Vermont

Wildlife, Walking & Hiking in the Green Mountain State

Program No. 22619RJ
Explore the picturesque woodlands of Vermont on expert-led walks and hikes, learn about fascinating local wildlife and history of the area.

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

At a Glance

Peaceful, pastoral and picturesque — the Vermont countryside is New England wilderness at its finest and home to a bustling ecosystem of local wildlife. From your home base at a quaint bed and breakfast nestled in the Dover Town Forest, join experts on daily walks to immerse yourself in the Green Mountain State’s lush forests, verdant mountains and breathtaking lakeside vistas. Study the local wildlife you see along the way, from birds of prey and beavers to moose and wolves, and discuss topics like local ecosystems, conservation and more.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Nature walks and hikes 1.5-2.5 miles in length. Expect to encounter uneven terrain, roots, and rocks. We will hike rain or shine. Walking poles and hiking boots are suggested.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Soak in panoramic views on daily hikes and nature walks, and dive deep into topics like the effects of human activity on the wildlife species of Vermont.
  • Get to know wildlife with a live animal presentation by the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum.
  • Travel along the Crosstown Trail in Dover to visit one or two beaver ponds, and learn about these true environmental engineers.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Print All
Map details are not available for this location.
6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5 B 4 L 5 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
West Dover
D
Gray Ghost Inn

Activity note: Inn check-in from 2:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration. After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Welcome reception starts at 5:30 p.m. Meet your fellow attendees. Bring your own beer and wine to accompany the provided fruit and cheese platter.

Dinner: In the Inn dining room.

Evening: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. Our instructor will lead the field trips and the Group Leader will join. On the first night, we will review the menu and select dinner entrées for the week. We will travel by school bus with trips typically under one hour unless specified otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
Bishop Farmstead, Crosstown Trail
West Dover
B,L,D
Gray Ghost Inn

Activity note: Getting on/off a school bus; driving about 40 miles, approximately one hour roundtrip riding time. Hiking up to 3 miles throughout the day; gravel trails.

Breakfast: At the Inn.

Morning: We will board a school bus and ride to the Hogback Mountain Conservation Area for a hike through the forested preserve to the historic Bishop Farmstead. This 1770s colonial farmstead remains primarily as a complex of cellar holes we will spend some time exploring with our Instructor as we learn about early settlement in Vermont. The hike back to the parking area will focus on how Vermont has changed over the centuries and how that has impacted wildlife distribution. We will take special note of clues that still exist on the landscape that can tell us a great deal about what happened here in the past. We’ll ride back to the Inn after our field trip.

Lunch: At the Inn.

Afternoon: We will ride to the Crosstown Trail in Dover, Vermont, to look at a beaver pond or two. With many years of beaver activity at the site, there will be plenty of material to discuss. True environmental engineers, beavers are a recently recovered force in shaping Vermont with a variety of issues surrounding their return. We will be dropped off at the Mount Snow Golf Course, walk a mile past beaver ponds, and be picked up at the other end of the trail to return to the Inn.

Dinner: At the Inn.

Evening: At leisure. You might wish to enjoy our game room, watch TV, do puzzles, or play board games or cards.

DAY
3
Putney Mountain, Wolves, Music
West Dover
B,L,D
Gray Ghost Inn

Activity note: Getting on/off a school bus; driving about 45 miles, approximately 1.5 hours roundtrip riding time. Hiking up to 2 miles throughout the day; gravel trails.

Breakfast: At the Inn.

Morning: We will ride the bus 45 minutes to Putney Mountain. There will be a 0.5-mile hike to the top with beautiful views and the possible viewing of birds in flight.

Lunch: At the Inn.

Afternoon: We will meet a local expert who is a member of Wolfgard Northeast, a not-for-profit organization devoted to protecting, teaching, and learning about wolves in the Northeast. Starting from the inn, we will take a short hike to explore through “the eyes of a predator.” Our expert will share a unique way of looking at the world around us and give us up-to-date news about the state of predator conservation and wolves.

Dinner: At the Inn.

Evening: We will be joined by a musical duo who will play guitar, mandolin, and fiddle, and sing songs for us.

DAY
4
Green Mountain Forest, Hoot Toot & Whistle Trail History
West Dover
B,L,D
Gray Ghost Inn

Activity note: Getting on/off a school bus; driving about 20 miles, approximately 1 hour total riding time. Hiking up to 5 miles; lake gravel trails.

Breakfast: At the Inn.

Morning: We will ride to Grout Pond in the Green Mountain National Forest for a leisurely 2.5-mile waterside hike through prime moose habitat. With our Group Leader, we will look at signs of moose activity and watch for the various waterside wildlife that use this area.

Lunch: At the Inn.

Afternoon: We will ride to historic Harriman Reservoir to join a local expert for a history of the Hoot Toot and Whistle Trail. Hiking along the lake, we will see remnants of the old Hoosac, Tunnel, and Wilmington Railroad; the current trail’s name was once a nickname locals bestowed upon the railroad.

Dinner: At the Inn.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
So. Vermont Natural History Museum, Haystack, Birds of Prey
West Dover
B,L,D
Gray Ghost Inn

Activity note: Getting on/off a school bus; driving about 15 miles, approximately 30 minutes riding time. Hiking up to 4 miles throughout the day; uneven path up the mountain, some rocks and roots.

Breakfast: At the Inn.

Morning: We will board the school bus and take a short drive to the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum for an expert-led exploration. The museum features one of New England’s largest collections of native species along with ecology geology, natural history, and live animal exhibits.

Lunch: At the inn.

Afternoon: Road Scholars who are looking for a more challenging hike will have the opportunity to hike 4 miles roundtrip to the top of Haystack Mountain for some spectacular views of southern Vermont and a nice cross section of New England habitat types, accompanied by the Group Leader and Instructor. Those who prefer not to join this expedition are invited to take the MooVer public transport for an afternoon of exploring historic Wilmington, VT, or simply rest at the Inn.

Dinner: At the Inn. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: We will be joined by a representative from the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum for a live animal presentation including birds of prey. We’ll get a close-up look at these animals and learn about adaptations that make them unique. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
6
Program Concludes
West Dover
B

Activity note: Inn check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At the Inn. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






Recommended For You

loading spinner