Quechee Gorge
Vermont's deepest gorge, about fifty-five metres down to the Ottauquechee, crossed by a 1911 steel arch bridge.
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The gorge was cut after the last glaciation, when meltwater from a retreating ice sheet forced the Ottauquechee through a channel it did not have before, and it dropped about fifty-five metres through schist in a geologically short period. The bridge over it was built in 1911 for the railroad and converted to carry US 4; it is a steel arch, and the view down from the walkway is the reason most people stop. A trail runs from the bridge down to the riverbed at the bottom in about twenty minutes. The Vermont Institute of Natural Science next to the gorge runs a raptor centre with birds that cannot be released, and daily flight demonstrations.
What you actually see
- A gorge about fifty-five metres deep - Vermont's deepest.
- A 1911 steel arch bridge - built for rail, now carrying the road.
- A trail to the riverbed - about twenty minutes down.
- A raptor centre alongside - with non-releasable birds.
When to go
May to October; foliage in early October. Two hours.
Honest expectations
The main view is from a road bridge with traffic beside you. Parking fills on foliage weekends. The descent trail is steep and slippery when wet. It is a short visit.
Nearby
Woodstock is west; White River Junction is east.
What to pack for Quechee Gorge
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
