the entire length of the preserve, along with access facilities and side trails. The managed offerings include side trails as well as the ridgeline trail, so the choice of routes is not limited to a single trail.

Green Mountain Orchards

Green Mountain Orchards is located in the hills above the village of Putney. Its growing areas include more than 125 acres devoted to apple growing and just under 18 acres for blueberry growing. Visitors can hike, snowshoe, and picnic there. Alongside two active pursuits, picnicking is another option for spending time outdoors.

Culture and Event Dates

Sandglass Theater stages performances and teaches at its own renovated barn theater in Putney. The venue has 60 seats. The performances and workshops offered depend on the season. If a particular offering is important to your trip, check the relevant dates: the season determines which performances and workshops are available.

The 48th annual Putney Craft Tour is scheduled for November 27–29, 2026, with daily hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It invites visitors to studios and businesses. Participants include painters, jewelers, potters, weavers, and glassblowers, as well as a cheesemaker, a woodworker, an aromatherapist, and a winery. The mix may change from one edition to the next. So while the dates and hours are set, participation may vary from year to year.

In the fall, the Putney Mountain Association holds its annual Putney Mountain Hawk Watch, which provides scientific information about raptor migration patterns. Event dates may vary. While the Craft Tour has specific dates and hours for 2026, check the Hawk Watch date to suit your trip.

Historic Walking Tour of Putney

A map for the historic walking tour of Putney is available at the Putney Historical Society, the Putney General Store, the Putney Co-op, and other locations in Putney; it can also be downloaded. If you’d like to pick up a printed copy at a particular location, check with that location in advance, as distribution points may change. Downloading the map offers another way to prepare for the tour. It gives the walk its own historical focus, complementing the choice between outdoor activities and cultural events.

Discover more destinations: Halifax, Dummerston, Stratton, Rockingham, Brattleboro, Wardsboro, Whitingham, Newfane

For the broader travel overview: Windham County.