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Start small and think big.
After 11 years of work, the Town of Swanton, area residents, businesses, Fit & Healthy Swanton and VTrans opened a scenic 1-mile trail on July 30, 2009. It links the town's restored railroad depot (now a museum), ballfields and elementary school.
While this village pathway is an important community resource -- it is also the first section of the 96-mile Lamoille Valley Rail Trail to be open for walking and bicycling. The rail trail will ultimately connect Swanton to St. Johnsbury for snowmobiling in the winter and walking and bicycling in the summer.
The trail's most stunning feature is a restored 1902 Pennsylvania truss bridge that had spanned the Lamoille River in West Milton until 2002. When it became obselete for vehicle traffic, the State of Vermont helped relocate it here to replace the original wooden railroad bridge in Swanton that burned in 1987. The several historic markers along the trail make traveling along the trail a fun and educational experience.
THE DETAILS:
Name: Swanton Fit & Healthy Recreation Path
Current Length: 1 mile (Part of future Lamoille Valley Rail Trail)
Surface: Gravel (If biking, mountain bikes recommended)
Features: Swanton History Museum (rehabilitated RR station), 453' three-span bridge, historic signs
Map: Trail Map
Directions: Take I-89 to Exit 21. Follow Route 78W one mile through Swanton village. Immediately after crossing the bridge, take a left on to South River Street. Park at the restored train station on your right.
Recent Media Coverage
WCAX Story
St. Albans Messenger Story
Many Partners:
As with most trail projects, this project came to fruition because of the hard work of many partners. See the picture of the trail sign (on right) for a complete list. Swanton Zoning Administrator Ron Kilburn, who helped coordinate the bridge component of the project, was out relaxing on the bridge at sunset when Local Motion staff walked by last week (picture below). Well done Swanton!
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