Exploring Stowe: Sterling Falls Trail

   There are numerous waterfalls around Stowe, VT, and the expansive trail system means some of them are easily accessible. Catalina and I recently checked out the beautiful Bingham Falls trail, and today we set off again to experience Sterling Falls Gorge.

  The drive took us high above the town of Stowe, off into the farmlands and forest. We had great views of the surrounding mountains layering off as far as we could see. I will need to come back up here for photography at some point. The way turns into a winding, up and down graded dirt road. There is a nice little parking lot with an informational sign. The trail seemed to go along the river here but we ended up on a network of cross country skiing trails which would be an absolute dream in winter time. We ended up doubling back and finding that we needed to go back to the road, walk across a bridge, and find our trailhead there.

  The trail had a line up and a 'closed' sign, but it seemed to have been put there for the winter season due to dangerous winter weather conditions. We made the call to jump the line and explore the trail anyways which was definitely the right call in the end. The trail has wonderful geological information placards placed in strategic spots. The river cascades way down below in a beautiful gorge. Finally the trail descends enough to meet back up with the river. This was great for Catalina because she wanted to play in the water.

  We ended up rock hopping and river walking our way back upstream to some of the bigger cascades. It was beautiful and we had the entire place to ourselves. I scrambled back up the hillside, carrying Catalina until we hit the trail. Then we descended once again along the trail to pick up our hiking backpack and have a little more water time. We even practiced our pondering which Catalina learned in a new book of her's called 'Little Hoot'. It was another wonderful outing for the D-DAC (Daddy Daughter Adventure Club.)




  I imagine there will be a lot more of these in the future.


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