Downer State Forest
| Downer State Forest | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | State forest |
| Location | Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont |
| Coordinates | 43°47′14″N 72°23′16″W / 43.7872°N 72.3879°W |
| Area | 705 acres (2.85 km2) |
| Created | 1910 |
| Operated by | Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation |
| Status | Open For Public use |
| Website | Website |
Downer State Forest, also known as Charles Downer State Forest, covers 705 acres (2.85 km2) in Sharon, Vermont in Windsor County.[1] The forest is managed by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation. The forest was established in 1910 by a gift from Charles Downer to establish a forestry demonstration area.
Activities in the forest include hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, hunting and wildlife viewing.[2] It is also managed for timber resources.
The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers grooms the forest road as a snowmobile trail in the winter.
History
[edit]The forest was established in 1910 by a gift from Charles Downer to create a forestry demonstration area. The forest features conifer plantations he planted. The state forest highway, Camp Downer, and fishing pond were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "Downer State Forest". Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- ^ "Downer State Forest". Trail Finder. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ "History". Camp Downer. Archived from the original on 5 September 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2017.