Grout Pond and Branch Pond

These two small ponds, located within the Green Mountain National Forest in southern Vermont, offer delightful paddling. The Forest Service allows primitive camping in most of the national forest, including (in 2000) around both of these ponds. A small, developed recreation area is situated close to the Grout Pond boat access. Numerous hiking trails crisscross the area, including one that extends around Grout Pond; one that leads to the northern end of Somerset Reservoir; and our favorite, the trail from Branch Pond to Bourn Pond. The Appalachian and Long Trails also pass through the area.