Townshend Resevoir and Recreation Area includes sandy beach, playground and hiking trails and are under a mile away by back road. Under 10-hp boats permitted.
From Our Door:
-hiking up Bald Mountain
-tubing down West River (some tubes provided)
-swimming in the swimming hole
-rope swinging or jumping off Scott Bridge
-sandy beach at Townshend Resevoir .8 mi away
-fishing in the river or stocked Resevoir
-swimming in Townshend Lake
-very popular cycling area
-explore or hike 950-acre Townshend State Forest
-playscapes at Townshend Recreation area .8 mi away
-lots more hiking trails without needing a car
Rope swing under Scott Covered Bridge Jumping from Scott Bridge into swimming hole
Tubing on the West River takes about 2 hours
-Dam Diner (3 miles upriver)
-Stratton Mountain, 25 minutes
-Mount Snow, 35 minutes
-Sun Mountain Bromley Adventure Park, 40 minutes
-golf
-antiquing
-dining
-shopping
-horseback riding
-buffalo farms
Other Places to Visit:
-Dining: Brattleboro, Weston, Newfane, Stratton Mountain, West Dover
-Shopping: Manchester (45 minutes), Brattleboro, Grafton, Newfane
-Grafton Cheese Company, Brattleboro and Grafton
-Dutton Farm Newfane for home baked goods, fresh produce, pick-your-own fruit
-Taft Hill Gift Shop and Glass Blowing, Townshend
-Strolling of the Heifers the first weekend in June
Located in the heart of the scenic West River Valley and near an historic covered bridge, Townshend Lake provides a variety of recreational opportunities. The picnic area offers 100 tables and 65 fireplace grills; three picnic shelters; swimming on 800 feet of beach; boating (power boats allowed up to 10 horsepower); a 1.7-mile-long marked hiking trail; cross-country skiing and snowmobiling on unmarked trails, including old Route 30; an open field for ball playing; horseshoe pits; a change house; drinking water; and sanitary facilities. There is excellent fishing in both the reservoir and along 2.8 miles of upstream river. While the state stocks rainbow trout, brown trout, and salmon, the river and lake support self-sustaining brook trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, bullhead, rock bass, sunfish, and yellow perch. There is in-season hunting/trapping for native deer, wild turkey, red fox, ruffed grouse, woodcock, coyotes, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit, beaver, muskrat, mink, and fisher.