From the River Road parking area, this trail along a portion of the Appalachian Trail (AT) travels to Thundering Falls along a 900-foot, approximately 3-5-foot wide, boardwalk and stone dust path built by the Green Mountain Club. The boardwalk crosses over the Ottauquechee River and through the open Ottauquechee River floodplain. The trail then ascends to a viewing platform overlooking the Falls via a relatively accessible switchback and spur trail built by the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. Most of the trail has a slope of approximately 2% with the steepest short sections being 12%. There is very little cross slope for the duration of the trail from River Road to the falls. Multiple pullouts allow folks to rest before and after the steeper sections. See Trail Access Information below for more information about this trail.
Thundering Falls is said to be the sixth tallest waterfall in Vermont. It is part of Kent Brook which flows out of Kent Pond just north of where the AT and the Long Trail split. At high water it is a magnificent cascade as the stream tumbles 140 feet through a steep and narrow cataract. The falls are also the site of a historic mill powered by the energy of the falling water.
From Thundering Falls, the AT continues its ascent to the west, through northern hardwood forest another 0.2 miles to Thundering Brook Road where a small parking lot can be found.
(Applies to east section of trail between River Road Fork and the Falls)
Trail conditions can change without warning. Trail last assessed: 8/22/2024
Thundering Falls provides the first universal accessible portion of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont with wheelchair accessible parking on River Road in Killington.
Visit Green Mountain National Forest online for more information or contact:
Green Mountain National Forest: Supervisor's Office - RutlandRIVER ROAD ACCESSIBLE PARKING (EAST END)
From where VT-100 and US-4 meet and intersect with Killington Road in Killington, drive 2 miles east on VT-100/US-4, then turn left on River Road. Go 1.6 miles north on River Road to the parking lot on the left.
THUNDERING BROOK ROAD PARKING (WEST END)
From where VT-100 and US-4 meet and intersect with Killington Road in Killington, drive 0.4 miles east on VT-100/US-4, then turn left on Thundering Brook Road. Go 1.4 miles on Thundering Brook Road to the parking lot on the left.
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