Deepest gorge in Vermont serves as a popular tourist attraction in Quechee State Park and can be viewed from the U.S. Route 4 bridge and from trails on both sides of the gorge

General Information

Hours:

Open seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through the second Monday in October
Day-use hours: 10:00am to official sunset

Fees:

Day-use fees apply
Adults (14+): $5
Children (4–13): $2
Children 3 and under: Free

Pet Policy:

Pets are permitted throughout the park and must be kept on a leash at all times

Closest cities with hotels:

Woodstock, VT (approximately 6 mi)
White River Junction, VT (approximately 8 mi)

Seasons:

Best visited late spring through fall; fall foliage season is especially popular

Location:

5800 Woodstock Road, Hartford, VT 05047

Website:

vtstateparks.com

How to Get There

From Woodstock, VT (6 mi): Take US‑4 West from Woodstock toward Hartford, continue approximately 6 miles, and follow signs for Quechee Gorge State Park; parking areas and scenic overlooks are located directly off Route 4.

Overview

The Quechee Gorge is located in Quechee, Vermont along U.S. Route 4. The gorge is 165 feet deep and is the deepest gorge in Vermont. It serves as a popular tourist attraction in Quechee State Park and can be viewed from the U.S. Route 4 bridge and from trails on both sides of the gorge. Many people from around New England flock to the gorge for the views. The Ottauquechee River flows through the bottom of the gorge and is a popular whitewater kayak run.

Geology

The gorge was carved approximately 13,000 years ago as the Laurentide Ice Sheet retreated across the region. The carving is thought to be a result of rapid downcutting of the Ottauquechee River after the drainage of glacial Lake Hitchcock. The gorge cuts through bedrock of the Devonian Gile Mountain Formation and Mesozoic mafic dikes can be seen on the west wall.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Quechee Gorge", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0