Hiking

In addition to the exhibits at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (54 Elm St., 802/457-3368, www.nps.gov/mabi, late May–Oct.), the preserve has 20 miles of carriage roads for walking, accessible from the park entrance on Route 12 and a parking lot on Prosper Road. The roads circle around the slopes of Mount Tom, which is forested with old-growth hemlock, beech, and sugar maples.

Popular hikes include the loop around the mountain pond called the Pogue, and the climb up the summit of Mount Tom, which lords over Woodstock and the river below. No mountain bicycles are allowed on the trails; in the winter, they are groomed for cross-country skiing.

Skiing

While it will never be confused with Vermont’s larger ski resorts, Suicide Six Ski Area (802/457-6661, www.suicide6.com) has two dozen or so trails ranging from beginner to double-diamond. Now owned and operated by the Woodstock Inn, the resort has a double-chair lift and a beginners area with a J-bar lift.

Also affiliated with the inn, the Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Nordic Center (Rte. 106/Cross St., 802/457-6674, www.woodstockinn.com, $16 adult, $12 child) has one of the best networks of cross-country-skiing trails in Vermont. More than 30 miles of trails marked easy, intermediate, and advanced weave up and around Woodstock’s two mountains, Mount Tom and Mount Peg. The center also grooms trails for snowshoeing and winter hiking, and has skis and snowshoes for rent ($20 adult, $14 child per day).

Camping

The Quechee Recreation Area (Rte. 4, Quechee, 802/295-2990, www.vtstateparks.com/htm/quechee.cfm, late May–mid Oct., $14–16) has some 50 campsites for overnight stays on the banks of the Ottauquechee River.

© Michael Blanding and Alexandra Hall from Moon New England, 2nd Edition