The Lakes of The Deerfield Valley
By Christy A. Betit of The Deerfield Valley News
When people think of Vermont, water usually comes to mind-the frozen kind that
is. But summer water activities in the Deerfield Valley are abundant.
The valley is awash with lakes and ponds and at the top of the list is Harriman
Reservoir, also known as Lake Whitingham, which is the largest body of water
completely within Vermont's borders. It was built by New England Power Company
as part of their hydro-electric system and finished in 1923. Over eight miles
long, with 28 miles of winding coastline, the lake provides hours of relaxing
fun for swimmers, boaters and fishermen alike. The lake can be accessed at a
number of points, among them, Wards Cove, Castle Hill picnic area, and Mountain
Mills.
To get to Wards Cove from Wilmington, take Route 100 south.
About one mile past the junctions of Routes 100 and 9 you
will see a sign on the right for Flames Stables. Turn right
onto the dirt road and follow it to the lake. Picnic tables
are available as well as a roped off swimming area. Wards Cove is popular among
local sailing enthusiasts including members of the Windham Sailing Club who moor
their sailboats there. For more information on the club, call Bob Strebi, secretary
at (802) 368-2932, or email to ibebst@sover.net.
For Castle Hill and Mountain Mills access, head to downtown Wilmington. At the
light, go .3 miles south past Poncho's Wreck restaurant and Buzzy Town Park.
Continue up Castle Hill and turn right on Fairview Avenue, following the signs
to the boat launch. Continue on until the pavement changes to a dirt road. Castle
Hill picnic area is on the right, 1/4 mile after the road turns to dirt. Continue
on to the end of the road for the Mountain Mills access area.
Power boats and personal watercraft are never in short supply as these two venues
offer boaters easy access to the lake. Good picnicking and another roped off
swimming area can be found at Mountain Mills.
Lake Raponda, a smaller, secluded lake, offers visitors an even more tranquil
day on, in or beside the water. Located on the eastern edge of Wilmington, and
nestled deep in the woods, the lake may be difficult to find, but it's a gem.
Raponda has boating access (power boats are permitted), picnic tables and a floating
dock. From Wilmington, take Route 100 north past the Riverbend Market Place.
Take a right onto Higley Hill Road and look for signs for Lake Raponda Road on
the right. Follow Lake Raponda Road to the lake.
For more great swimming, head to Grout Pond in Stratton. To get to Grout Pond,
from Wilmington, take Route 100 north past Mount Snow. Keep your eyes open for
the Stratton-Arlington Road sign on the left. Follow that road until you reach
the lake on the right. A parking lot can be found on the left hand side of the
road. Power boats are not permitted.
If you're a fisherman, you'll benefit by spending a day at Lake
Sadawga in Whitingham.
The lake was named for the lone Indian Chief Sadawga who, as folklore has it,
swam under the lake's entire "floating island" (a large mass of weeds
and other growth) without taking a single breath. A day of fishing at Sadawga
may put bass, rainbow and brown trout on your family's dinner plates. To get
to Sadawga from Wilmington, take Route 100 south into the center of Jacksonville.
Take a right at the T and head straight up a steep hill. Continue past Whitingham
School watching for the Town Hill Road sign on the left. Follow that road past
the Town Hill Playground and go straight down Town Hill. To enter the access
area, take your second left at the bottom of the hill. Power boats are permitted
but swimming is not recommended. Weeds and algae make for a slimy swim, but dogs
will love it!
Somerset Reservoir is also known locally as a fisherman's paradise. Its quiet, undeveloped coastline offers visitors peaceful paddling and some great catches. Don't forget the bug spray though, as the black flies in those woods have been known to eat large men in one gulp! For a day at Somerset Reservoir take Route 9 west approximately five miles, looking for signs for Somerset Road on the right. Follow that road 10 miles to the reservoir. Power boats are not permitted.
| Ecological and geographic tour of the Somerset Reservoir and its surroundings (PDF) |
For more information on Vermont's lakes and parks, call the forest, parks and recreation department at (802) 886-2215. For a complete guide to fishing in Vermont, call the fish & wildlife department at (802) 241-3700.
