VERMONT PONDS AND LAKES

[Snookman2]

I've read a lot of old threads and seen a bunch of these different lake and pond names thrown around...Willoughby, Island, Lewis, etc. I thought a thread specifically about this subject might be useful. Which ones are your favorites and why? What's special about them. etc.?

[pwt54]

Job's Pond is great right now. It's off the Newark Road in Brighton. The Newark Road starts off route 114 about a mile south of the route 114 and 105 intersection. The pond access road is on the right side and there is a sign for it there. Lewis pond itself is not colorful because it's surrounded by evergreen trees. The overlook past the pond has great views, however. It will take some driving to get to, but there was a grandmother driving a Corolla up there on Sunday. Here are the directions;
I use to send folks on the Stone Dam Road because it was easier. But the colors on the Henshaw and Four Mile roads are better. Drive east out of Island Pond village about 1/2 of a mile and look for the Henshaw Road on the left. Turn left onto the Henshaw Road. The road starts out bushy then you come to a wide open area with an old farm. Drive past the farm and the camp and soon you will come to a gate. Drive through the gate and in about 3 miles look for a wooden post on the left side that says the Nulhegan Basin. Take the road across from this sign post, This is the Four Mile Road. Drive this road to the end at the Lewis Pond Road and turn left. Drive the Lewis Pond Road up to the end where this overlook is located.
For you folks that would rather use the Stone Dam Road; The Stone Dam Road is off route 105 in Bloomfield,VT. Take the Stone dam road to the end at the Eagle's Nest Road and turn left. (Warning; somewhere along the line the Stone Dam Road changes it's name to the Canal Road. So if you plan to come back the way you came, look for the Canal Road signpost and not Stone Dam Road.) Drive the Eagles Nest Road to the end at the Lewis Pond and turn right. This will take you to the overlook. When you are done I would drive back and go past the Eagle's Nest Road and in a couple of miles, look for the Four Mile Road on your right. Drive the Four Mile Road to the end at the Henshaw Road and turn left to get back to route 105 in Island Pond.
The roads are in great shape until the last 2 miles. They are a bit rough, but if that grandmother can make so can you. Ctyanky could make if she switched to de-cafe.

[ctyanky]

Phil: to just say the overlook has some great views is the understatement of all times!!!! To me this is the most outstanding long view that you can find in the state of Vermont. It is not the 180 degree view you might find at the top of Jay Peak but even better in my opinion. It consists of endless rows and rows of cascading mountains and valleys as far as the eye can see and a place that will bring you to tears because of its utmost beauty ! Just the remoteness of it all is incredible. I would definately say this is worth the drive! We are taking mmvt here next week for the first time. I know she will be speechless! Be sure to follow Phil's directions and don't give up on the time it takes to get there. At the overlook, you will be stunned by the beauty and you just can't comprehend the magnitude and expanse of the scene until you get there. It's just overwhelming.....

I wish Carol or someone could post some photos of the view from the overlook that would confirm the reason to go here!

(I can't wait to go back! No Phil, I wouldn't need decaf on this trip because there are really no drop off edges for you to take your hands off the wheel and try to scare me half to death! )

Hope you all can make this drive one of your most memorable ones in Vermont! You will NOT be disappointed

[abby]

Just to clarify.......Phil wrote Jobs Pond......but he really meant to write Lewis Pond. Hope this avoids any confusion. These directions are from Lewis Pond.

Here's a few images taken on Oct 3rd 2009
The road driving in:


The overlook:

Carol

[From_the_NEK]

Lake Willoughby:
2009 South Beach -


2010 North Beach -

2010 North Beach -


Long Pond (The one by Lake Willoughby) has a boat access that is a fairly easy drive from the shore north of Lake Willoughby up onto the mountain:
2010 Boat Launch-


Crystal Lake (Barton):
2010 South Shore boat launch -



Round Pond/Long Pond (not the one by Lake Willoughby). This set of ponds is well hidden in a State Park almost no one has heard of .
Round Pond is an easy 5 minute walk from the parking area:
2009 -


Long Pond (again not the one by Lake Willoughby) is another 10/15 minutes of more strenuous hiking past Round Pond:
2009 -


With a very difficult 15 minutes or further hiking for the this picture location overlooking both ponds:
2009 -

[ctyanky]

NEK and Carol: great photos! You both are so talented!

Carol: If it were not for you I don't know if I would have ever gotten to Lewis Pond the first time! We had such a great time there with the gang! Can't wait to return!

[Andy]

I'll add my two cents:

Kettle Pond from Owl's Head Overlook in the Groton State Forest October 2006:


Best in morning. Problem is that gate opens 9-10 and that's not the best. MrBumps posted elswhere here that the road is about a mile. It is all uphill, with some steep sections. He posted an early a.m. shot with his comments and it appears well worth the hike for those who are in good enough shape.


Unnamed Pond on U.S. 5 South of Crystal Lake (Barton), October, 2010:


This is a morning shot and is right next to the road. Park in the pull off and you can almost step into the pond

Ricker Pond on State Road 232 in Groton State Forest, October 2006:


There is a parking lot and an easy few steps to the pond. It is an afternoon shot.

[Andy]

I thought this was a great idea, Snookman, so I renamed it to "Vermont Ponds and Lakes" and made it a "sticky" thread. Hope we can keep it to the narrow topic of good ponds and lakes and directions to get there, etc.!

[Snookman2]

Owl's head overlook....WOW! That photo is stunning. How do I get there? Is that a hike or is that view from the road?

edit: nevermind I think I found the directions in an old thread:

"About a mile south of the New Discovery Road look for a sign for Owls Head and a road on the left side nearby. Drive that road to the parking lot and hike the ¼ mile trail to the mountain top. "

[Andy]

Yep: You found it. Climb is short, but steep. Worth every breath. Gate to road opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at sunset.

[Andy]

Another look at Lake Willoughby, October, 2010:

[Andy]

Athens Pond, Athens, Vermont, October 2010:

[Andy]

Pond on Lost Nation Road, Bakersfield, Vermont, October 2006:

[pwt54]

i did accually mean to say Job's Pond. I was trying to disscribe both ponds but forgot to separate the paragraphs. If you are in the Island Pond area, you should try to do both ponds. you will have to bear with me. Hurricane Ctyanky is due to hit VT tomorrow.

[abby]

LOL Phil!!!!! I hope you brave the storm and come out of it unscathed. Good luck..........you'll need it!
Carol