Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail, Rail trail in western Rutland and Bennington Counties, Vermont, United States.
The Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail is a converted rail line that runs as a gravel path through rural Vermont countryside. It connects several small communities and features wooden bridges that cross streams throughout its length.
The rail line was built in the 1850s to transport slate from local quarries to market. It operated as a freight line for more than a century before closing and being converted to a public recreational path.
The trail runs through the Slate Valley, where you can see remnants of old quarries and industrial structures that shaped the region's identity. Local communities still connect to this mining heritage through the landscape you walk through.
You can access the trail from multiple points in several communities, making it easy to choose where to start your visit. The gravel surface works well for walking, cycling, and in winter conditions for cross-country skiing or snowmobiling.
The trail features 17 wooden bridges with railings that help you cross streams and valleys safely. These structures stand out as careful additions made when the old rail line was reopened for public use.
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