Georgie's Path & Robert Frost Interpretive Trail at Green Mountain National Forest in Ripton, Vermont is an easy, universally-accessible, 1.4-mile out-and-back trail that features a peaceful forest setting along with views of the Green Mountains.
Trail names: Georgie’s Path, Robert Frost Interpretive Trail.
Location: Robert Frost Wayside, 537 Robert Frost Road, Route 125, Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, Ripton VT; Green Mountain National Forest.
Permitted uses: Picnicking, hiking, cross country skiing.
Prohibited uses: No overnight use, no off trail hiking, do not feed wildlife, do not disturb rocks, plants or other natural objects, do not touch any cultural or historical structures or artifacts.
Hours: Day use only, Sunrise to Sunset.
Fees and Parking: There is no fee to use the Wayside, or the trails. Donations are gratefully accepted and there is a metal container at the kiosk to deposit donations. There is ample parking.
Pets: Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash.
Universal Accessibility: The trails are meant to be wheelchair accessible, however there were some areas along both trails that are in need of maintenance due to wash out.
Hiker amenities: There are no trash bins at either the Robert Frost Wayside picnic area or the Robert Frost Interpretive Trailhead. Please pack out all the trash you create or find. There are several picnic tables at the Wayside, but no restrooms. There are two large information stations where visitors can learn about the National Recreation Area (NRA) and the trails that are available as well as some history about Robert Frost and his connection to Vermont. There are no restrooms at the Wayside area, but there is a gender neutral bathroom at the trailhead of the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail parking area. Both the Wayside picnic area and the Interpretive Trailhead parking areas have ample parking, reserved spaces for handicap parking and at the Interpretive Trailhead there is even a bus stop on the Vermont public transportation system.
Length and Trail information: The hike we did was a combination of Georgie’s Path, starting at the Wayside area and the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail. Visitors can bypass the Wayside and Georgie’s Path by traveling west on Route 125 a short distance to another parking area on the opposite side of the street, where the Interpretive Trail starts. The hike was done as a loop, is easy and is approximately 1.36 miles long.
The substrate of Georgie’s Path is crushed packed gravel and is wide and flat. There is a wide sturdy wooden bridge to ease access over an area that can be wet after heavy rain. Unfortunately there is a bit of washout of the trail just after the wooden bridge, but at the time of our visit, it was still passable by wheelchair. Along Georgie’s Path hikers will notice the remnants of the Calvin Pier Tavern. An educational placard has been installed so that visitors can pause and read about the history associated with this site. Georgie’s Path leads from the Wayside picnic area to the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail and crosses over Route 125. Use caution when crossing Route 125, it is a very busy road with fast moving traffic. Across Route 125 the trail meanders down a gentle sloped meadow filled with blooming wildflowers and then intersects with the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail.
At the Robert Frost Interpretive Trailhead, there is an information kiosk with a map, and regulations. There is an information post installed written in braille so that those with vision challenges can learn about the trail. The trail is marked by a blue blaze.
If you are a fan of Robert Frost, then you will be delighted with this hike. In several locations the creators of this trail system have installed posts with Mr. Frost’s poems mounted on them. The substrate on the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail is packed crushed stone to start, the same as Georgie’s Path, but also includes a very impressive boardwalk with benches installed to encourage visitors to stop, rest and take in the peace and quiet of this beautiful place. At the first plaza on the boardwalk, hikers can decide to continue on the boardwalk and loop around or keep to the left and head toward a lovely bridge with beautiful views of the South Branch of the Middlebury River. After crossing the bridge, the boardwalk ends and the trail substrate again turns to crushed, packed stone. Just after the bridge there is a corner with a slight incline and again a bit of washout. Depending on the type of wheelchair and the fitness of the visitors, this incline might be too steep to navigate and this would be a good place to turn around. If physically able, the hike continues without substrate problems until the loop at the meadow is reached. There is a placard installed at the beginning of the loop that goes around a large meadow that shows visitors the mountains in the distance and what their names are. The trail to the left of the placard is heavily damaged by washout and is not passable by wheelchair. It is possible to take the trail to the right, go around most of the loop, and turn around and backtrack.
I was really impressed with this trail because of the care and thoughtfulness that went into creating a place that all of us can visit, no matter our physical abilities. It impressed on me how lucky I am to be able to get outside and reconnect with nature.