Water Activities
Water, water everywhere, and now, it's time to play. On a
hot scorching day, there's nothing you want more than to
take a dip in the lake. But paddling around on your squeaky
duck floaty can get old quick. Rescue your family and friends
from the doldrums of mere swimming by stopping at High Country WaveRunner & Water
Sport Rentals. Owned and operated by local residents Mark and Wendy Pederson,
visitors can rent waverunners, jet boats and pontoon boats for use on Harriman
Reservoir.
| The shop is open daily, (with mother nature's approval), with mid-week hours starting at 10 am and weekend hours, 9 am. Renters will receive operation and safety lessons from certified boat safety instructors. |
| Upon request, the Pedersons will put together a delicious picnic lunch for you and your party for a nominal fee. Taking advantage of this service may be your best bet as there are no food vendors on the lake. |
| Two and three passenger waverunners can be rented and may be operated by those 18 years and older. The following are waverunner rental fees: half hour-$40; one hour-$65; half day-$130; full day-$195. |
| Jet boats can accommodate up to seven passengers. Operators must be at least 21 years old . The following are jet boat rental fees: $75 per hour; $150 half day; and $225 full day. |
| Pontoon boats can accommodate 10 people and operators must be at least 21 years old. Cost for a half day is $195 and full day $275. |
To reach High Country from Wilmington center take Route 9 west two miles past the light until you reach lighthouse corner on the right. Have you just spent your work week meeting deadlines with triple espressos coursing through your veins? If you're looking for a slower pace you should definitely try canoeing or kayaking. Equipe Sports located on the Mount Snow Access Road offers full-day rentals of single-man kayaks for $30 and rentals of canoes and double kayaks for $40. All rentals are class II boats which are designed for flat water. Rentals include paddles, life jackets and car-top carriers. Equipe employees will offer some tips on the sport such as how to get in and out of the boat-it's not as easy as it sounds!
Grout Pond and Somerset Lake are on the top of Equipe employees' list of recommendations for canoeing and kayaking. The power boat ban, the pristine water and the abundance of wild life make these venues a relaxing alternative, particularly for the over-caffeinated crowd. Equipe Sport is open from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., seven days a week. Call (802) 464-2222.
Green Mountain Flagship Company, celebrating its 25th anniversary
this summer, is owned and operated by Dick Joyce. Joyce hand-built
his passenger boat, the "Mt. Mills," and has been
offering cruises of Harriman Reservoir ever since. Captain
Joyce will give you a historic account of the lost village
of Mt. Mills hidden beneath the water's surface while you
enjoy the picturesque scenery during a one and a half hour
cruise.
Cruises take place from mid-May through the end of October
at varying times. Cost is $9 for adults, $8.50 for seniors,
$5 for children three through 12 and free for kids under
three. Those interested in cruising should call ahead to
reserve a space. For a unique place to hold a wedding, birthday
party, reunion, conference or other event, call Joyce to
make a request. Meals and live entertainment are available
for parties of 25 or more.
For those who prefer to cruise au natural, check in with
Joyce about the nudist cruises. He's offering two this season,
taking you to the valley's best kept secret-The Ledges-New
England's largest nudist beach.
GMFS also offers sailboat, kayak and canoe rentals, starting
at $19 for canoes and kayaks and $24 for sailboats. Joyce
will give you pointers on how to get started. For more information
on GMFS, call (802) 464-2975.
Your trip to the Deerfield Valley isn't complete until you've
spent a day at Mount Snow's Snow Lake. The newest addition
to the resort includes a waterfront area with activities
that include picnic areas, an interactive water playpool
for children, boat rentals and a sand volleyball court. Fountain
Mountain, the resort's waterpark, is designed for children
12 and under and offers splash areas, "lemondrops" and "tea
buckets" which drop and squirt water. It is located
adjacent to Snow Lake Lodge. Cost is $5 per day for kids.
Adults are admitted free and adult supervision is required.
Picnic tables, grills and a volleyball court are located
on the north side of Snow Lake. Guests can rent paddle boats
and canoes at this area for $5. The Snow Lake waterfront
area is open to guests beginning May 29 weekends only and
open daily from June 18 through September 6. For more information,
call (802) 464-3333.
So, for those of you who think fun in the sun and in the
water only happens in Florida, think again. Great lakes,
rivers and water activities are only a phone call away in
the Deerfield Valley.
