West River Trail: Lower Section

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A 3.5 mile multi-use pathway on the bed of the former West River Railroad, paralleling the West River.

Trail Activity

Length

3.50 miles, One Way

Difficulty

Easy

Towns

Brattleboro (VT), Dummerston (VT)

Surface

Packed Earth/Dirt, Gravel/Crushed Stone/Cinder

Pets

Permitted on leash

Fees

Details

Description

The Lower Section of the West River Trail is a 3.7 mile pathway on the bed of the former West River Railroad. The trail begins in Brattleboro near the Marina restaurant (follow Spring Tree Rd north from the Marina Parking lot .2 mile to trailhead) and follows the West River to the trailhead on Rice Farm Road. The trail is flat, well drained, and some sections have been surfaced with stone dust. It is popular with runners, bikers (mountain or hybrid bike recommended), families, and those seeking a leisurely stroll.

A printable map of this section can be found on the Friends of West River Trail website.

Other Information

Approximately one mile from the Marina Trailhead is the Riverstone Preserve. Its 25 acres of forest and 2200 feet of West River shoreline was purchased by Friends of the West River Trail in 2013, with the assistance of the Vt Land Trust and the VT Housing and Conservation Board. The Preserve protects the floodplain forest and the rare, ice-scoured riverine cobblestone ecosystem found here, and provides for recreational use. Ecological management, invasive plant control, and recreational enhancements, including a picnic area and interpretive trail, are underway.

Roads around West Dummerston can be used in combination with the West River Trail for extended bicycle riding. From the Marina Trailhead, you can pedal out the West River Trail and then follow unpaved Rice Farm Road and Quarry Road to the West Dummerston Covered Bridge. There is a Park and Ride lot on the west side of the bridge, just off VT-30. The distance is 6.0 miles one way, and the route is level.

The Friends of the West River Trail also maintain 16 miles of the Upper Section of the West River Trail in Townshend, Jamaica, and Londonderry. A printable map of the Upper Section can also be found on their website.

Trail Manager

Visit the Friends of the West River Trail online for more information and a downloadable map of the West River trail sections, or contact

Friends of the West River Trail: Lower Section
138 Elliot St, Suite 3
Brattleboro, VT 05301
lowersection@westrivertrail.org
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Trail Tips

Dispose of Waste Properly

Dispose of solid human waste in a cathole 6-8 inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, camp, or trails. Don't forget to cover it up when you're done!

Directions

Trailhead Information

Marina Trailhead, Brattleboro:

From Exit 3 of I-91 at the north end of Brattleboro, go south from the Roundabout on Putney Road (US-5) 1.3 miles and make a hard right onto Spring Tree Road (just before the bridge over the West River). Turn left, then right, and go 0.3 miles to the trailhead at the end of the road.
From downtown Brattleboro (corner of Main and High Streets), go north on Main Street (US-5), which becomes Putney Road, for 1.0 mile and bear left onto Spring Tree Road (just past the bridge over the West River). Turn left, then right, and go 0.3 miles to the trailhead at the end of the road.

Rice Farm Road Trailhead, Dummerston:

Access this trailhead from the Green Iron Bridge in Dummerston. It is located just off VT-30, 1.5 miles south of the West Dummerston Covered Bridge, or 4.6 miles north of the Retreat Farm and Grafton Cheese in Brattleboro. At the far side of the bridge, turn right onto Rice Farm Road. The trailhead is 1.0 miles from the bridge on the right.

Trail Map

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