Published November 1, 2011 at 4:00 a.m.
There's no reason to pack it in for the year just because the state parks have closed their gates. Even in the off-season, trails are open for walking and snowshoeing with children. With a few added layers and safety precautions specific to hunting season, cool-weather hiking offers unique benefits.
My favorite: not having to fend off swarms of stinging insects. In these cooler months, you can experience nature DEET-free.
And because the bare trees expose the changing forest and its inhabitants, "you are likely to see deer and other woodland animals more easily than in the summer," said Rochelle Skinner of Vermont's Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation. "Watching squirrel behavior is quite amusing."
A note of caution, though: Hunters benefit from that exposure, too, and they're all over the Vermont woods in November, shooting bear, deer and wild turkey. That means you need to dress your kids in orange, prevent them from bounding ahead and be prepared to explain that rifle report when they ask, "What was that?"
Twin 3-1/2-year-olds William and Wesley and their mother, Jennifer, joined my 9-year-old son and me recently to explore the Groton State Forest Nature Trail. The dynamic Ws took turns finding red and blue trail blazes along the self-guided 0.6-mile loop.
We examined mossy rocks and waxy-looking mushrooms and took turns guessing who might be living down the deep, dark holes we found. A giant glacial boulder captivated us; it was covered on all but one side with lichen, moss and other plants.
Our best evidence of animal life was a large pile of owl "pellets" that Jennifer eagerly pulled apart to reveal the bones of a recently consumed rodent. The kids loved hearing about how owls regurgitate their prey.
The winter months are the best time to spot moose, which move to higher elevations, and members of the weasel family such as ermines and minks, according to the state's conservation education coordinator Rebecca Phelps.
"One of the very best treats about winter wildlife is the tracking," Phelps said. "This is the only time when you can reliably see what animals have been there before you."
We didn't see any moose or mink on our hike, so we might try it again when the trail is dusted with a thin layer of fresh snow.
For November hikes, prepare for cooler conditions and hunting season.
The Green Mountain Club offers these suggestions:
Sport some blaze orange for safety while hiking during hunting season. Hunting is allowed on state land, but Vermont law restricts the discharging of firearms within 500 feet of a building. That makes trails around campgrounds and structures such as fire towers a good choice this time of year. Vermont's Deer Rifle Season runs from November 12 to 27.
Info: Take the turn for Boulder Beach off Route 232 in Groton. The visitors center has a large parking area, but facilities are closed in the off-season.
Trail maps and guides: vtstateparks.com/htm/hiking.htm
This article was originally published in Seven Days' monthly parenting magazine, Kids VT.
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