The Burlington Wildway Trail is the flagship trail of the Burlington Wildways, a partnership between the large landowners in Burlington which highlights a great variety of ecosystems from the Winooski River to Lake Champlain, from boggy wetlands to rocky thrust fault ridges, from historic sites to neighborhoods.
Starting in the east at Salmon Hole Park near Winooski, the Lower Falls Dam, and the Old East End neighborhood, the trail follows the banks of the river to Intervale Road. Using the road to drop down to the Intervale Center, the trail breaks back off the road and follows riparian forest via the Calkins Trail to McKenzie Park. The trail continues in the shade of maples and cottonwoods until passing through a private easement between a farm field and the river bank. Next the trail meanders through Ethan Allen Homestead, site of one of the largest trail systems in Burlington. Heading north, the trail joins the 127 Bike Path which parallels the highway, then crosses a pedestrian bridge to connect into Ethan Allen Park. The trail climbs up to the ridge of the park and uses an old carriage road to exit the forest by a playground and a stand of tall pines.
Although the trail goes through parks managed by the Winooski Valley Park District, the Intervale Center, and Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department, it is easy to follow with a orange logo blazes marking the whole trail along with periodic wayfinding signs.
Please remember:
The Burlington Wildway Trail is managed by various land managers. You can find more information on the Burlington Wildways website or by contacting these land managers:
The trail can be accessed from a variety of trailheads.
Salmon Hole Park: Park in the small dirt lot on the west side of Riverside Avenue 200 yards south of the bridge to Winooski.
Intervale Center: Park in one of the Intervale Center's lots and use their signs to get onto the Rena Calkins Trail, which is blazed red along with the Wildway Trail blazes.
Ethan Allen Homestead: Park in either parking lot and set off on the trails, looking for the Wildways blazes.
Ethan Allen Park: Park in the 20-spot paved lot at the south entrance to the park and begin walking on the gravel trail through the tall pines by the playground by following the blazes.
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